diff --git a/src/routes/+layout.svelte b/src/routes/+layout.svelte
index 5c25d88..45f1c30 100644
--- a/src/routes/+layout.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/+layout.svelte
@@ -136,12 +136,25 @@
     }
   }
 
-  // Listen for evdev hotkey events from the Rust backend
+  // Listen for evdev hotkey events from the Rust backend.
+  //
+  // Debounce window: evdev autorepeat, a sticky-key compositor quirk,
+  // or a user's nervous double-tap can all deliver the same press
+  // twice within ~100 ms — which, without debouncing, toggles the
+  // recording into and out of the same frame and loses the capture.
+  // Matches Handy #1143 ('first press records nothing, second works').
+  // This is the UX side of brief item #4; the audio-stream warm-up
+  // side is owned by Workstream A.
+  const HOTKEY_DEBOUNCE_MS = 120;
+  let lastHotkeyAtMs = 0;
   let unlistenEvdev = null;
   async function setupEvdevListener() {
     if (!tauriRuntimeAvailable) return;
     const { listen } = await import("@tauri-apps/api/event");
     unlistenEvdev = await listen("kon:hotkey-pressed", () => {
+      const now = Date.now();
+      if (now - lastHotkeyAtMs < HOTKEY_DEBOUNCE_MS) return;
+      lastHotkeyAtMs = now;
       if (page.current !== "dictation") page.current = "dictation";
       requestAnimationFrame(() => {
         window.dispatchEvent(new CustomEvent("kon:toggle-recording"));