diff --git a/apps/macos/Sources/Clawdis/AppState.swift b/apps/macos/Sources/Clawdis/AppState.swift
index b17873434..e96401baf 100644
--- a/apps/macos/Sources/Clawdis/AppState.swift
+++ b/apps/macos/Sources/Clawdis/AppState.swift
@@ -106,6 +106,7 @@ final class AppState: ObservableObject {
 
     @Published var isWorking: Bool = false
     @Published var earBoostActive: Bool = false
+    @Published var blinkTick: Int = 0
     @Published var heartbeatsEnabled: Bool {
         didSet {
             UserDefaults.standard.set(self.heartbeatsEnabled, forKey: heartbeatsEnabledKey)
@@ -228,6 +229,10 @@ final class AppState: ObservableObject {
         self.earBoostActive = false
     }
 
+    func blinkOnce() {
+        self.blinkTick &+= 1
+    }
+
     func setVoiceWakeEnabled(_ enabled: Bool) async {
         guard voiceWakeSupported else {
             self.swabbleEnabled = false
diff --git a/apps/macos/Sources/Clawdis/MenuBar.swift b/apps/macos/Sources/Clawdis/MenuBar.swift
index 52f6ce21e..b66c905bb 100644
--- a/apps/macos/Sources/Clawdis/MenuBar.swift
+++ b/apps/macos/Sources/Clawdis/MenuBar.swift
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ struct ClawdisApp: App {
                 isPaused: self.state.isPaused,
                 isWorking: self.state.isWorking,
                 earBoostActive: self.state.earBoostActive,
+                blinkTick: self.state.blinkTick,
                 relayStatus: self.relayManager.status,
                 animationsEnabled: self.state.iconAnimationsEnabled)
         }
@@ -344,6 +345,7 @@ private struct CritterStatusLabel: View {
     var isPaused: Bool
     var isWorking: Bool
     var earBoostActive: Bool
+    var blinkTick: Int
     var relayStatus: RelayProcessManager.Status
     var animationsEnabled: Bool
 
@@ -400,16 +402,17 @@ private struct CritterStatusLabel: View {
                                 self.nextEarWiggle = now.addingTimeInterval(Double.random(in: 7.0...14.0))
                             }
 
-                            if self.isWorking {
-                                self.scurry()
-                            }
+                        if self.isWorking {
+                            self.scurry()
                         }
-                        .onChange(of: self.isPaused) { _, _ in self.resetMotion() }
-                        .onChange(of: self.animationsEnabled) { _, enabled in
-                            if enabled {
-                                self.scheduleRandomTimers(from: Date())
-                            } else {
-                                self.resetMotion()
+                    }
+                    .onChange(of: self.isPaused) { _, _ in self.resetMotion() }
+                    .onChange(of: self.blinkTick) { _, _ in self.blink() }
+                    .onChange(of: self.animationsEnabled) { _, enabled in
+                        if enabled {
+                            self.scheduleRandomTimers(from: Date())
+                        } else {
+                            self.resetMotion()
                             }
                         }
                 }
diff --git a/apps/macos/Sources/Clawdis/VoiceWakeOverlay.swift b/apps/macos/Sources/Clawdis/VoiceWakeOverlay.swift
index b5f84c1a6..b7c2c2dc1 100644
--- a/apps/macos/Sources/Clawdis/VoiceWakeOverlay.swift
+++ b/apps/macos/Sources/Clawdis/VoiceWakeOverlay.swift
@@ -139,6 +139,9 @@ final class VoiceWakeOverlayController: ObservableObject {
                 window.orderOut(nil)
                 self.model.isVisible = false
                 self.model.level = 0
+                if outcome == .empty {
+                    AppStateStore.shared.blinkOnce()
+                }
                 AppStateStore.shared.stopVoiceEars()
             }
         }