diff --git a/src/core/mod.rs b/src/core/mod.rs
index 2238ed6..13e7d74 100644
--- a/src/core/mod.rs
+++ b/src/core/mod.rs
@@ -325,20 +325,28 @@ async fn run_core_loop(
                     let mut interval = tokio::time::interval(Duration::from_millis(20));
                     interval.set_missed_tick_behavior(tokio::time::MissedTickBehavior::Skip);
 
+                    // The 20ms mix cadence is fixed by playback, but pushing a
+                    // level event every tick floods the UI runtime at ~50/sec. We
+                    // peak-hold per-peer levels across this many ticks and emit
+                    // once per window (~10/sec) — peak-hold so a brief transient
+                    // inside the window still lights the speaking indicator.
+                    const LEVEL_EMIT_TICKS: u32 = 5;
+                    let mut level_peaks: HashMap<EndpointId, f32> = HashMap::new();
+                    let mut ticks_since_emit: u32 = 0;
+
                     loop {
                         interval.tick().await;
 
                         let current_volumes = peer_volumes_mixer.lock().await.clone();
-                        let mut active_levels = Vec::new();
                         let mut peer_frames = Vec::new();
 
                         {
                             let mut guard = jitter_mixer.lock().await;
                             for (&peer_id, buffer) in guard.iter_mut() {
-                                // `None` means idle/buffering: contribute nothing
-                                // and report a zero level so the UI shows idle.
+                                // `None` means idle/buffering: contribute nothing,
+                                // but keep a (zero) entry so the UI sees it idle.
                                 let Some(mut frame) = buffer.pop_frame() else {
-                                    active_levels.push((peer_id, 0.0));
+                                    level_peaks.entry(peer_id).or_insert(0.0);
                                     continue;
                                 };
 
@@ -352,7 +360,8 @@ async fn run_core_loop(
                                 let sum_sq: f32 = frame.iter().map(|&x| (x as f32).powi(2)).sum();
                                 let rms = (sum_sq / frame.len().max(1) as f32).sqrt();
                                 let level = (rms / 32768.0).clamp(0.0, 1.0);
-                                active_levels.push((peer_id, level));
+                                let peak = level_peaks.entry(peer_id).or_insert(0.0);
+                                *peak = peak.max(level);
 
                                 peer_frames.push(frame);
                             }
@@ -379,7 +388,13 @@ async fn run_core_loop(
                             break;
                         }
 
-                        let _ = ui_tx_mixer.send(UiEvent::AudioLevels(active_levels)).await;
+                        // Emit coalesced peaks once per window, then reset.
+                        ticks_since_emit += 1;
+                        if ticks_since_emit >= LEVEL_EMIT_TICKS {
+                            let levels: Vec<(EndpointId, f32)> = level_peaks.drain().collect();
+                            let _ = ui_tx_mixer.send(UiEvent::AudioLevels(levels)).await;
+                            ticks_since_emit = 0;
+                        }
                     }
                 });