diff --git a/amplifier_module_provider_vllm/__init__.py b/amplifier_module_provider_vllm/__init__.py
index 450a6ab..d4f109e 100644
--- a/amplifier_module_provider_vllm/__init__.py
+++ b/amplifier_module_provider_vllm/__init__.py
@@ -1507,6 +1507,21 @@ async def _do_complete():
                         status_code=status,
                         retryable=True,
                     ) from e
+                if status == 408:
+                    if "time taken=0.0" in error_msg:
+                        raise kernel_errors.LLMTimeoutError(
+                            "Gateway reported an instant timeout (408 with "
+                            "'time taken=0.0'): the request never reached the "
+                            "backend. Retrying.",
+                            provider=self.name,
+                            retryable=True,
+                        ) from e
+                    raise kernel_errors.LLMError(
+                        error_msg,
+                        provider=self.name,
+                        status_code=status,
+                        retryable=False,
+                    ) from e
                 if status == 404:
                     raise kernel_errors.NotFoundError(
                         error_msg,
diff --git a/tests/test_error_translation.py b/tests/test_error_translation.py
index c92ef10..3b5de87 100644
--- a/tests/test_error_translation.py
+++ b/tests/test_error_translation.py
@@ -178,6 +178,54 @@ def test_api_status_error_5xx_translated():
     assert err.__cause__ is native
 
 
+def test_instant_timeout_408_retryable():
+    """Gateway 408 with 'time taken=0.0' (request never reached backend) -> retryable LLMTimeoutError."""
+    provider = _make_provider()
+    native = openai.APIStatusError(
+        "Error code: 408",
+        response=_mock_httpx_response(408),
+        body={
+            "message": "Request timed out. error_type=APITimeoutError, "
+            "timeout value=55.0, time taken=0.0 seconds",
+            "code": 408,
+        },
+    )
+    provider.client.responses.create = AsyncMock(side_effect=native)
+
+    with pytest.raises(kernel_errors.LLMTimeoutError) as exc_info:
+        asyncio.run(provider.complete(_simple_request()))
+
+    err = exc_info.value
+    assert err.provider == "vllm"
+    assert err.retryable is True
+    assert err.__cause__ is native
+
+
+def test_genuine_timeout_408_not_retryable():
+    """Gateway 408 with elapsed time (real upstream timeout) -> non-retryable LLMError."""
+    provider = _make_provider()
+    native = openai.APIStatusError(
+        "Error code: 408",
+        response=_mock_httpx_response(408),
+        body={
+            "message": "Request timed out. error_type=APITimeoutError, "
+            "timeout value=55.0, time taken=55.02 seconds",
+            "code": 408,
+        },
+    )
+    provider.client.responses.create = AsyncMock(side_effect=native)
+
+    with pytest.raises(kernel_errors.LLMError) as exc_info:
+        asyncio.run(provider.complete(_simple_request()))
+
+    err = exc_info.value
+    assert not isinstance(err, kernel_errors.LLMTimeoutError)
+    assert err.provider == "vllm"
+    assert err.status_code == 408
+    assert err.retryable is False
+    assert err.__cause__ is native
+
+
 def test_timeout_error_translated():
     """asyncio.TimeoutError -> kernel LLMTimeoutError (retryable=True)."""
     provider = _make_provider()