diff --git a/apps/macos/Sources/Clawdis/VoiceWakeOverlay.swift b/apps/macos/Sources/Clawdis/VoiceWakeOverlay.swift
index 78cbbfa80..f4fb8f487 100644
--- a/apps/macos/Sources/Clawdis/VoiceWakeOverlay.swift
+++ b/apps/macos/Sources/Clawdis/VoiceWakeOverlay.swift
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ final class VoiceWakeOverlayController: ObservableObject {
     private var window: NSPanel?
     private var hostingView: NSHostingView<VoiceWakeOverlayView>?
     private var autoSendTask: Task<Void, Never>?
+    private var safetyDismissTask: Task<Void, Never>?
     private var forwardConfig: VoiceWakeForwardConfig?
 
     private let width: CGFloat = 360
@@ -41,6 +42,7 @@ final class VoiceWakeOverlayController: ObservableObject {
     func showPartial(transcript: String, attributed: NSAttributedString? = nil) {
         self.logger.log(level: .info, "overlay showPartial len=\(transcript.count, privacy: .public) visible=\(self.model.isVisible, privacy: .public) isFinal=false")
         self.autoSendTask?.cancel()
+        self.safetyDismissTask?.cancel()
         self.forwardConfig = nil
         self.model.text = transcript
         self.model.isFinal = false
@@ -62,6 +64,7 @@ final class VoiceWakeOverlayController: ObservableObject {
     {
         self.logger.log(level: .info, "overlay presentFinal len=\(transcript.count, privacy: .public) autoSendAfter=\(delay ?? -1, privacy: .public) forwardEnabled=\(forwardConfig.enabled, privacy: .public)")
         self.autoSendTask?.cancel()
+        self.safetyDismissTask?.cancel()
         self.forwardConfig = forwardConfig
         self.model.text = transcript
         self.model.isFinal = true
@@ -74,6 +77,8 @@ final class VoiceWakeOverlayController: ObservableObject {
         if let delay {
             self.scheduleAutoSend(after: delay, sendChime: sendChime)
         }
+        // Safety net: ensure the overlay cannot stick around indefinitely.
+        self.scheduleSafetyDismiss()
     }
 
     func userBeganEditing() {
@@ -104,6 +109,7 @@ final class VoiceWakeOverlayController: ObservableObject {
         self.logger.log(level: .info, "overlay sendNow called isSending=\(self.model.isSending, privacy: .public) forwardEnabled=\(self.model.forwardEnabled, privacy: .public) textLen=\(self.model.text.count, privacy: .public)")
         self.autoSendTask?.cancel()
         self.autoSendTask = nil
+        self.safetyDismissTask?.cancel()
         if self.model.isSending { return }
         self.model.isEditing = false
         guard let forwardConfig, forwardConfig.enabled else {
@@ -137,6 +143,7 @@ final class VoiceWakeOverlayController: ObservableObject {
     func dismiss(reason: DismissReason = .explicit, outcome: SendOutcome = .empty) {
         self.logger.log(level: .info, "overlay dismiss reason=\(String(describing: reason), privacy: .public) outcome=\(String(describing: outcome), privacy: .public) visible=\(self.model.isVisible, privacy: .public) sending=\(self.model.isSending, privacy: .public)")
         self.autoSendTask?.cancel()
+        self.safetyDismissTask?.cancel()
         self.model.isSending = false
         self.model.isEditing = false
         guard let window else { return }
@@ -308,6 +315,20 @@ final class VoiceWakeOverlayController: ObservableObject {
         }
     }
 
+    private func scheduleSafetyDismiss() {
+        self.safetyDismissTask?.cancel()
+        self.safetyDismissTask = Task<Void, Never> { [weak self] in
+            try? await Task.sleep(nanoseconds: 6_000_000_000) // 6s
+            guard !Task.isCancelled else { return }
+            await MainActor.run {
+                guard let self, self.model.isVisible else { return }
+                self.logger.log(level: .info, "overlay safety dismiss firing")
+                self.dismiss(reason: .explicit)
+                self.safetyDismissTask = nil
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
     private func makeAttributed(from text: String) -> NSAttributedString {
         NSAttributedString(
             string: text,