diff --git a/AGENTS.md b/AGENTS.md
index c1238bd..3f9e5b1 100644
--- a/AGENTS.md
+++ b/AGENTS.md
@@ -226,3 +226,4 @@ Context: 0.16.x proved that queue tweaks and static calibration cannot guarantee
 - 2026-05-01: Release identity cleanup: bumped the patched build to clean semver `0.17.1`; probe attribution now prints `client_version`/`server_version` separately from `client_revision`/`server_revision` and refuses old `client_full_version` output.
 - 2026-05-01: 0.17.1 mirrored probe failed with video about `1.18-1.31s` behind audio and 761 planner video freezes. Root cause candidate: the client rebaser forced independent camera/mic pipelines onto one first-packet capture base, so a later-starting camera path was timestamped too early and looked permanently behind audio. Patch 0.17.2 anchors each stream to the shared monotonic clock at its own first packet time.
 - 2026-05-02: 0.17.2 mirrored probe and Google Meet test showed major improvement but persistent sub-second late video. Root cause follow-up: the temporary `+350ms` factory MJPEG video playout offset matched the observed browser skew and also made the server skew guard freeze video against its own offset. Patch 0.17.3 restores factory video offset to `0ms`, migrates untouched `+350ms` install/calibration defaults back to `0ms`, and makes the skew guard offset-aware for intentional site calibration.
+- 2026-05-02: 0.17.3 Google Meet manual test improved to roughly sub-second/near-quarter-second lip sync, but the mirrored analyzer could not pair pulses and the user still heard choppy background audio. Client logs showed Pulse microphone packets arriving unevenly with ages around `90-240ms`; patch 0.17.4 lowers Pulse mic `buffer-time`/`latency-time`, bounds the mic queue/appsink, and keeps mirrored-probe after-run planner diagnostics even when analysis fails.
diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index bf80114..8e43c47 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -1652,7 +1652,7 @@ checksum = "09edd9e8b54e49e587e4f6295a7d29c3ea94d469cb40ab8ca70b288248a81db2"
 
 [[package]]
 name = "lesavka_client"
-version = "0.17.3"
+version = "0.17.4"
 dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
  "async-stream",
@@ -1686,7 +1686,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "lesavka_common"
-version = "0.17.3"
+version = "0.17.4"
 dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
  "base64",
@@ -1698,7 +1698,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "lesavka_server"
-version = "0.17.3"
+version = "0.17.4"
 dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
  "base64",
diff --git a/client/Cargo.toml b/client/Cargo.toml
index 7060715..b1cafe1 100644
--- a/client/Cargo.toml
+++ b/client/Cargo.toml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ path                    = "src/main.rs"
 
 [package]
 name                    = "lesavka_client"
-version                 = "0.17.3"
+version                 = "0.17.4"
 edition                 = "2024"
 
 [dependencies]
diff --git a/client/src/input/microphone.rs b/client/src/input/microphone.rs
index bca07ec..f03447e 100644
--- a/client/src/input/microphone.rs
+++ b/client/src/input/microphone.rs
@@ -23,9 +23,16 @@ use tracing::{error, info, trace};
 const MIC_GAIN_ENV: &str = "LESAVKA_MIC_GAIN";
 const MIC_GAIN_CONTROL_ENV: &str = "LESAVKA_MIC_GAIN_CONTROL";
 const MIC_LEVEL_TAP_ENV: &str = "LESAVKA_UPLINK_MIC_LEVEL";
+const MIC_PULSE_BUFFER_TIME_ENV: &str = "LESAVKA_MIC_PULSE_BUFFER_TIME_US";
+const MIC_PULSE_LATENCY_TIME_ENV: &str = "LESAVKA_MIC_PULSE_LATENCY_TIME_US";
 const MIC_SAMPLE_RATE: u64 = 48_000;
 const MIC_CHANNELS: usize = 2;
 const MIC_SAMPLE_BYTES: usize = std::mem::size_of::<i16>();
+const DEFAULT_MIC_PULSE_BUFFER_TIME_US: u64 = 40_000;
+const DEFAULT_MIC_PULSE_LATENCY_TIME_US: u64 = 10_000;
+const MIC_MAIN_QUEUE_MAX_BUFFERS: u32 = 8;
+const MIC_MAIN_QUEUE_MAX_TIME_NS: u64 = 80_000_000;
+const MIC_APPSINK_MAX_BUFFERS: u32 = 8;
 
 pub struct MicrophoneCapture {
     #[allow(dead_code)] // kept alive to hold PLAYING state
@@ -201,14 +208,20 @@ impl MicrophoneCapture {
     }
 
     fn pulse_source_desc(source: Option<&str>) -> String {
+        let buffer_time_us = mic_pulse_buffer_time_us();
+        let latency_time_us = mic_pulse_latency_time_us().min(buffer_time_us);
         match source {
             Some(source) if !source.trim().is_empty() => {
                 format!(
-                    "pulsesrc device={} do-timestamp=true",
+                    "pulsesrc device={} do-timestamp=true buffer-time={buffer_time_us} latency-time={latency_time_us}",
                     escape(source.to_string().into())
                 )
             }
-            _ => "pulsesrc do-timestamp=true".to_string(),
+            _ => {
+                format!(
+                    "pulsesrc do-timestamp=true buffer-time={buffer_time_us} latency-time={latency_time_us}"
+                )
+            }
         }
     }
 
@@ -283,9 +296,9 @@ fn microphone_pipeline_desc(source_desc: &str, gain: f64, level_tap_enabled: boo
              audio/x-raw,format=S16LE,channels={MIC_CHANNELS},rate={MIC_SAMPLE_RATE} ! \
              volume name=mic_input_gain volume={gain} ! \
              tee name=t \
-             t. ! queue max-size-buffers=64 leaky=downstream ! \
+             t. ! queue max-size-buffers={MIC_MAIN_QUEUE_MAX_BUFFERS} max-size-time={MIC_MAIN_QUEUE_MAX_TIME_NS} leaky=downstream ! \
                   audio/x-raw,format=S16LE,channels={MIC_CHANNELS},rate={MIC_SAMPLE_RATE} ! \
-                  appsink name=asink emit-signals=true max-buffers=50 drop=true \
+                  appsink name=asink emit-signals=true max-buffers={MIC_APPSINK_MAX_BUFFERS} drop=true \
              t. ! queue max-size-buffers=8 leaky=downstream ! \
                   audio/x-raw,format=S16LE,channels={MIC_CHANNELS},rate={MIC_SAMPLE_RATE} ! \
                   appsink name=level_sink emit-signals=false sync=false max-buffers=8 drop=true"
@@ -296,8 +309,8 @@ fn microphone_pipeline_desc(source_desc: &str, gain: f64, level_tap_enabled: boo
              audioconvert ! audioresample ! \
              audio/x-raw,format=S16LE,channels={MIC_CHANNELS},rate={MIC_SAMPLE_RATE} ! \
              volume name=mic_input_gain volume={gain} ! \
-             queue max-size-buffers=64 leaky=downstream ! \
-             appsink name=asink emit-signals=true max-buffers=50 drop=true"
+             queue max-size-buffers={MIC_MAIN_QUEUE_MAX_BUFFERS} max-size-time={MIC_MAIN_QUEUE_MAX_TIME_NS} leaky=downstream ! \
+             appsink name=asink emit-signals=true max-buffers={MIC_APPSINK_MAX_BUFFERS} drop=true"
         )
     }
 }
@@ -330,6 +343,25 @@ fn duration_matches_pcm_payload(reported_us: u64, payload_us: u64) -> bool {
     reported_us >= lower && reported_us <= upper
 }
 
+fn mic_pulse_buffer_time_us() -> u64 {
+    positive_u64_env(MIC_PULSE_BUFFER_TIME_ENV, DEFAULT_MIC_PULSE_BUFFER_TIME_US)
+}
+
+fn mic_pulse_latency_time_us() -> u64 {
+    positive_u64_env(
+        MIC_PULSE_LATENCY_TIME_ENV,
+        DEFAULT_MIC_PULSE_LATENCY_TIME_US,
+    )
+}
+
+fn positive_u64_env(name: &str, default_value: u64) -> u64 {
+    std::env::var(name)
+        .ok()
+        .and_then(|value| value.trim().parse::<u64>().ok())
+        .filter(|value| *value > 0)
+        .unwrap_or(default_value)
+}
+
 /// Detect launcher catalog names that should be opened through Pulse directly.
 fn looks_like_pulse_source_name(source: &str) -> bool {
     let source = source.trim();
diff --git a/common/Cargo.toml b/common/Cargo.toml
index 2aa6848..872d8bc 100644
--- a/common/Cargo.toml
+++ b/common/Cargo.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [package]
 name                    = "lesavka_common"
-version                 = "0.17.3"
+version                 = "0.17.4"
 edition                 = "2024"
 build                   = "build.rs"
 
diff --git a/scripts/manual/run_upstream_mirrored_av_sync.sh b/scripts/manual/run_upstream_mirrored_av_sync.sh
index 204e8e1..1129786 100755
--- a/scripts/manual/run_upstream_mirrored_av_sync.sh
+++ b/scripts/manual/run_upstream_mirrored_av_sync.sh
@@ -305,9 +305,18 @@ print_lesavka_versions
 print_upstream_sync_state "before mirrored run"
 start_local_stimulus
 start_real_lesavka_client
-run_browser_capture_with_real_driver
+run_status=0
+run_browser_capture_with_real_driver || run_status=$?
 print_upstream_sync_state "after mirrored run"
 
+if ((run_status != 0)); then
+  echo "==> mirrored probe failed"
+  echo "artifact_dir: ${ARTIFACT_DIR}"
+  echo "client_log: ${CLIENT_LOG}"
+  echo "stimulus_status: ${STIMULUS_STATUS}"
+  exit "${run_status}"
+fi
+
 echo "==> mirrored probe complete"
 echo "artifact_dir: ${ARTIFACT_DIR}"
 echo "client_log: ${CLIENT_LOG}"
diff --git a/server/Cargo.toml b/server/Cargo.toml
index 5fdc735..acd6815 100644
--- a/server/Cargo.toml
+++ b/server/Cargo.toml
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ bench                   = false
 
 [package]
 name                    = "lesavka_server"
-version                 = "0.17.3"
+version                 = "0.17.4"
 edition                 = "2024"
 autobins                = false
 
diff --git a/testing/tests/client_manual_sync_script_contract.rs b/testing/tests/client_manual_sync_script_contract.rs
index 8b00914..a3d8e7a 100644
--- a/testing/tests/client_manual_sync_script_contract.rs
+++ b/testing/tests/client_manual_sync_script_contract.rs
@@ -106,6 +106,10 @@ fn mirrored_sync_script_uses_real_client_capture_path() {
         "server_version=",
         "server_revision=",
         "combined version+revision",
+        "run_status=0",
+        "run_browser_capture_with_real_driver || run_status=$?",
+        "print_upstream_sync_state \"after mirrored run\"",
+        "==> mirrored probe failed",
     ] {
         assert!(
             MIRRORED_SYNC_SCRIPT.contains(expected),
diff --git a/testing/tests/client_microphone_include_contract.rs b/testing/tests/client_microphone_include_contract.rs
index 63647e8..ccf1e8e 100644
--- a/testing/tests/client_microphone_include_contract.rs
+++ b/testing/tests/client_microphone_include_contract.rs
@@ -86,6 +86,8 @@ exit 0
                 desc.contains("pulsesrc device=alsa_input.usb-DeskMic_5678-00.analog-stereo"),
                 "expected escaped non-monitor source argument: {desc}"
             );
+            assert!(desc.contains("buffer-time=40000"));
+            assert!(desc.contains("latency-time=10000"));
         });
     }
 
@@ -96,11 +98,24 @@ exit 0
             assert!(MicrophoneCapture::pulse_source_by_substr("anything").is_none());
             assert_eq!(
                 MicrophoneCapture::pulse_source_desc(None),
-                "pulsesrc do-timestamp=true"
+                "pulsesrc do-timestamp=true buffer-time=40000 latency-time=10000"
             );
         });
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    #[serial]
+    fn pulse_source_desc_allows_low_latency_overrides_with_safe_clamp() {
+        with_var("LESAVKA_MIC_PULSE_BUFFER_TIME_US", Some("20000"), || {
+            with_var("LESAVKA_MIC_PULSE_LATENCY_TIME_US", Some("50000"), || {
+                assert_eq!(
+                    MicrophoneCapture::pulse_source_desc(None),
+                    "pulsesrc do-timestamp=true buffer-time=20000 latency-time=20000"
+                );
+            });
+        });
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn pipewire_source_desc_formats_selected_and_default_sources() {
         let selected = MicrophoneCapture::pipewire_source_desc(Some("alsa input/Desk Mic"));
@@ -149,7 +164,8 @@ JSON
         gst::init().ok();
         let desc = MicrophoneCapture::default_source_desc();
         assert!(
-            desc == "pipewiresrc do-timestamp=true" || desc == "pulsesrc do-timestamp=true",
+            desc == "pipewiresrc do-timestamp=true"
+                || desc == "pulsesrc do-timestamp=true buffer-time=40000 latency-time=10000",
             "default source should stay a simple PipeWire/Pulse source: {desc}"
         );
     }
@@ -188,7 +204,11 @@ JSON
 
         let without_tap = microphone_pipeline_desc("audiotestsrc is-live=true", 1.0, false);
         assert!(!without_tap.contains("level_sink"));
-        assert!(without_tap.contains("queue max-size-buffers=64 leaky=downstream"));
+        assert!(
+            without_tap
+                .contains("queue max-size-buffers=8 max-size-time=80000000 leaky=downstream")
+        );
+        assert!(without_tap.contains("appsink name=asink emit-signals=true max-buffers=8"));
     }
 
     #[test]
diff --git a/testing/tests/client_microphone_source_contract.rs b/testing/tests/client_microphone_source_contract.rs
index ec03d83..3aa195d 100644
--- a/testing/tests/client_microphone_source_contract.rs
+++ b/testing/tests/client_microphone_source_contract.rs
@@ -84,6 +84,8 @@ JSON
                     desc.contains("pulsesrc device=alsa_input.usb-Bumblebee_II-00.mono-fallback"),
                     "Pulse catalog source names should route through pulsesrc: {desc}"
                 );
+                assert!(desc.contains("buffer-time=40000"));
+                assert!(desc.contains("latency-time=10000"));
             });
         });
     }
@@ -96,7 +98,7 @@ JSON
             with_var("LESAVKA_MIC_DISABLE_PIPEWIRE", Some("1"), || {
                 assert_eq!(
                     MicrophoneCapture::default_source_desc(),
-                    "pulsesrc do-timestamp=true"
+                    "pulsesrc do-timestamp=true buffer-time=40000 latency-time=10000"
                 );
             });
         });