diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index a80562b..8cb3107 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -8,6 +8,12 @@ until the first tagged release.
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+### Fixed
+
+- A spoken volume command no longer leaves the face stuck in the thinking
+  spinner — the feedback gong is a UI cue and no longer holds the busy state,
+  so the return-to-idle isn't swallowed.
+
 ## [0.2.0] — 2026-07-15
 
 ### Added
diff --git a/firmware/main/audio.c b/firmware/main/audio.c
index 6f71462..a37c25a 100644
--- a/firmware/main/audio.c
+++ b/firmware/main/audio.c
@@ -161,8 +161,10 @@ static void audio_task(void *arg)
          * returns, preventing a playback-boundary false wake. */
         if (job == JOB_GONG && s_gong != NULL) {
             /* Play in chunks so a new request (a fresh volume change) cuts the
-             * current gong off and restarts, instead of queueing another 5 s. */
-            s_playing = true;
+             * current gong off and restarts, instead of queueing another 5 s.
+             * Note: the gong is a UI cue, not "playback" — it deliberately does
+             * NOT set s_playing, so a following state:idle isn't swallowed (that
+             * guard is for reply audio) and it doesn't gate wake for 5 s. */
             uint32_t gen;
             do {
                 gen = s_gong_gen;
@@ -172,7 +174,6 @@ static void audio_task(void *arg)
                     esp_codec_dev_write(s_spk, s_gong + off, n * sizeof(int16_t));
                 }
             } while (s_gong_gen != gen);   /* a new request arrived mid-play → restart */
-            s_playing = false;
             s_gong_active = false;
         } else if (job == JOB_CHIME && s_chime != NULL) {
             s_playing = true;