diff --git a/packages/bot/src/functions/music/commands/play/index.spec.ts b/packages/bot/src/functions/music/commands/play/index.spec.ts
index 9d056f370..3d126ebb7 100644
--- a/packages/bot/src/functions/music/commands/play/index.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/bot/src/functions/music/commands/play/index.spec.ts
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ jest.mock('../../../../utils/music/queueResolver', () => ({
 jest.mock('../../../../utils/command/commandValidations', () => ({
     requireVoiceChannel: (interaction: unknown) =>
         requireVoiceChannelMock(interaction),
-    requireDJRole: (...args: unknown[]) => requireDJRoleMock(...args)
+    requireDJRole: (...args: unknown[]) => requireDJRoleMock(...args),
 }))
 
 jest.mock('@lucky/shared/utils', () => ({
@@ -133,6 +133,12 @@ jest.mock('../../../../utils/general/errorSanitizer', () => ({
     createUserFriendlyError: (error: unknown) => 'User friendly error',
 }))
 
+const registerNowPlayingMessageMock = jest.fn()
+jest.mock('../../../../handlers/player/trackNowPlaying', () => ({
+    registerNowPlayingMessage: (...args: unknown[]) =>
+        registerNowPlayingMessageMock(...args),
+}))
+
 import playCommand from './index'
 
 function createInteraction(guildId: string | null) {
@@ -151,6 +157,9 @@ function createInteraction(guildId: string | null) {
         reply: jest.fn(),
         deferReply: jest.fn(),
         editReply: jest.fn(),
+        fetchReply: jest
+            .fn()
+            .mockResolvedValue({ id: 'msg-123', channelId: 'channel-1' }),
     } as any
 }
 
@@ -327,7 +336,9 @@ describe('play command', () => {
         await playCommand.execute({ client, interaction } as any)
 
         expect(errorLogMock).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
-            expect.objectContaining({ message: 'Failed to record contribution' }),
+            expect.objectContaining({
+                message: 'Failed to record contribution',
+            }),
         )
         expect(interactionReplyMock).toHaveBeenCalled()
     })
@@ -718,4 +729,53 @@ describe('play command', () => {
             }),
         )
     })
+
+    it('registers interaction reply as now-playing message to prevent duplicate (queuePosition=0)', async () => {
+        // When the track starts immediately (no pre-existing queue), the /play
+        // interaction reply shows "Now Playing". Without registration, the
+        // playerStart handler sends a second "Now Playing" message. This test
+        // verifies the registration happens so the handler edits instead.
+        const interaction = createInteraction('guild-1')
+        const track = {
+            id: 'track-1',
+            url: 'https://youtube.com/watch?v=abc',
+            title: 'Test Song',
+            author: 'Test Artist',
+            duration: '3:30',
+            thumbnail: null,
+            requestedBy: { id: 'user-1' },
+            metadata: {},
+        }
+
+        resolveGuildQueueMock.mockReturnValue({ queue: null }) // no pre-existing queue
+        const queue = {
+            tracks: { size: 0, toArray: jest.fn(() => []) },
+            repeatMode: 0,
+        }
+        resolveGuildQueueMock
+            .mockReturnValueOnce({ queue: null })
+            .mockReturnValue({ queue })
+
+        await playCommand.execute({
+            client: createClient(
+                async () => ({
+                    track,
+                    searchResult: { playlist: null, tracks: [track] },
+                }),
+                { tracksSize: 0 },
+            ),
+            interaction,
+        } as any)
+
+        await flushPromises()
+
+        // fetchReply must be called and registerNowPlayingMessage invoked with
+        // the reply's id and channelId — this prevents the duplicate embed.
+        expect(interaction.fetchReply).toHaveBeenCalled()
+        expect(registerNowPlayingMessageMock).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+            'guild-1',
+            'msg-123',
+            'channel-1',
+        )
+    })
 })
diff --git a/packages/bot/src/functions/music/commands/play/index.ts b/packages/bot/src/functions/music/commands/play/index.ts
index ce4f825dd..25e5deb48 100644
--- a/packages/bot/src/functions/music/commands/play/index.ts
+++ b/packages/bot/src/functions/music/commands/play/index.ts
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ import {
 } from '../../../../utils/music/queueManipulation'
 import { buildPlayResponseEmbed } from '../../../../utils/music/nowPlayingEmbed'
 import { createMusicControlButtons } from '../../../../utils/music/buttonComponents'
+import { registerNowPlayingMessage } from '../../../../handlers/player/trackNowPlaying'
 import {
     DISCORD_UNKNOWN_INTERACTION_CODE,
     isUnknownInteractionError,
@@ -261,6 +262,23 @@ export default new Command({
                 content: { embeds: [embed], components },
             })
 
+            // When the track starts playing immediately (queuePosition === 0),
+            // register the interaction reply as the "now playing" message so
+            // the playerStart handler edits it (adding buttons) rather than
+            // sending a second "Now Playing" message in the channel.
+            if (queuePosition === 0 && interaction.guildId) {
+                try {
+                    const reply = await interaction.fetchReply()
+                    registerNowPlayingMessage(
+                        interaction.guildId,
+                        reply.id,
+                        reply.channelId,
+                    )
+                } catch {
+                    // non-critical — worst case playerStart sends a fresh message
+                }
+            }
+
             // Start background ops (apply autoplay pref then blend) without awaiting.
             // This lets the response reach the user immediately.
             // The Promise is not awaited, allowing the command handler to return while
diff --git a/packages/bot/src/handlers/player/trackNowPlaying.ts b/packages/bot/src/handlers/player/trackNowPlaying.ts
index fcda9f3f7..af34e41b0 100644
--- a/packages/bot/src/handlers/player/trackNowPlaying.ts
+++ b/packages/bot/src/handlers/player/trackNowPlaying.ts
@@ -22,6 +22,20 @@ const songInfoMessages = new Map<
     string,
     { messageId: string; channelId: string }
 >()
+
+/**
+ * Register an existing message as the "now playing" display for a guild.
+ * Used by the /play command to pre-register its interaction reply so that
+ * the playerStart handler edits it (with buttons) instead of sending a
+ * duplicate "Now Playing" message.
+ */
+export function registerNowPlayingMessage(
+    guildId: string,
+    messageId: string,
+    channelId: string,
+): void {
+    songInfoMessages.set(guildId, { messageId, channelId })
+}
 const lastFmTrackStartTime = new Map<string, number>()
 
 function getLastFmRequesterId(