diff --git a/client/Cargo.toml b/client/Cargo.toml
index d179765..73a6376 100644
--- a/client/Cargo.toml
+++ b/client/Cargo.toml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ path                    = "src/main.rs"
 
 [package]
 name                    = "lesavka_client"
-version                 = "0.14.3"
+version                 = "0.14.4"
 edition                 = "2024"
 
 [dependencies]
diff --git a/common/Cargo.toml b/common/Cargo.toml
index 5a8e6eb..74208e6 100644
--- a/common/Cargo.toml
+++ b/common/Cargo.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [package]
 name                    = "lesavka_common"
-version                 = "0.14.3"
+version                 = "0.14.4"
 edition                 = "2024"
 build                   = "build.rs"
 
diff --git a/server/Cargo.toml b/server/Cargo.toml
index 5adff37..25c1172 100644
--- a/server/Cargo.toml
+++ b/server/Cargo.toml
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ bench                   = false
 
 [package]
 name                    = "lesavka_server"
-version                 = "0.14.3"
+version                 = "0.14.4"
 edition                 = "2024"
 autobins                = false
 
diff --git a/server/src/main/relay_service.rs b/server/src/main/relay_service.rs
index 70260fc..de39195 100644
--- a/server/src/main/relay_service.rs
+++ b/server/src/main/relay_service.rs
@@ -8,6 +8,20 @@ fn upstream_stale_drop_budget() -> Duration {
     Duration::from_millis(drop_ms)
 }
 
+#[cfg(not(coverage))]
+fn retain_freshest_video_packet(
+    pending: &mut std::collections::VecDeque<VideoPacket>,
+) -> usize {
+    if pending.len() <= 1 {
+        return 0;
+    }
+    let newest = pending.pop_back().expect("non-empty pending video queue");
+    let dropped = pending.len();
+    pending.clear();
+    pending.push_back(newest);
+    dropped
+}
+
 #[cfg(not(coverage))]
 #[tonic::async_trait]
 impl Relay for Handler {
@@ -279,7 +293,18 @@ impl Relay for Handler {
                     };
                     if let Some(next_packet) = next_packet {
                         match next_packet.transpose()? {
-                            Some(pkt) => pending.push_back(pkt),
+                            Some(pkt) => {
+                                pending.push_back(pkt);
+                                let coalesced = retain_freshest_video_packet(&mut pending);
+                                if coalesced > 0 {
+                                    tracing::debug!(
+                                        rpc_id,
+                                        session_id,
+                                        dropped = coalesced,
+                                        "🎥 coalesced stale upstream video backlog down to the freshest frame"
+                                    );
+                                }
+                            }
                             None => inbound_closed = true,
                         }
                     }
@@ -404,3 +429,33 @@ fn remote_audio_status(message: String) -> Status {
         Status::internal(message)
     }
 }
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::retain_freshest_video_packet;
+    use lesavka_common::lesavka::VideoPacket;
+
+    #[test]
+    fn retain_freshest_video_packet_keeps_only_the_latest_frame() {
+        let mut pending = std::collections::VecDeque::from(vec![
+            VideoPacket {
+                pts: 100,
+                ..Default::default()
+            },
+            VideoPacket {
+                pts: 200,
+                ..Default::default()
+            },
+            VideoPacket {
+                pts: 300,
+                ..Default::default()
+            },
+        ]);
+
+        let dropped = retain_freshest_video_packet(&mut pending);
+
+        assert_eq!(dropped, 2);
+        assert_eq!(pending.len(), 1);
+        assert_eq!(pending.front().map(|pkt| pkt.pts), Some(300));
+    }
+}
diff --git a/server/src/main/relay_service_coverage.rs b/server/src/main/relay_service_coverage.rs
index 49a127e..15a6fea 100644
--- a/server/src/main/relay_service_coverage.rs
+++ b/server/src/main/relay_service_coverage.rs
@@ -7,6 +7,20 @@ fn upstream_stale_drop_budget() -> Duration {
     Duration::from_millis(drop_ms)
 }
 
+#[cfg(coverage)]
+fn retain_freshest_video_packet(
+    pending: &mut std::collections::VecDeque<VideoPacket>,
+) -> usize {
+    if pending.len() <= 1 {
+        return 0;
+    }
+    let newest = pending.pop_back().expect("non-empty pending video queue");
+    let dropped = pending.len();
+    pending.clear();
+    pending.push_back(newest);
+    dropped
+}
+
 #[cfg(coverage)]
 #[tonic::async_trait]
 impl Relay for Handler {
@@ -174,7 +188,10 @@ impl Relay for Handler {
                     };
                     if let Some(next_packet) = next_packet {
                         match next_packet.transpose()? {
-                            Some(pkt) => pending.push_back(pkt),
+                            Some(pkt) => {
+                                pending.push_back(pkt);
+                                let _ = retain_freshest_video_packet(&mut pending);
+                            }
                             None => inbound_closed = true,
                         }
                     }