diff --git a/internal/config/config.go b/internal/config/config.go
index 753151509315545dfbed9bd74c1455785313c8aa..626fbe327491eb28d41e2972c3cb221b1deeb0c6 100644
--- a/internal/config/config.go
+++ b/internal/config/config.go
@@ -799,6 +799,11 @@ func (c *ProviderConfig) TestConnection(resolver VariableResolver) error {
 			return fmt.Errorf("invalid API key format for provider %s", c.ID)
 		}
 		return nil
+	case catwalk.InferenceProviderIoNet:
+		if !strings.HasPrefix(apiKey, "io-") {
+			return fmt.Errorf("invalid API key format for provider %s", c.ID)
+		}
+		return nil
 	}
 
 	switch c.Type {