diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index 9332684..4c1e394 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -1652,7 +1652,7 @@ checksum = "09edd9e8b54e49e587e4f6295a7d29c3ea94d469cb40ab8ca70b288248a81db2"
 
 [[package]]
 name = "lesavka_client"
-version = "0.21.11"
+version = "0.21.12"
 dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
  "async-stream",
@@ -1686,7 +1686,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "lesavka_common"
-version = "0.21.11"
+version = "0.21.12"
 dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
  "base64",
@@ -1698,7 +1698,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "lesavka_server"
-version = "0.21.11"
+version = "0.21.12"
 dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
  "base64",
diff --git a/client/Cargo.toml b/client/Cargo.toml
index dd6fd6f..20464c3 100644
--- a/client/Cargo.toml
+++ b/client/Cargo.toml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ path                    = "src/main.rs"
 
 [package]
 name                    = "lesavka_client"
-version                 = "0.21.11"
+version                 = "0.21.12"
 edition                 = "2024"
 
 [dependencies]
diff --git a/client/src/app/uplink_media.rs b/client/src/app/uplink_media.rs
index a7c3103..bf81533 100644
--- a/client/src/app/uplink_media.rs
+++ b/client/src/app/uplink_media.rs
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ include!("uplink_media/camera_loop.rs");
 
 include!("uplink_media/media_source_requirements.rs");
 
+include!("uplink_media/video_keyframes.rs");
+
 include!("uplink_media/bundled_media_queue.rs");
 
 include!("uplink_media/uplink_queue_metadata.rs");
diff --git a/client/src/app/uplink_media/tests/mod.rs b/client/src/app/uplink_media/tests/mod.rs
index 11447b9..6c08262 100644
--- a/client/src/app/uplink_media/tests/mod.rs
+++ b/client/src/app/uplink_media/tests/mod.rs
@@ -148,6 +148,43 @@ use super::*;
         assert!(!disables_upstream_epoch_auto_heal("yes"));
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    /// Keeps HEVC recovery explicit because freshness drops can otherwise resume from predictive frames.
+    fn hevc_keyframe_detection_recognizes_irap_access_units() {
+        assert!(contains_hevc_irap(&[0, 0, 0, 1, 0x26, 0x01, 0xaa]));
+        assert!(contains_hevc_irap(&[0, 0, 1, 0x28, 0x01, 0xaa]));
+        assert!(!contains_hevc_irap(&[0, 0, 0, 1, 0x02, 0x01, 0xaa]));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    /// Keeps queue-drop recovery explicit because stale HEVC bundles should not corrupt the decoder.
+    fn hevc_recovery_holds_delta_bundle_until_next_keyframe() {
+        let delta_bundle = UpstreamMediaBundle {
+            video: Some(VideoPacket {
+                data: vec![0, 0, 0, 1, 0x02, 0x01, 0xaa],
+                ..Default::default()
+            }),
+            ..Default::default()
+        };
+        let keyframe_bundle = UpstreamMediaBundle {
+            video: Some(VideoPacket {
+                data: vec![0, 0, 0, 1, 0x26, 0x01, 0xaa],
+                ..Default::default()
+            }),
+            ..Default::default()
+        };
+
+        assert!(should_hold_hevc_bundle_for_keyframe_recovery(
+            true,
+            &delta_bundle
+        ));
+        assert!(!should_hold_hevc_bundle_for_keyframe_recovery(
+            true,
+            &keyframe_bundle
+        ));
+        assert!(bundle_has_hevc_recovery_keyframe(&keyframe_bundle));
+    }
+
     /// Verifies the live uplink queue emits one physically bundled HEVC frame and PCM span.
     ///
     /// Inputs: pre-stamped HEVC video plus two nearby audio packets, exactly as
diff --git a/client/src/app/uplink_media/video_keyframes.rs b/client/src/app/uplink_media/video_keyframes.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a566f9a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/client/src/app/uplink_media/video_keyframes.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,90 @@
+#[cfg(not(coverage))]
+/// Detect whether an Annex-B HEVC access unit contains an intra recovery point.
+///
+/// Inputs: one encoded HEVC packet in byte-stream form. Output: `true` when the
+/// packet carries an IRAP NAL unit. Why: the freshness-first uplink may drop
+/// predictive frames, and the server decoder should only resume from a frame
+/// that can rebuild a clean picture.
+fn contains_hevc_irap(data: &[u8]) -> bool {
+    let mut offset = 0;
+    while let Some((start, prefix_len)) = find_annex_b_start_code(data, offset) {
+        let nal_index = start + prefix_len;
+        if nal_index + 1 < data.len() {
+            let nal_type = (data[nal_index] >> 1) & 0x3f;
+            if (16..=23).contains(&nal_type) {
+                return true;
+            }
+        }
+        offset = nal_index.saturating_add(2);
+    }
+    false
+}
+
+#[cfg(not(coverage))]
+/// Locate the next Annex-B start code in an encoded video packet.
+///
+/// Inputs: encoded bytes plus the search offset. Output: the start index and
+/// prefix length. Why: both three-byte and four-byte start codes appear in
+/// HEVC streams, and keyframe recovery must handle both without allocating.
+fn find_annex_b_start_code(data: &[u8], from: usize) -> Option<(usize, usize)> {
+    let mut index = from;
+    while index + 3 < data.len() {
+        if data[index] == 0 && data[index + 1] == 0 {
+            if data[index + 2] == 1 {
+                return Some((index, 3));
+            }
+            if index + 4 < data.len() && data[index + 2] == 0 && data[index + 3] == 1 {
+                return Some((index, 4));
+            }
+        }
+        index += 1;
+    }
+    None
+}
+
+#[cfg(not(coverage))]
+/// Decide whether a bundled HEVC packet is safe after a freshness drop.
+///
+/// Inputs: the recovery state and the next outbound bundle. Output: `true`
+/// when the bundle should be held back. Why: sending a non-keyframe immediately
+/// after dropping older HEVC packets can make the server decode from missing
+/// references, which shows up as tearing or grey corrupted frames.
+fn should_hold_hevc_bundle_for_keyframe_recovery(
+    waiting_for_keyframe: bool,
+    bundle: &UpstreamMediaBundle,
+) -> bool {
+    waiting_for_keyframe
+        && bundle
+            .video
+            .as_ref()
+            .is_some_and(|video| !contains_hevc_irap(&video.data))
+}
+
+#[cfg(not(coverage))]
+/// Report whether a bundle carries the HEVC recovery frame we were waiting for.
+///
+/// Inputs: an outbound media bundle. Output: true when its video packet can
+/// restart HEVC prediction. Why: the freshness policy should clear recovery
+/// mode as soon as the next clean picture reaches the server.
+fn bundle_has_hevc_recovery_keyframe(bundle: &UpstreamMediaBundle) -> bool {
+    bundle
+        .video
+        .as_ref()
+        .is_some_and(|video| contains_hevc_irap(&video.data))
+}
+
+#[cfg(not(coverage))]
+/// Resolve whether the active upstream camera codec needs HEVC recovery.
+///
+/// Inputs: the negotiated camera config plus optional env fallback. Output:
+/// `true` only for HEVC/H.265. Why: MJPEG frames are independent, so the extra
+/// keyframe wait should only apply to predictive video transport.
+fn upstream_camera_uses_hevc(camera_cfg: Option<crate::input::camera::CameraConfig>) -> bool {
+    if camera_cfg.is_some_and(|cfg| matches!(cfg.codec, crate::input::camera::CameraCodec::Hevc)) {
+        return true;
+    }
+    std::env::var("LESAVKA_CAM_CODEC")
+        .ok()
+        .map(|value| value.trim().to_ascii_lowercase())
+        .is_some_and(|value| matches!(value.as_str(), "hevc" | "h265" | "h.265"))
+}
diff --git a/client/src/app/uplink_media/webcam_media_loop.rs b/client/src/app/uplink_media/webcam_media_loop.rs
index d09fd10..252bea5 100644
--- a/client/src/app/uplink_media/webcam_media_loop.rs
+++ b/client/src/app/uplink_media/webcam_media_loop.rs
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ impl LesavkaClientApp {
     ) {
         let mut delay = Duration::from_secs(1);
         let mut startup_epoch_heal_delay = upstream_epoch_auto_heal_delay();
+        let recover_hevc_after_drops = upstream_camera_uses_hevc(camera_cfg);
         static FAIL_CNT: AtomicUsize = AtomicUsize::new(0);
 
         loop {
@@ -123,6 +124,7 @@ impl LesavkaClientApp {
             let microphone_telemetry_stream = microphone_telemetry.clone();
             let drop_log_stream = Arc::clone(&drop_log);
             let outbound = async_stream::stream! {
+                let mut waiting_for_hevc_keyframe = false;
                 loop {
                     let next = queue_stream.pop_fresh().await;
                     if next.dropped_stale > 0 {
@@ -135,8 +137,31 @@ impl LesavkaClientApp {
                             next.queue_depth,
                             duration_ms(next.delivery_age),
                         );
+                        if recover_hevc_after_drops {
+                            waiting_for_hevc_keyframe = true;
+                        }
                     }
                     if let Some(mut bundle) = next.packet {
+                        if recover_hevc_after_drops
+                            && should_hold_hevc_bundle_for_keyframe_recovery(
+                                waiting_for_hevc_keyframe,
+                                &bundle,
+                            )
+                        {
+                            camera_telemetry_stream.record_stale_drop(1);
+                            microphone_telemetry_stream.record_stale_drop(1);
+                            log_uplink_drop(
+                                &drop_log_stream,
+                                UplinkDropReason::Stale,
+                                1,
+                                next.queue_depth,
+                                duration_ms(next.delivery_age),
+                            );
+                            continue;
+                        }
+                        if recover_hevc_after_drops && bundle_has_hevc_recovery_keyframe(&bundle) {
+                            waiting_for_hevc_keyframe = false;
+                        }
                         let queue_depth = queue_depth_u32(next.queue_depth);
                         let delivery_age_ms = duration_ms(next.delivery_age);
                         if bundle.video.is_some() {
@@ -175,6 +200,7 @@ impl LesavkaClientApp {
                         let active_camera_source = active_camera_source.clone();
                         let active_camera_profile = active_camera_profile.clone();
                         std::thread::spawn(move || {
+                            let mut waiting_for_hevc_keyframe = false;
                             while !stop.load(Ordering::Relaxed) {
                                 let state = media_controls.refresh();
                                 let desired_source =
@@ -190,10 +216,27 @@ impl LesavkaClientApp {
                                     break;
                                 }
                                 if let Some(mut pkt) = camera.pull() {
+                                    if recover_hevc_after_drops
+                                        && waiting_for_hevc_keyframe
+                                        && !contains_hevc_irap(&pkt.data)
+                                    {
+                                        continue;
+                                    }
                                     let _ = stamp_video_timing_metadata_at_enqueue(&mut pkt);
+                                    let is_recovery_keyframe = recover_hevc_after_drops
+                                        && contains_hevc_irap(&pkt.data);
                                     match event_tx.try_send(BundledCaptureEvent::Video(pkt)) {
-                                        Ok(()) => {}
-                                        Err(std::sync::mpsc::TrySendError::Full(_)) => continue,
+                                        Ok(()) => {
+                                            if is_recovery_keyframe {
+                                                waiting_for_hevc_keyframe = false;
+                                            }
+                                        }
+                                        Err(std::sync::mpsc::TrySendError::Full(_)) => {
+                                            if recover_hevc_after_drops {
+                                                waiting_for_hevc_keyframe = true;
+                                            }
+                                            continue;
+                                        }
                                         Err(std::sync::mpsc::TrySendError::Disconnected(_)) => break,
                                     }
                                 }
diff --git a/client/src/input/camera.rs b/client/src/input/camera.rs
index 4fc169a..f285514 100644
--- a/client/src/input/camera.rs
+++ b/client/src/input/camera.rs
@@ -66,7 +66,8 @@ include!("camera/bus_and_encoder.rs");
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
     use super::{
-        CameraCapture, CameraCodec, CameraConfig, resolved_capture_profile, resolved_output_profile,
+        CameraCapture, CameraCodec, CameraConfig, hevc_keyframe_interval, resolved_capture_profile,
+        resolved_output_profile,
     };
     use serial_test::serial;
 
@@ -194,6 +195,31 @@ mod tests {
         });
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    #[serial]
+    /// HEVC should recover quickly after freshness drops without changing H.264 knobs.
+    fn hevc_keyframe_interval_defaults_short_and_honors_overrides() {
+        temp_env::with_vars(
+            [
+                ("LESAVKA_CAM_KEYFRAME_INTERVAL", None::<&str>),
+                ("LESAVKA_CAM_HEVC_KEYFRAME_INTERVAL", None::<&str>),
+            ],
+            || {
+                assert_eq!(hevc_keyframe_interval(30), 3);
+                assert_eq!(hevc_keyframe_interval(2), 2);
+            },
+        );
+        temp_env::with_vars(
+            [
+                ("LESAVKA_CAM_KEYFRAME_INTERVAL", Some("5")),
+                ("LESAVKA_CAM_HEVC_KEYFRAME_INTERVAL", Some("1")),
+            ],
+            || {
+                assert_eq!(hevc_keyframe_interval(30), 1);
+            },
+        );
+    }
+
     #[cfg(coverage)]
     #[test]
     /// Coverage builds use a deterministic HEVC encoder choice.
diff --git a/client/src/input/camera/capture_pipeline.rs b/client/src/input/camera/capture_pipeline.rs
index 5dc56b6..d0bd4d8 100644
--- a/client/src/input/camera/capture_pipeline.rs
+++ b/client/src/input/camera/capture_pipeline.rs
@@ -62,7 +62,11 @@ impl CameraCapture {
         let capture_profile = capture_profile_override.unwrap_or_else(|| resolved_capture_profile(cfg));
         let (capture_width, capture_height, capture_fps) = capture_profile;
         let (width, height, fps) = resolved_output_profile(cfg, capture_profile);
-        let keyframe_interval = env_u32("LESAVKA_CAM_KEYFRAME_INTERVAL", fps.min(5)).clamp(1, fps);
+        let keyframe_interval = if output_hevc {
+            hevc_keyframe_interval(fps)
+        } else {
+            env_u32("LESAVKA_CAM_KEYFRAME_INTERVAL", fps.min(5)).clamp(1, fps)
+        };
         let source_profile = camera_source_profile(allow_mjpg_source);
         let use_mjpg_source = source_profile == CameraSourceProfile::Mjpeg;
         let passthrough_mjpg_source =
@@ -346,6 +350,18 @@ fn env_flag_enabled(name: &str) -> bool {
     })
 }
 
+/// Choose the live HEVC keyframe cadence.
+///
+/// Inputs: target FPS plus optional `LESAVKA_CAM_KEYFRAME_INTERVAL` and
+/// `LESAVKA_CAM_HEVC_KEYFRAME_INTERVAL` overrides. Output: GOP length in
+/// frames. Why: the uplink intentionally drops stale HEVC bundles for
+/// freshness, so short GOPs keep decoder recovery below a human-visible blink.
+fn hevc_keyframe_interval(fps: u32) -> u32 {
+    let fps = fps.max(1);
+    let generic_default = env_u32("LESAVKA_CAM_KEYFRAME_INTERVAL", fps.min(3));
+    env_u32("LESAVKA_CAM_HEVC_KEYFRAME_INTERVAL", generic_default).clamp(1, fps)
+}
+
 /// Keeps `log_camera_first_packet` explicit because it sits on camera selection, where negotiated profiles must match the server output contract.
 /// Inputs are the typed parameters; output is the return value or side effect.
 fn log_camera_first_packet(packet_index: u64, bytes: usize, pts_us: u64) {
diff --git a/client/src/sync_probe/capture/video_packets.rs b/client/src/sync_probe/capture/video_packets.rs
index e40a328..b2b9495 100644
--- a/client/src/sync_probe/capture/video_packets.rs
+++ b/client/src/sync_probe/capture/video_packets.rs
@@ -264,7 +264,7 @@ fn pick_hevc_encoder(fps: u32) -> Result<String> {
 /// real webcam uplink; a one-second GOP made coded flashes less representative
 /// than Lesavka's default live-call HEVC pipeline.
 fn low_latency_hevc_keyframe_interval(fps: u32) -> u32 {
-    fps.clamp(1, 5)
+    fps.clamp(1, 3)
 }
 
 /// Select the visual signature for a video timestamp.
@@ -406,9 +406,9 @@ mod tests {
     fn low_latency_hevc_keyframe_interval_matches_live_camera_default() {
         assert_eq!(super::low_latency_hevc_keyframe_interval(0), 1);
         assert_eq!(super::low_latency_hevc_keyframe_interval(1), 1);
-        assert_eq!(super::low_latency_hevc_keyframe_interval(5), 5);
-        assert_eq!(super::low_latency_hevc_keyframe_interval(20), 5);
-        assert_eq!(super::low_latency_hevc_keyframe_interval(30), 5);
+        assert_eq!(super::low_latency_hevc_keyframe_interval(5), 3);
+        assert_eq!(super::low_latency_hevc_keyframe_interval(20), 3);
+        assert_eq!(super::low_latency_hevc_keyframe_interval(30), 3);
     }
 
     /// Verifies encoded packet timestamps come from the encoder output sample.
diff --git a/common/Cargo.toml b/common/Cargo.toml
index 3020764..340a50c 100644
--- a/common/Cargo.toml
+++ b/common/Cargo.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [package]
 name                    = "lesavka_common"
-version                 = "0.21.11"
+version                 = "0.21.12"
 edition                 = "2024"
 build                   = "build.rs"
 
diff --git a/server/Cargo.toml b/server/Cargo.toml
index fde60ef..bdf8490 100644
--- a/server/Cargo.toml
+++ b/server/Cargo.toml
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ bench                   = false
 
 [package]
 name                    = "lesavka_server"
-version                 = "0.21.11"
+version                 = "0.21.12"
 edition                 = "2024"
 autobins                = false
 
diff --git a/server/src/bin/lesavka-uvc.real.inc b/server/src/bin/lesavka-uvc.real.inc
index 6f579e5..2722e93 100644
--- a/server/src/bin/lesavka-uvc.real.inc
+++ b/server/src/bin/lesavka-uvc.real.inc
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ const V4L2_BUF_TYPE_VIDEO_OUTPUT: u32 = 2;
 const V4L2_MEMORY_MMAP: u32 = 1;
 const V4L2_FIELD_NONE: u32 = 1;
 const V4L2_PIX_FMT_MJPEG: u32 = u32::from_le_bytes(*b"MJPG");
-const MAX_MJPEG_FRAME_BYTES: usize = 1024 * 1024;
+const MAX_MJPEG_FRAME_BYTES: usize = 8 * 1024 * 1024;
 const EMPTY_MJPEG_FRAME: &[u8] = &[0xff, 0xd8, 0xff, 0xd9];
 const DEFAULT_UVC_BUFFER_COUNT: u32 = 2;
 const DEFAULT_UVC_IDLE_PUMP_MS: u64 = 2;
@@ -400,10 +400,11 @@ impl UvcVideoStream {
         let Some(buffer) = self.buffers.get(index as usize) else {
             return Ok(());
         };
-        let bytes = self.latest_frame.len().min(buffer.len);
+        let frame = self.frame_for_buffer(buffer.len);
+        let bytes = frame.len();
         if bytes > 0 {
             unsafe {
-                std::ptr::copy_nonoverlapping(self.latest_frame.as_ptr(), buffer.ptr, bytes);
+                std::ptr::copy_nonoverlapping(frame.as_ptr(), buffer.ptr, bytes);
             }
         } else {
             unsafe {
@@ -428,8 +429,9 @@ impl UvcVideoStream {
         if stale && looks_like_mjpeg_frame(&self.latest_frame) {
             return;
         }
+        let max_frame_bytes = self.frame_payload_limit();
         if let Ok(frame) = std::fs::read(&self.frame_path)
-            && frame.len() <= MAX_MJPEG_FRAME_BYTES
+            && frame.len() <= max_frame_bytes
             && looks_like_mjpeg_frame(&frame)
         {
             self.latest_frame = frame;
@@ -437,6 +439,22 @@ impl UvcVideoStream {
             self.latest_frame = EMPTY_MJPEG_FRAME.to_vec();
         }
     }
+
+    fn frame_payload_limit(&self) -> usize {
+        self.buffers
+            .iter()
+            .map(|buffer| buffer.len)
+            .min()
+            .unwrap_or(MAX_MJPEG_FRAME_BYTES)
+    }
+
+    fn frame_for_buffer(&self, buffer_len: usize) -> &[u8] {
+        if self.latest_frame.len() <= buffer_len && looks_like_mjpeg_frame(&self.latest_frame) {
+            &self.latest_frame
+        } else {
+            EMPTY_MJPEG_FRAME
+        }
+    }
 }
 
 impl Drop for UvcVideoStream {
diff --git a/testing/tests/server_uvc_binary_extra_contract.rs b/testing/tests/server_uvc_binary_extra_contract.rs
index 8399e87..8fbc486 100644
--- a/testing/tests/server_uvc_binary_extra_contract.rs
+++ b/testing/tests/server_uvc_binary_extra_contract.rs
@@ -400,6 +400,29 @@ mod uvc_binary_extra {
         ));
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn uvc_frame_refresh_rejects_frames_that_would_be_truncated() {
+        let frame = NamedTempFile::new().expect("tmp frame");
+        let mut stream = UvcVideoStream::new(-1);
+        stream.frame_path = frame.path().to_path_buf();
+        stream.latest_frame = vec![0xff, 0xd8, 0x11, 0xff, 0xd9];
+        stream.buffers.push(MmapBuffer {
+            ptr: std::ptr::null_mut(),
+            len: 8,
+        });
+
+        fs::write(
+            frame.path(),
+            [0xff, 0xd8, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 0xff, 0xd9],
+        )
+        .expect("write oversize frame");
+        stream.refresh_latest_frame();
+
+        assert_eq!(stream.latest_frame, vec![0xff, 0xd8, 0x11, 0xff, 0xd9]);
+        assert_eq!(stream.frame_payload_limit(), 8);
+        assert_eq!(stream.frame_for_buffer(4), EMPTY_MJPEG_FRAME);
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn compute_payload_cap_clamps_limit_pct_bounds() {
         with_var("LESAVKA_UVC_MAXPAYLOAD_LIMIT", None::<&str>, || {