diff --git a/semantic_router/encoders/zure.py b/semantic_router/encoders/zure.py
index 5b8099b991c0ab9d26f695c50094a5e869438cfb..792d16f0d9cad0caff784370effeef09edde3d9c 100644
--- a/semantic_router/encoders/zure.py
+++ b/semantic_router/encoders/zure.py
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ class AzureOpenAIEncoder(BaseEncoder):
                 api_key=str(api_key),
                 azure_endpoint=str(azure_endpoint),
                 api_version=str(api_version),
-                _strict_response_validation=True,
+                # _strict_response_validation=True,
             )
         except Exception as e:
             raise ValueError(f"OpenAI API client failed to initialize. Error: {e}")
@@ -91,6 +91,10 @@ class AzureOpenAIEncoder(BaseEncoder):
                 if embeds.data:
                     break
             except OpenAIError as e:
+                # print full traceback
+                import traceback
+
+                traceback.print_exc()
                 sleep(2**j)
                 error_message = str(e)
                 logger.warning(f"Retrying in {2**j} seconds...")
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_hybrid_layer.py b/tests/unit/test_hybrid_layer.py
index f87cb1d281b2884a10a9817b9a838c21e64a9881..fbaec6c25d8ae33cab7e4535ac0a246ad9f0b119 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_hybrid_layer.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_hybrid_layer.py
@@ -1,6 +1,11 @@
 import pytest
 
-from semantic_router.encoders import BaseEncoder, CohereEncoder, OpenAIEncoder
+from semantic_router.encoders import (
+    AzureOpenAIEncoder,
+    BaseEncoder,
+    CohereEncoder,
+    OpenAIEncoder,
+)
 from semantic_router.hybrid_layer import HybridRouteLayer
 from semantic_router.route import Route
 
@@ -34,6 +39,18 @@ def openai_encoder(mocker):
     return OpenAIEncoder(name="test-openai-encoder", openai_api_key="test_api_key")
 
 
+@pytest.fixture
+def azure_encoder(mocker):
+    mocker.patch.object(AzureOpenAIEncoder, "__call__", side_effect=mock_encoder_call)
+    return AzureOpenAIEncoder(
+        deployment_name="test-deployment",
+        azure_endpoint="test_endpoint",
+        api_key="test_api_key",
+        api_version="test_version",
+        model="test_model",
+    )
+
+
 @pytest.fixture
 def routes():
     return [