From b51b16e3544e998f4eaad45b470a0b9b8f8eef89 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Marius <marius@kilocode.ai>
Date: Fri, 26 Jun 2026 20:40:29 +0200
Subject: [PATCH 1/2] fix(vscode): wait for microphone capture readiness

---
 .changeset/warm-speech-capture.md             |  5 ++
 .../kilo-vscode/src/services/input-tools.ts   |  6 ++
 .../kilo-vscode/src/speech-to-text/capture.ts | 24 +++++-
 .../tests/unit/speech-to-text-prewarm.test.ts | 73 +++++++++++++++++++
 .../tests/unit/use-speech-to-text.test.ts     | 56 ++++++++++++++
 .../agent-manager/AgentManagerApp.tsx         |  2 +
 .../webview-ui/diff-viewer/DiffViewerApp.tsx  |  2 +
 packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/App.tsx   |  2 +
 .../speech-to-text/SpeechToTextButton.tsx     | 19 +++--
 .../speech-to-text/SpeechToTextPrewarm.tsx    | 20 +++++
 .../speech-to-text/useSpeechToText.ts         |  7 +-
 .../kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/ar.ts     |  1 +
 .../kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/br.ts     |  1 +
 .../kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/bs.ts     |  1 +
 .../kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/da.ts     |  1 +
 .../kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/de.ts     |  1 +
 .../kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/en.ts     |  3 +-
 .../kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/es.ts     |  1 +
 .../kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/fr.ts     |  1 +
 .../kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/it.ts     |  1 +
 .../kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/ja.ts     |  1 +
 .../kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/ko.ts     |  1 +
 .../kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/nl.ts     |  1 +
 .../kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/no.ts     |  1 +
 .../kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/pl.ts     |  1 +
 .../kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/ru.ts     |  1 +
 .../kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/th.ts     |  1 +
 .../kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/tr.ts     |  1 +
 .../kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/uk.ts     |  1 +
 .../kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/zh.ts     |  1 +
 .../kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/zht.ts    |  1 +
 .../src/types/messages/webview-messages.ts    |  5 ++
 32 files changed, 233 insertions(+), 10 deletions(-)
 create mode 100644 .changeset/warm-speech-capture.md
 create mode 100644 packages/kilo-vscode/tests/unit/speech-to-text-prewarm.test.ts
 create mode 100644 packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/components/speech-to-text/SpeechToTextPrewarm.tsx

diff --git a/.changeset/warm-speech-capture.md b/.changeset/warm-speech-capture.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..64d9be64cc6e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/warm-speech-capture.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+"kilo-code": patch
+---
+
+Wait for microphone capture to start before showing voice input as recording.
diff --git a/packages/kilo-vscode/src/services/input-tools.ts b/packages/kilo-vscode/src/services/input-tools.ts
index 7d722b684edc..23479bbf2087 100644
--- a/packages/kilo-vscode/src/services/input-tools.ts
+++ b/packages/kilo-vscode/src/services/input-tools.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import type { KiloConnectionService } from "./cli-backend/connection-service"
 import { routeAutocompleteMessage } from "./autocomplete/settings"
 import { handleSpeechToTextCancel, handleSpeechToTextStart, handleSpeechToTextStop } from "../speech-to-text/handler"
+import { prewarmSpeechCapture } from "../speech-to-text/capture"
 
 type Msg = {
   type: string
@@ -18,6 +19,11 @@ type Ctx = {
 export async function routeInputToolMessage(message: Msg, ctx: Ctx): Promise<boolean> {
   if (await routeAutocompleteMessage(message, ctx.post)) return true
 
+  if (message.type === "speechToTextPrewarm") {
+    void prewarmSpeechCapture().catch((err) => console.warn("[Kilo New] Speech capture prewarm failed:", err))
+    return true
+  }
+
   if (message.type === "speechToTextStart") {
     if (!message.requestId) return true
     handleSpeechToTextStart(
diff --git a/packages/kilo-vscode/src/speech-to-text/capture.ts b/packages/kilo-vscode/src/speech-to-text/capture.ts
index 03efa67aaffc..a2d61885bc72 100644
--- a/packages/kilo-vscode/src/speech-to-text/capture.ts
+++ b/packages/kilo-vscode/src/speech-to-text/capture.ts
@@ -36,13 +36,18 @@ type Args = {
 
 let active: Recording | undefined
 let starting: string | undefined
+let ffmpeg: Promise<string> | undefined
+
+export async function prewarmSpeechCapture(): Promise<void> {
+  await resolveFFmpeg()
+}
 
 export async function startSpeechCapture(input: Input): Promise<boolean> {
   if (active || starting) throw new Error("Speech recording is already in progress")
 
   starting = input.requestId
   try {
-    const bin = await findFFmpeg()
+    const bin = await resolveFFmpeg()
     const file = path.join(os.tmpdir(), `kilo-stt-${process.pid}-${Date.now()}.wav`)
     const state = await startWithArgs(bin, file, input, await inputArgSets(bin))
     return !state.stopped
@@ -229,6 +234,23 @@ function requireActive(requestId: string): Recording {
   return active
 }
 
+async function resolveFFmpeg(): Promise<string> {
+  if (ffmpeg) {
+    const bin = await ffmpeg
+    if (!path.isAbsolute(bin) || existsSync(bin)) return bin
+    ffmpeg = undefined
+  }
+
+  const task = findFFmpeg()
+  ffmpeg = task
+  try {
+    return await task
+  } catch (err) {
+    if (ffmpeg === task) ffmpeg = undefined
+    throw err
+  }
+}
+
 async function findFFmpeg(): Promise<string> {
   const paths = [
     process.env.KILO_FFMPEG_PATH,
diff --git a/packages/kilo-vscode/tests/unit/speech-to-text-prewarm.test.ts b/packages/kilo-vscode/tests/unit/speech-to-text-prewarm.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..b8ce811bdc41
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/kilo-vscode/tests/unit/speech-to-text-prewarm.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from "bun:test"
+import path from "node:path"
+
+const ROOT = path.resolve(import.meta.dir, "../..")
+
+describe("speech-to-text prewarm", () => {
+  it("starts only after Kilo speech access becomes available", () => {
+    const result = Bun.spawnSync(
+      [
+        "bun",
+        "--conditions=browser",
+        "-e",
+        `
+          import { Window } from "happy-dom"
+
+          const window = new Window()
+          globalThis.window = window
+          globalThis.document = window.document
+          globalThis.Node = window.Node
+
+          const sent = []
+          globalThis.acquireVsCodeApi = () => ({
+            postMessage: (message) => sent.push(message),
+            getState: () => undefined,
+            setState: () => {},
+          })
+
+          const { createComponent, createSignal } = await import("solid-js")
+          const { render } = await import("solid-js/web")
+          const { ConfigContext } = await import("./webview-ui/src/context/config.tsx")
+          const { ProviderContext } = await import("./webview-ui/src/context/provider.tsx")
+          const { SpeechToTextPrewarm } = await import(
+            "./webview-ui/src/components/speech-to-text/SpeechToTextPrewarm.tsx"
+          )
+
+          const [config, setConfig] = createSignal({ disabled_providers: ["kilo"] })
+          const [auth, setAuth] = createSignal({})
+          const root = document.createElement("div")
+          const dispose = render(
+            () =>
+              createComponent(ProviderContext.Provider, {
+                value: { authStates: auth },
+                get children() {
+                  return createComponent(ConfigContext.Provider, {
+                    value: { config },
+                    get children() {
+                      return createComponent(SpeechToTextPrewarm, {})
+                    },
+                  })
+                },
+              }),
+            root,
+          )
+
+          if (sent.length !== 0) throw new Error("prewarmed without Kilo access")
+          setAuth({ kilo: "api" })
+          if (sent.length !== 0) throw new Error("prewarmed while Kilo was disabled")
+          setConfig({})
+          if (sent.length !== 1 || sent[0]?.type !== "speechToTextPrewarm") {
+            throw new Error("did not prewarm after Kilo access became available")
+          }
+          setAuth({ kilo: "oauth" })
+          if (sent.length !== 1) throw new Error("prewarmed more than once")
+          dispose()
+        `,
+      ],
+      { cwd: ROOT, stdout: "pipe", stderr: "pipe" },
+    )
+
+    const output = result.stdout.toString() + result.stderr.toString()
+    expect(result.exitCode, output).toBe(0)
+  })
+})
diff --git a/packages/kilo-vscode/tests/unit/use-speech-to-text.test.ts b/packages/kilo-vscode/tests/unit/use-speech-to-text.test.ts
index ae28f0b41718..3b406e9cdd9f 100644
--- a/packages/kilo-vscode/tests/unit/use-speech-to-text.test.ts
+++ b/packages/kilo-vscode/tests/unit/use-speech-to-text.test.ts
@@ -41,6 +41,59 @@ function setup() {
 }
 
 describe("useSpeechToText", () => {
+  it("waits for microphone readiness before reporting recording", () => {
+    const ctx = setup()
+
+    ctx.speech.start({ model: "scribe", insert: () => {} })
+    const start = ctx.sent[0]
+    if (start?.type !== "speechToTextStart") throw new Error("speech start message missing")
+
+    expect(ctx.speech.state()).toBe("starting")
+    expect(ctx.speech.active()).toBe(true)
+
+    ctx.fire({ type: "speechToTextStarted", requestId: "another-request" })
+    expect(ctx.speech.state()).toBe("starting")
+
+    ctx.fire({ type: "speechToTextStarted", requestId: start.requestId })
+    expect(ctx.speech.state()).toBe("recording")
+    ctx.dispose()
+  })
+
+  it("does not stop or start another recording while the microphone is starting", () => {
+    const ctx = setup()
+
+    ctx.speech.start({ model: "scribe", insert: () => {} })
+    const start = ctx.sent[0]
+    if (start?.type !== "speechToTextStart") throw new Error("speech start message missing")
+
+    ctx.speech.stop()
+    ctx.speech.start({ model: "other", insert: () => {} })
+    expect(ctx.speech.state()).toBe("starting")
+    expect(ctx.sent).toEqual([start])
+
+    ctx.fire({ type: "speechToTextStarted", requestId: start.requestId })
+    ctx.speech.stop()
+    expect(ctx.speech.state()).toBe("transcribing")
+    expect(ctx.sent[1]).toEqual({ type: "speechToTextStop", requestId: start.requestId })
+    ctx.dispose()
+  })
+
+  it("cancels a pending microphone startup and ignores its late acknowledgement", () => {
+    const ctx = setup()
+
+    ctx.speech.start({ model: "scribe", insert: () => {} })
+    const start = ctx.sent[0]
+    if (start?.type !== "speechToTextStart") throw new Error("speech start message missing")
+
+    ctx.speech.cancel()
+    expect(ctx.sent[1]).toEqual({ type: "speechToTextCancel", requestId: start.requestId })
+    expect(ctx.speech.state()).toBe("idle")
+
+    ctx.fire({ type: "speechToTextStarted", requestId: start.requestId })
+    expect(ctx.speech.state()).toBe("idle")
+    ctx.dispose()
+  })
+
   it("offers sign-in when stored credentials stop authenticating", () => {
     const ctx = setup()
 
@@ -70,6 +123,7 @@ describe("useSpeechToText", () => {
     ctx.speech.start({ model: "scribe", insert: (value) => text.push(value) })
     const start = ctx.sent[0]
     if (start?.type !== "speechToTextStart") throw new Error("speech start message missing")
+    ctx.fire({ type: "speechToTextStarted", requestId: start.requestId })
 
     ctx.speech.stop({ done: () => done++ })
     ctx.fire({ type: "speechToTextResult", requestId: start.requestId, text: "Recorded prompt" })
@@ -87,6 +141,7 @@ describe("useSpeechToText", () => {
     ctx.speech.start({ model: "scribe", insert: () => {} })
     const start = ctx.sent[0]
     if (start?.type !== "speechToTextStart") throw new Error("speech start message missing")
+    ctx.fire({ type: "speechToTextStarted", requestId: start.requestId })
 
     ctx.speech.stop({ done: () => done++ })
     ctx.speech.cancel()
@@ -105,6 +160,7 @@ describe("useSpeechToText", () => {
     ctx.speech.start({ model: "scribe", insert: (value) => text.push(value) })
     const start = ctx.sent[0]
     if (start?.type !== "speechToTextStart") throw new Error("speech start message missing")
+    ctx.fire({ type: "speechToTextStarted", requestId: start.requestId })
 
     ctx.speech.stop({ done: () => done++, ready: () => false })
     ctx.fire({ type: "speechToTextResult", requestId: start.requestId, text: "Keep as draft" })
diff --git a/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/agent-manager/AgentManagerApp.tsx b/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/agent-manager/AgentManagerApp.tsx
index a092686fcb55..1363d949cf6b 100644
--- a/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/agent-manager/AgentManagerApp.tsx
+++ b/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/agent-manager/AgentManagerApp.tsx
@@ -83,6 +83,7 @@ import { FeedbackProvider } from "../src/context/feedback"
 import { SessionProvider, useSession } from "../src/context/session"
 import { WorktreeModeProvider } from "../src/context/worktree-mode"
 import { ChatView } from "../src/components/chat"
+import { SpeechToTextPrewarm } from "../src/components/speech-to-text/SpeechToTextPrewarm"
 import HistoryView from "../src/components/history/HistoryView"
 import { NewWorktreeDialog } from "./NewWorktreeDialog"
 import { DataBridge, MermaidDownloadBridge } from "../src/App"
@@ -3131,6 +3132,7 @@ export const AgentManagerApp: Component = () => {
                     <FileComponentProvider component={File}>
                       <ProviderProvider>
                         <ConfigProvider>
+                          <SpeechToTextPrewarm />
                           <DisplayProvider>
                             <IndexingProvider>
                               <KiloEmbeddingModelsProvider>
diff --git a/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/diff-viewer/DiffViewerApp.tsx b/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/diff-viewer/DiffViewerApp.tsx
index a60338c62c3a..5ab642292e15 100644
--- a/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/diff-viewer/DiffViewerApp.tsx
+++ b/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/diff-viewer/DiffViewerApp.tsx
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ import type { DiffSourceCapabilities, DiffSourceDescriptor } from "../../src/dif
 import type { DiffViewerNotice } from "../src/types/messages/extension-messages"
 import { DiffPickerHeader } from "./DiffPickerHeader"
 import { BaseBranchPicker } from "./BaseBranchPicker"
+import { SpeechToTextPrewarm } from "../src/components/speech-to-text/SpeechToTextPrewarm"
 
 const NOTICE_KEYS: Record<DiffViewerNotice, string> = {
   "snapshots-disabled": "diffViewer.notice.snapshotsDisabled",
@@ -305,6 +306,7 @@ export const DiffViewerApp: Component = () => {
           <ServerProvider>
             <ProviderProvider>
               <ConfigProvider>
+                <SpeechToTextPrewarm />
                 <DiffViewerShell />
               </ConfigProvider>
             </ProviderProvider>
diff --git a/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/App.tsx b/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/App.tsx
index de57030df631..d47cf5d952f6 100644
--- a/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/App.tsx
+++ b/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/App.tsx
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ import { ChatView } from "./components/chat"
 import { SidebarEmptyState } from "./components/chat/SidebarEmptyState"
 import { registerExpandedTaskTool } from "./components/chat/TaskToolExpanded"
 import { registerVscodeToolOverrides } from "./components/chat/VscodeToolOverrides"
+import { SpeechToTextPrewarm } from "./components/speech-to-text/SpeechToTextPrewarm"
 
 // Override the upstream "task" tool renderer with the fully-expanded version
 // that shows child session parts inline in the VS Code sidebar.
@@ -378,6 +379,7 @@ const App: Component = () => {
                     <FileComponentProvider component={File}>
                       <ProviderProvider>
                         <ConfigProvider>
+                          <SpeechToTextPrewarm />
                           <DisplayProvider>
                             <WorkStyleProvider>
                               <IndexingProvider>
diff --git a/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/components/speech-to-text/SpeechToTextButton.tsx b/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/components/speech-to-text/SpeechToTextButton.tsx
index 3da53666ec70..ade6048443c5 100644
--- a/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/components/speech-to-text/SpeechToTextButton.tsx
+++ b/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/components/speech-to-text/SpeechToTextButton.tsx
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import { Button } from "@kilocode/kilo-ui/button"
 import { Tooltip } from "@kilocode/kilo-ui/tooltip"
 import { Spinner } from "@kilocode/kilo-ui/spinner"
-import type { Component } from "solid-js"
+import { onCleanup, type Component } from "solid-js"
 import type { SpeechToText } from "./useSpeechToText"
 
 type Props = {
@@ -12,8 +12,10 @@ type Props = {
 }
 
 export const SpeechToTextButton: Component<Props> = (props) => {
-  const disabled = () => !!props.disabled
+  const unavailable = () => !!props.disabled && props.speech.state() === "idle"
+  const busy = () => props.speech.state() === "starting" || props.speech.state() === "transcribing"
   const label = () => {
+    if (props.speech.state() === "starting") return props.label("speechToText.tooltip.starting")
     if (props.speech.state() === "recording") return props.label("speechToText.tooltip.stop")
     if (props.speech.state() === "transcribing") return props.label("speechToText.tooltip.transcribing")
     if (props.speech.state() === "error") return props.speech.error() || props.label("speechToText.tooltip.error")
@@ -21,6 +23,7 @@ export const SpeechToTextButton: Component<Props> = (props) => {
   }
 
   const click = () => {
+    if (props.speech.state() === "starting") return
     if (props.speech.state() === "recording") {
       props.speech.stop()
       return
@@ -33,22 +36,28 @@ export const SpeechToTextButton: Component<Props> = (props) => {
       props.speech.clear()
       return
     }
-    if (disabled()) return
+    if (unavailable()) return
     props.start()
   }
 
+  onCleanup(() => {
+    if (props.speech.active()) props.speech.cancel()
+  })
+
   return (
     <Tooltip value={label()} placement="top">
       <Button
         variant="ghost"
         size="small"
         onClick={click}
-        disabled={disabled()}
+        disabled={unavailable()}
         aria-label={label()}
+        aria-disabled={unavailable() || props.speech.state() === "starting"}
+        aria-busy={busy()}
         aria-pressed={props.speech.state() === "recording"}
         class={`prompt-speech-button prompt-speech-button--${props.speech.state()}`}
       >
-        {props.speech.state() === "transcribing" ? (
+        {busy() ? (
           <Spinner style={{ width: "16px", height: "16px" }} />
         ) : (
           <svg class="prompt-speech-icon" width="16" height="16" viewBox="0 0 16 16" fill="none" aria-hidden="true">
diff --git a/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/components/speech-to-text/SpeechToTextPrewarm.tsx b/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/components/speech-to-text/SpeechToTextPrewarm.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..5b05b49a4cd4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/components/speech-to-text/SpeechToTextPrewarm.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+import { createEffect, type Component } from "solid-js"
+import { useConfig } from "../../context/config"
+import { useProvider } from "../../context/provider"
+import { getVSCodeAPI } from "../../context/vscode"
+import { canUseSpeechToText } from "./availability"
+
+export const SpeechToTextPrewarm: Component = () => {
+  const vscode = getVSCodeAPI()
+  const provider = useProvider()
+  const { config } = useConfig()
+  let prepared = false
+
+  createEffect(() => {
+    if (prepared || !canUseSpeechToText(config(), provider.authStates())) return
+    prepared = true
+    vscode.postMessage({ type: "speechToTextPrewarm" })
+  })
+
+  return null
+}
diff --git a/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/components/speech-to-text/useSpeechToText.ts b/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/components/speech-to-text/useSpeechToText.ts
index 7deb0c06721e..db5b518bc9e3 100644
--- a/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/components/speech-to-text/useSpeechToText.ts
+++ b/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/components/speech-to-text/useSpeechToText.ts
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ type Lang = {
   t: (key: string) => string
 }
 
-export type SpeechState = "idle" | "recording" | "transcribing" | "error"
+export type SpeechState = "idle" | "starting" | "recording" | "transcribing" | "error"
 
 export type InsertTranscript = (text: string) => void
 
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ export type SpeechToText = {
 export function useSpeechToText(vscode: VSCode, server: Server, lang: Lang): SpeechToText {
   const [state, setState] = createSignal<SpeechState>("idle")
   const [error, setError] = createSignal<string | undefined>()
-  const active = () => state() === "recording" || state() === "transcribing"
+  const active = () => state() === "starting" || state() === "recording" || state() === "transcribing"
   const prefix = globalThis.crypto?.randomUUID?.() ?? `stt-${Math.random().toString(36).slice(2)}`
 
   let request = ""
@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@ export function useSpeechToText(vscode: VSCode, server: Server, lang: Lang): Spe
     if (msg.requestId !== request) return
 
     if (msg.type === "speechToTextStarted") {
+      if (state() !== "starting") return
       setState("recording")
       return
     }
@@ -103,7 +104,7 @@ export function useSpeechToText(vscode: VSCode, server: Server, lang: Lang): Spe
 
     counter++
     request = `${prefix}-${counter}`
-    setState("recording")
+    setState("starting")
     vscode.postMessage({
       type: "speechToTextStart",
       requestId: request,
diff --git a/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/ar.ts b/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/ar.ts
index d0d94f0e521b..c56c6c523e4a 100644
--- a/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/ar.ts
+++ b/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/ar.ts
@@ -312,6 +312,7 @@ export const dict = {
     "انقر لتقييد الكتابة في نظام الملفات. يظل الوصول إلى الشبكة مسموحًا وفق إعدادات sandbox.",
 
   "speechToText.tooltip.start": "بدء الإدخال الصوتي باستخدام Kilo Gateway",
+  "speechToText.tooltip.starting": "جارٍ تشغيل الميكروفون... يُرجى الانتظار قبل التحدث.",
   "speechToText.tooltip.stop": "إيقاف التقاط الصوت",
   "speechToText.tooltip.transcribing": "جاري تحويل الصوت إلى نص... انقر للإلغاء.",
   "speechToText.tooltip.error": "فشل الإدخال الصوتي. انقر للمسح.",
diff --git a/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/br.ts b/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/br.ts
index e7e79d59a090..754d4b24bc66 100644
--- a/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/br.ts
+++ b/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/br.ts
@@ -319,6 +319,7 @@ export const dict = {
     "Clique para restringir as operações de escrita no sistema de arquivos. O acesso à rede continua permitido pelas configurações do sandbox.",
 
   "speechToText.tooltip.start": "Iniciar entrada de voz com o Kilo Gateway",
+  "speechToText.tooltip.starting": "Iniciando o microfone... Aguarde antes de falar.",
   "speechToText.tooltip.stop": "Parar captura",
   "speechToText.tooltip.transcribing": "Transcrevendo... Clique para cancelar.",
   "speechToText.tooltip.error": "Falha na entrada de voz. Clique para limpar.",
diff --git a/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/bs.ts b/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/bs.ts
index 310add1f5c57..1157f3ab1609 100644
--- a/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/bs.ts
+++ b/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/bs.ts
@@ -317,6 +317,7 @@ export const dict = {
     "Kliknite da ograničite pisanje u datotečni sistem. Pristup mreži ostaje dozvoljen prema vašim sandbox postavkama.",
 
   "speechToText.tooltip.start": "Započni glasovni unos sa Kilo Gateway",
+  "speechToText.tooltip.starting": "Pokretanje mikrofona... Sačekajte prije nego što progovorite.",
   "speechToText.tooltip.stop": "Zaustavi hvatanje zvuka",
   "speechToText.tooltip.transcribing": "Prepisivanje... Kliknite da otkažete.",
   "speechToText.tooltip.error": "Glasovni unos nije uspio. Kliknite da očistite.",
diff --git a/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/da.ts b/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/da.ts
index 5c777244818b..413575eb147b 100644
--- a/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/da.ts
+++ b/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/da.ts
@@ -316,6 +316,7 @@ export const dict = {
     "Klik for at begrænse skriveadgang til filsystemet. Netværksadgang er fortsat tilladt ifølge dine sandboxindstillinger.",
 
   "speechToText.tooltip.start": "Start stemmeinput med Kilo Gateway",
+  "speechToText.tooltip.starting": "Starter mikrofonen... Vent med at tale.",
   "speechToText.tooltip.stop": "Stop lydoptagelse",
   "speechToText.tooltip.transcribing": "Transskriberer... Klik for at annullere.",
   "speechToText.tooltip.error": "Stemmeinput mislykkedes. Klik for at rydde.",
diff --git a/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/de.ts b/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/de.ts
index f4cadb4b058b..f116eb6b2111 100644
--- a/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/de.ts
+++ b/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/de.ts
@@ -320,6 +320,7 @@ export const dict = {
     "Klicken, um Schreibvorgänge im Dateisystem einzuschränken. Der Netzwerkzugriff bleibt gemäß deinen Sandbox-Einstellungen erlaubt.",
 
   "speechToText.tooltip.start": "Spracheingabe mit Kilo Gateway starten",
+  "speechToText.tooltip.starting": "Mikrofon wird gestartet... Bitte noch nicht sprechen.",
   "speechToText.tooltip.stop": "Audioerfassung beenden",
   "speechToText.tooltip.transcribing": "Transkribieren... Zum Abbrechen klicken.",
   "speechToText.tooltip.error": "Spracheingabe fehlgeschlagen. Zum Löschen klicken.",
diff --git a/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/en.ts b/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/en.ts
index 6742d57bef12..c330871c0cba 100644
--- a/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/en.ts
+++ b/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/en.ts
@@ -360,7 +360,8 @@ export const dict = {
   "prompt.action.enhanceDescription":
     "The 'Enhance Prompt' button helps improve your prompt by providing additional context, clarification, or rephrasing. Try typing a prompt in here and clicking the button again to see how it works.",
   "speechToText.tooltip.start": "Start voice input with Kilo Gateway",
-  "speechToText.tooltip.stop": "Stop capturing",
+  "speechToText.tooltip.starting": "Starting microphone... Wait to speak.",
+  "speechToText.tooltip.stop": "Recording. Click to stop.",
   "speechToText.tooltip.transcribing": "Transcribing... Click to cancel.",
   "speechToText.tooltip.error": "Speech input failed. Click to clear.",
   "speechToText.error.title": "Speech input failed",
diff --git a/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/es.ts b/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/es.ts
index 99ae82e6df0a..cc644105464c 100644
--- a/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/es.ts
+++ b/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/es.ts
@@ -319,6 +319,7 @@ export const dict = {
     "Haz clic para restringir las escrituras en el sistema de archivos. El acceso a la red seguirá permitido según la configuración de tu sandbox.",
 
   "speechToText.tooltip.start": "Iniciar entrada de voz con Kilo Gateway",
+  "speechToText.tooltip.starting": "Iniciando el micrófono... Espera antes de hablar.",
   "speechToText.tooltip.stop": "Detener captura",
   "speechToText.tooltip.transcribing": "Transcribiendo... Haz clic para cancelar.",
   "speechToText.tooltip.error": "Falló la entrada de voz. Haz clic para borrar.",
diff --git a/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/fr.ts b/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/fr.ts
index e39fdefb54db..0eff6dea016a 100644
--- a/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/fr.ts
+++ b/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/fr.ts
@@ -320,6 +320,7 @@ export const dict = {
     "Cliquez pour restreindre les écritures dans le système de fichiers. L'accès au réseau reste autorisé par vos paramètres de sandbox.",
 
   "speechToText.tooltip.start": "Démarrer la saisie vocale avec Kilo Gateway",
+  "speechToText.tooltip.starting": "Démarrage du microphone... Attendez avant de parler.",
   "speechToText.tooltip.stop": "Arrêter la capture audio",
   "speechToText.tooltip.transcribing": "Transcription en cours... Cliquez pour annuler.",
   "speechToText.tooltip.error": "La saisie vocale a échoué. Cliquez pour effacer.",
diff --git a/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/it.ts b/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/it.ts
index fd3f645aefd1..51b2029d612f 100644
--- a/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/it.ts
+++ b/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/it.ts
@@ -1641,6 +1641,7 @@ export const dict = {
 
   // Speech to Text tooltips and errors
   "speechToText.tooltip.start": "Avvia input vocale con Kilo Gateway",
+  "speechToText.tooltip.starting": "Avvio del microfono... Attendi prima di parlare.",
   "speechToText.tooltip.stop": "Interrompi acquisizione",
   "speechToText.tooltip.transcribing": "Trascrizione... Fai clic per annullare.",
   "speechToText.tooltip.error": "Input vocale fallito. Fai clic per cancellare.",
diff --git a/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/ja.ts b/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/ja.ts
index 6cd6423591c6..df248b01dc2b 100644
--- a/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/ja.ts
+++ b/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/ja.ts
@@ -315,6 +315,7 @@ export const dict = {
     "クリックすると、ファイルシステムへの書き込みを制限します。サンドボックス設定により、ネットワークアクセスは引き続き許可されます。",
 
   "speechToText.tooltip.start": "Kilo Gatewayで音声入力を開始",
+  "speechToText.tooltip.starting": "マイクを起動中... まだ話さないでください。",
   "speechToText.tooltip.stop": "音声キャプチャを停止",
   "speechToText.tooltip.transcribing": "文字起こし中... クリックしてキャンセル。",
   "speechToText.tooltip.error": "音声入力に失敗しました。クリックしてクリア。",
diff --git a/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/ko.ts b/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/ko.ts
index 04c2fc699a6d..6f5f81ab0c36 100644
--- a/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/ko.ts
+++ b/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/ko.ts
@@ -314,6 +314,7 @@ export const dict = {
     "클릭하면 파일 시스템 쓰기를 제한합니다. 샌드박스 설정에 따라 네트워크 액세스는 계속 허용됩니다.",
 
   "speechToText.tooltip.start": "Kilo Gateway로 음성 입력 시작",
+  "speechToText.tooltip.starting": "마이크를 시작하는 중... 잠시 후 말씀해 주세요.",
   "speechToText.tooltip.stop": "음성 캡처 중지",
   "speechToText.tooltip.transcribing": "변환 중... 취소하려면 클릭하세요.",
   "speechToText.tooltip.error": "음성 입력에 실패했습니다. 지우려면 클릭하세요.",
diff --git a/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/nl.ts b/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/nl.ts
index 15e07ecddd8f..b8995977da4d 100644
--- a/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/nl.ts
+++ b/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/nl.ts
@@ -319,6 +319,7 @@ export const dict = {
     "Klik om schrijfbewerkingen in het bestandssysteem te beperken. Netwerktoegang blijft toegestaan volgens je sandboxinstellingen.",
 
   "speechToText.tooltip.start": "Spraakinvoer starten met Kilo Gateway",
+  "speechToText.tooltip.starting": "Microfoon wordt gestart... Wacht nog even met spreken.",
   "speechToText.tooltip.stop": "Audio vastleggen stoppen",
   "speechToText.tooltip.transcribing": "Transcriberen... Klik om te annuleren.",
   "speechToText.tooltip.error": "Spraakinvoer mislukt. Klik om te wissen.",
diff --git a/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/no.ts b/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/no.ts
index 2e1f8aee272e..a914a12fc9d0 100644
--- a/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/no.ts
+++ b/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/no.ts
@@ -319,6 +319,7 @@ export const dict = {
     "Klikk for å begrense skrivetilgang til filsystemet. Nettverkstilgang er fortsatt tillatt av sandbox-innstillingene dine.",
 
   "speechToText.tooltip.start": "Start taleinndata med Kilo Gateway",
+  "speechToText.tooltip.starting": "Starter mikrofonen... Vent med å snakke.",
   "speechToText.tooltip.stop": "Stopp lydfangst",
   "speechToText.tooltip.transcribing": "Transkriberer... Klikk for å avbryte.",
   "speechToText.tooltip.error": "Taleinndata mislyktes. Klikk for å tømme.",
diff --git a/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/pl.ts b/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/pl.ts
index 921c0b5793ae..28859829d74c 100644
--- a/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/pl.ts
+++ b/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/pl.ts
@@ -317,6 +317,7 @@ export const dict = {
     "Kliknij, aby ograniczyć zapisy w systemie plików. Ustawienia sandboxa nadal zezwalają na dostęp do sieci.",
 
   "speechToText.tooltip.start": "Rozpocznij wprowadzanie głosowe z Kilo Gateway",
+  "speechToText.tooltip.starting": "Uruchamianie mikrofonu... Poczekaj, zanim zaczniesz mówić.",
   "speechToText.tooltip.stop": "Zatrzymaj przechwytywanie dźwięku",
   "speechToText.tooltip.transcribing": "Transkrybowanie... Kliknij, aby anulować.",
   "speechToText.tooltip.error": "Wprowadzanie głosowe nie powiodło się. Kliknij, aby wyczyścić.",
diff --git a/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/ru.ts b/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/ru.ts
index 1fb900ca7813..5d152d98bfda 100644
--- a/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/ru.ts
+++ b/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/ru.ts
@@ -314,6 +314,7 @@ export const dict = {
     "Нажмите, чтобы ограничить запись в файловую систему. Доступ к сети останется разрешённым согласно настройкам песочницы.",
 
   "speechToText.tooltip.start": "Начать голосовой ввод с Kilo Gateway",
+  "speechToText.tooltip.starting": "Запуск микрофона... Пока не говорите.",
   "speechToText.tooltip.stop": "Остановить захват звука",
   "speechToText.tooltip.transcribing": "Распознавание... Нажмите для отмены.",
   "speechToText.tooltip.error": "Ошибка голосового ввода. Нажмите, чтобы очистить.",
diff --git a/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/th.ts b/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/th.ts
index 87a88c2a7e69..ccefd4d83abc 100644
--- a/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/th.ts
+++ b/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/th.ts
@@ -315,6 +315,7 @@ export const dict = {
     "คลิกเพื่อจำกัดการเขียนในระบบไฟล์ การตั้งค่า sandbox ของคุณยังคงอนุญาตให้เข้าถึงเครือข่าย",
 
   "speechToText.tooltip.start": "เริ่มการป้อนข้อมูลด้วยเสียงด้วย Kilo Gateway",
+  "speechToText.tooltip.starting": "กำลังเริ่มไมโครโฟน... โปรดรอก่อนพูด",
   "speechToText.tooltip.stop": "หยุดจับเสียง",
   "speechToText.tooltip.transcribing": "กำลังถอดเสียง... คลิกเพื่อยกเลิก",
   "speechToText.tooltip.error": "การป้อนข้อมูลด้วยเสียงล้มเหลว คลิกเพื่อล้าง",
diff --git a/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/tr.ts b/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/tr.ts
index 6999fa62ee04..ed85b6b9ea90 100644
--- a/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/tr.ts
+++ b/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/tr.ts
@@ -315,6 +315,7 @@ export const dict = {
     "Dosya sistemi yazma işlemlerini kısıtlamak için tıklayın. Sandbox ayarlarınız ağ erişimine izin vermeye devam ediyor.",
 
   "speechToText.tooltip.start": "Kilo Gateway ile sesli girişi başlatın",
+  "speechToText.tooltip.starting": "Mikrofon başlatılıyor... Henüz konuşmayın.",
   "speechToText.tooltip.stop": "Ses yakalamayı durdur",
   "speechToText.tooltip.transcribing": "Metne dönüştürülüyor... İptal etmek için tıklayın.",
   "speechToText.tooltip.error": "Sesli giriş başarısız oldu. Temizlemek için tıklayın.",
diff --git a/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/uk.ts b/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/uk.ts
index decb26cabb5f..0e8a98ebafd9 100644
--- a/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/uk.ts
+++ b/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/uk.ts
@@ -316,6 +316,7 @@ export const dict = {
     "Натисніть, щоб обмежити запис у файлову систему. Доступ до мережі залишиться дозволеним відповідно до налаштувань пісочниці.",
 
   "speechToText.tooltip.start": "Почати голосове введення з Kilo Gateway",
+  "speechToText.tooltip.starting": "Запуск мікрофона... Поки що не говоріть.",
   "speechToText.tooltip.stop": "Зупинити захоплення звуку",
   "speechToText.tooltip.transcribing": "Транскрибування... Натисніть, щоб скасувати.",
   "speechToText.tooltip.error": "Помилка голосового введення. Натисніть, щоб очистити.",
diff --git a/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/zh.ts b/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/zh.ts
index 05aff59870a3..c6318c78cb83 100644
--- a/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/zh.ts
+++ b/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/zh.ts
@@ -310,6 +310,7 @@ export const dict = {
     "点击以限制文件系统写入。根据你的沙盒设置，网络访问仍然允许。",
 
   "speechToText.tooltip.start": "使用 Kilo Gateway 开始语音输入",
+  "speechToText.tooltip.starting": "正在启动麦克风... 请稍后再说。",
   "speechToText.tooltip.stop": "停止捕获音频",
   "speechToText.tooltip.transcribing": "正在转录... 点击取消。",
   "speechToText.tooltip.error": "语音输入失败。点击清除。",
diff --git a/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/zht.ts b/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/zht.ts
index f5744b078dd7..38cb21e0e20f 100644
--- a/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/zht.ts
+++ b/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/i18n/zht.ts
@@ -308,6 +308,7 @@ export const dict = {
   "prompt.action.sandbox.description.disabledNetworkAllowed": "點擊以限制檔案系統寫入。沙盒設定仍允許網路存取。",
 
   "speechToText.tooltip.start": "使用 Kilo Gateway 開始語音輸入",
+  "speechToText.tooltip.starting": "正在啟動麥克風... 請稍後再說。",
   "speechToText.tooltip.stop": "停止擷取音訊",
   "speechToText.tooltip.transcribing": "正在轉錄... 點擊取消。",
   "speechToText.tooltip.error": "語音輸入失敗。點擊清除。",
diff --git a/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/types/messages/webview-messages.ts b/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/types/messages/webview-messages.ts
index a0325f45cad3..92351b995429 100644
--- a/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/types/messages/webview-messages.ts
+++ b/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/types/messages/webview-messages.ts
@@ -340,6 +340,10 @@ export interface RequestChatCompletionMessage {
   requestId: string
 }
 
+export interface SpeechToTextPrewarmMessage {
+  type: "speechToTextPrewarm"
+}
+
 export interface SpeechToTextStartMessage {
   type: "speechToTextStart"
   requestId: string
@@ -1185,6 +1189,7 @@ export type WebviewMessage =
   | ExportSessionTranscriptRequest
   | RequestAutocompleteSettingsMessage
   | RequestChatCompletionMessage
+  | SpeechToTextPrewarmMessage
   | SpeechToTextStartMessage
   | SpeechToTextStopMessage
   | SpeechToTextCancelMessage

From 12b75fcb815463b408699355313a26ff5a6426ac Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: marius-kilocode <marius@kilocode.ai>
Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2026 17:40:04 +0200
Subject: [PATCH 2/2] test(vscode): deterministic speech-to-text prewarm test

Run the prewarm child from webview-ui so JSX resolves via solid-js instead of falling back to react/jsx-dev-runtime, which only resolved when react happened to be hoisted nearby and otherwise failed the spawn at ~80ms. Assert on an explicit PASS/FAIL sentinel: real prewarm-logic failures surface immediately while transient spawn failures retry.
---
 .../tests/unit/speech-to-text-prewarm.test.ts | 151 +++++++++++-------
 1 file changed, 91 insertions(+), 60 deletions(-)

diff --git a/packages/kilo-vscode/tests/unit/speech-to-text-prewarm.test.ts b/packages/kilo-vscode/tests/unit/speech-to-text-prewarm.test.ts
index b8ce811bdc41..48288a0c5323 100644
--- a/packages/kilo-vscode/tests/unit/speech-to-text-prewarm.test.ts
+++ b/packages/kilo-vscode/tests/unit/speech-to-text-prewarm.test.ts
@@ -1,73 +1,104 @@
 import { describe, expect, it } from "bun:test"
 import path from "node:path"
 
-const ROOT = path.resolve(import.meta.dir, "../..")
+// Run from webview-ui so the child transpiles JSX with solid-js (its tsconfig sets
+// jsxImportSource: solid-js). The package root tsconfig has no jsx setting, which makes
+// bun fall back to react/jsx-dev-runtime and fail whenever react isn't hoisted nearby.
+const WEBVIEW = path.resolve(import.meta.dir, "../../webview-ui")
 
-describe("speech-to-text prewarm", () => {
-  it("starts only after Kilo speech access becomes available", () => {
-    const result = Bun.spawnSync(
-      [
-        "bun",
-        "--conditions=browser",
-        "-e",
-        `
-          import { Window } from "happy-dom"
+// solid-js effects only run under the browser export condition, so the component has to be
+// exercised in a child process resolved with `--conditions=browser`. The child prints an
+// explicit PASS/FAIL sentinel: a FAIL means the prewarm logic is wrong (fail immediately),
+// while any other non-zero exit is a transient spawn failure under load and is retried so
+// the suite stays deterministic.
+const PASS = "PREWARM_PASS"
+const FAIL = "PREWARM_FAIL:"
+
+const SCRIPT = `
+  import { Window } from "happy-dom"
+
+  const window = new Window()
+  globalThis.window = window
+  globalThis.document = window.document
+  globalThis.Node = window.Node
+
+  const sent = []
+  globalThis.acquireVsCodeApi = () => ({
+    postMessage: (message) => sent.push(message),
+    getState: () => undefined,
+    setState: () => {},
+  })
 
-          const window = new Window()
-          globalThis.window = window
-          globalThis.document = window.document
-          globalThis.Node = window.Node
+  const { createComponent, createSignal } = await import("solid-js")
+  const { render } = await import("solid-js/web")
+  const { ConfigContext } = await import("./src/context/config.tsx")
+  const { ProviderContext } = await import("./src/context/provider.tsx")
+  const { SpeechToTextPrewarm } = await import(
+    "./src/components/speech-to-text/SpeechToTextPrewarm.tsx"
+  )
 
-          const sent = []
-          globalThis.acquireVsCodeApi = () => ({
-            postMessage: (message) => sent.push(message),
-            getState: () => undefined,
-            setState: () => {},
+  const fail = (reason) => {
+    console.log("${FAIL}" + reason)
+    process.exit(2)
+  }
+
+  const [config, setConfig] = createSignal({ disabled_providers: ["kilo"] })
+  const [auth, setAuth] = createSignal({})
+  const root = document.createElement("div")
+  const dispose = render(
+    () =>
+      createComponent(ProviderContext.Provider, {
+        value: { authStates: auth },
+        get children() {
+          return createComponent(ConfigContext.Provider, {
+            value: { config },
+            get children() {
+              return createComponent(SpeechToTextPrewarm, {})
+            },
           })
+        },
+      }),
+    root,
+  )
+
+  if (sent.length !== 0) fail("prewarmed without Kilo access")
+  setAuth({ kilo: "api" })
+  if (sent.length !== 0) fail("prewarmed while Kilo was disabled")
+  setConfig({})
+  if (sent.length !== 1 || sent[0]?.type !== "speechToTextPrewarm") {
+    fail("did not prewarm after Kilo access became available")
+  }
+  setAuth({ kilo: "oauth" })
+  if (sent.length !== 1) fail("prewarmed more than once")
+  dispose()
+  console.log("${PASS}")
+`
+
+describe("speech-to-text prewarm", () => {
+  it("starts only after Kilo speech access becomes available", () => {
+    const attempts = 3
+    const failures: string[] = []
+
+    for (let attempt = 1; attempt <= attempts; attempt++) {
+      const result = Bun.spawnSync(["bun", "--conditions=browser", "-e", SCRIPT], {
+        cwd: WEBVIEW,
+        stdout: "pipe",
+        stderr: "pipe",
+      })
+      const output = result.stdout.toString() + result.stderr.toString()
 
-          const { createComponent, createSignal } = await import("solid-js")
-          const { render } = await import("solid-js/web")
-          const { ConfigContext } = await import("./webview-ui/src/context/config.tsx")
-          const { ProviderContext } = await import("./webview-ui/src/context/provider.tsx")
-          const { SpeechToTextPrewarm } = await import(
-            "./webview-ui/src/components/speech-to-text/SpeechToTextPrewarm.tsx"
-          )
+      if (output.includes(PASS)) return
 
-          const [config, setConfig] = createSignal({ disabled_providers: ["kilo"] })
-          const [auth, setAuth] = createSignal({})
-          const root = document.createElement("div")
-          const dispose = render(
-            () =>
-              createComponent(ProviderContext.Provider, {
-                value: { authStates: auth },
-                get children() {
-                  return createComponent(ConfigContext.Provider, {
-                    value: { config },
-                    get children() {
-                      return createComponent(SpeechToTextPrewarm, {})
-                    },
-                  })
-                },
-              }),
-            root,
-          )
+      const logic = output.indexOf(FAIL)
+      // A FAIL sentinel is a real assertion failure in the prewarm logic — surface it now.
+      if (logic !== -1) {
+        expect.unreachable(output.slice(logic + FAIL.length).split("\n")[0]?.trim())
+      }
 
-          if (sent.length !== 0) throw new Error("prewarmed without Kilo access")
-          setAuth({ kilo: "api" })
-          if (sent.length !== 0) throw new Error("prewarmed while Kilo was disabled")
-          setConfig({})
-          if (sent.length !== 1 || sent[0]?.type !== "speechToTextPrewarm") {
-            throw new Error("did not prewarm after Kilo access became available")
-          }
-          setAuth({ kilo: "oauth" })
-          if (sent.length !== 1) throw new Error("prewarmed more than once")
-          dispose()
-        `,
-      ],
-      { cwd: ROOT, stdout: "pipe", stderr: "pipe" },
-    )
+      // Otherwise the child died before it could run (starved/transient spawn) — retry.
+      failures.push(`attempt ${attempt} exit ${result.exitCode}: ${output.trim() || "<no output>"}`)
+    }
 
-    const output = result.stdout.toString() + result.stderr.toString()
-    expect(result.exitCode, output).toBe(0)
+    expect.unreachable(`prewarm child never reported success:\n${failures.join("\n")}`)
   })
 })