diff --git a/src/trx-server/src/audio.rs b/src/trx-server/src/audio.rs
index 0d04feb..a92a420 100644
--- a/src/trx-server/src/audio.rs
+++ b/src/trx-server/src/audio.rs
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 
 //! Audio capture, playback, and TCP streaming for trx-server.
 
-use std::collections::VecDeque;
+use std::collections::{HashSet, VecDeque};
 use std::net::SocketAddr;
 use std::sync::atomic::{AtomicBool, Ordering};
 use std::sync::{Arc, Mutex};
@@ -2218,6 +2218,9 @@ async fn handle_audio_client(
     let mut destroyed_rx: Option<broadcast::Receiver<Uuid>> =
         vchan_manager.as_ref().map(|m| m.subscribe_destroyed());
 
+    let hidden_channels = Arc::new(Mutex::new(HashSet::<Uuid>::new()));
+    let hidden_channels_for_rx = hidden_channels.clone();
+    let vchan_manager_for_rx = vchan_manager.clone();
     let rx_handle = tokio::spawn(async move {
         // UUID → JoinHandles of per-channel encoder/decoder tasks.
         let mut vchan_tasks: std::collections::HashMap<Uuid, Vec<tokio::task::JoinHandle<()>>> =
@@ -2301,6 +2304,15 @@ async fn handle_audio_client(
                     match cmd {
                         VChanCmd::Subscribe { uuid, pcm_rx, send_audio, background_decode } => {
                             let mut handles = Vec::new();
+                            let is_hidden = background_decode.is_some();
+
+                            if let Ok(mut guard) = hidden_channels_for_rx.lock() {
+                                if is_hidden {
+                                    guard.insert(uuid);
+                                } else {
+                                    guard.remove(&uuid);
+                                }
+                            }
 
                             if send_audio {
                                 // Spin up an async Opus encoder task for this virtual channel.
@@ -2439,6 +2451,9 @@ async fn handle_audio_client(
                                     handle.abort();
                                 }
                             }
+                            if let Ok(mut guard) = hidden_channels_for_rx.lock() {
+                                guard.remove(&uuid);
+                            }
                         }
                     }
                 }
@@ -2450,6 +2465,9 @@ async fn handle_audio_client(
                                 handle.abort();
                             }
                         }
+                        if let Ok(mut guard) = hidden_channels_for_rx.lock() {
+                            guard.remove(&uuid);
+                        }
                         // Notify the client.
                         if let Err(e) = write_vchan_uuid_msg(
                             &mut writer_for_rx,
@@ -2472,6 +2490,22 @@ async fn handle_audio_client(
                 handle.abort();
             }
         }
+        let stale_hidden_channels: Vec<Uuid> = hidden_channels_for_rx
+            .lock()
+            .map(|guard| guard.iter().copied().collect())
+            .unwrap_or_default();
+        if let Some(ref mgr) = vchan_manager_for_rx {
+            for uuid in &stale_hidden_channels {
+                let _ = mgr.remove_channel(*uuid);
+            }
+        }
+        if !stale_hidden_channels.is_empty() {
+            info!(
+                "Audio client {} cleaned up {} hidden background channels",
+                peer,
+                stale_hidden_channels.len()
+            );
+        }
     });
 
     // Read TX frames (and virtual-channel sub/unsub commands) from client.
@@ -2607,6 +2641,9 @@ async fn handle_audio_client(
                     Ok(uuid) => {
                         // Unsubscribe first.
                         let _ = vchan_cmd_tx.send(VChanCmd::Unsubscribe(uuid)).await;
+                        if let Ok(mut guard) = hidden_channels.lock() {
+                            guard.remove(&uuid);
+                        }
                         // Then remove from the DSP pipeline.
                         if let Some(ref mgr) = vchan_manager {
                             if let Err(e) = mgr.remove_channel(uuid) {