diff --git a/custom_components/extended_openai_conversation/helpers.py b/custom_components/extended_openai_conversation/helpers.py
index 41246c8..d583310 100644
--- a/custom_components/extended_openai_conversation/helpers.py
+++ b/custom_components/extended_openai_conversation/helpers.py
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 from openai import AsyncAzureOpenAI, AsyncOpenAI
 import voluptuous as vol
 import yaml
+import asyncio
 
 from homeassistant.components import (
     automation,
@@ -132,9 +133,25 @@ async def validate_authentication(
     organization: str = None,
     skip_authentication=False,
 ) -> None:
+    """
+    Validate the authentication with OpenAI or Azure.
+
+    Parameters:
+    hass (HomeAssistant): The Home Assistant instance.
+    api_key (str): The API key for OpenAI or Azure.
+    base_url (str): The base URL for the API.
+    api_version (str): The API version to use.
+    organization (str): The organization ID for the API (optional).
+    skip_authentication (bool): If True, skip the authentication check.
+
+    Returns:
+    None
+    """
+    # If skip_authentication is True, return immediately
     if skip_authentication:
         return
 
+    # Determine if the base URL is for Azure or OpenAI and create the appropriate client
     if is_azure(base_url):
         client = AsyncAzureOpenAI(
             api_key=api_key,
@@ -147,7 +164,13 @@ async def validate_authentication(
             api_key=api_key, base_url=base_url, organization=organization
         )
 
-    await client.models.list(timeout=10)
+    # Define an asynchronous function that lists models with a timeout using asyncio.to_thread
+    async def list_models_with_timeout():
+        # Use asyncio.to_thread to run the blocking call in a separate thread
+        return await asyncio.to_thread(client.models.list, timeout=10)
+
+    # Await the execution of the list_models_with_timeout function
+    await list_models_with_timeout()
 
 
 class FunctionExecutor(ABC):