diff --git a/packages/server/src/ws/handler.ts b/packages/server/src/ws/handler.ts
index dabaefb5..5103991e 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/ws/handler.ts
+++ b/packages/server/src/ws/handler.ts
@@ -604,6 +604,12 @@ export async function registerWebSocket(app: FastifyInstance): Promise<void> {
         return;
       }
 
+      // Fast-path heartbeat — never reaches business logic
+      if (parsed.type === 'ping') {
+        ws.send(JSON.stringify({ type: 'pong' }));
+        return;
+      }
+
       // Handle authenticated events
       if (userId && username) {
         handleClientEvent(parsed, userId, username);
diff --git a/packages/shared/src/types.ts b/packages/shared/src/types.ts
index e071f723..b2d6a29c 100644
--- a/packages/shared/src/types.ts
+++ b/packages/shared/src/types.ts
@@ -186,7 +186,8 @@ export type ClientEvent =
   | { type: 'dm_call_accept'; dmChannelId: string }
   | { type: 'dm_call_reject'; dmChannelId: string }
   | { type: 'dm_call_end'; dmChannelId: string }
-  | { type: 'voice_status'; isMuted: boolean; isDeafened: boolean };
+  | { type: 'voice_status'; isMuted: boolean; isDeafened: boolean }
+  | { type: 'ping' };
 
 // Server → Client Events
 export type ServerEvent =
@@ -220,6 +221,7 @@ export type ServerEvent =
   | { type: 'channel_updated'; channel: Channel; serverId: string }
   | { type: 'channel_deleted'; channelId: string; serverId: string }
   | { type: 'server_updated'; server: Server }
+  | { type: 'pong' }
   | { type: 'error'; message: string };
 
 // ─── API Request/Response Types ─────────────────────────────────────────────
diff --git a/packages/web/src/components/voice/SoundController.tsx b/packages/web/src/components/voice/SoundController.tsx
index 3ba2c641..2c431e8a 100644
--- a/packages/web/src/components/voice/SoundController.tsx
+++ b/packages/web/src/components/voice/SoundController.tsx
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ export function SoundController() {
   // Refs to track previous states
   const isInitialMount = useRef(true);
   const prevIsWsConnected = useRef<boolean>(false);
+  const wsDisconnectedAt = useRef<number>(0);
   const prevIsMuted = useRef<boolean>(useVoiceStore.getState().isMuted);
   const prevIsDeafened = useRef<boolean>(useVoiceStore.getState().isDeafened);
   const prevIsCameraOn = useRef<boolean>(useVoiceStore.getState().isCameraOn);
@@ -24,12 +25,17 @@ export function SoundController() {
   const incomingCallLoop = useRef<AudioBufferSourceNode | null>(null);
   const outgoingCallLoop = useRef<AudioBufferSourceNode | null>(null);
 
-  // WebSocket Reconnect Sound — suppress during active voice (LiveKit handles its own reconnection)
+  // WebSocket Reconnect Sound — suppress during active voice and brief blips (<3s)
   useEffect(() => {
     if (isInitialMount.current) return;
+    if (!isWsConnected && prevIsWsConnected.current) {
+      // Record when we lost connection
+      wsDisconnectedAt.current = Date.now();
+    }
     if (isWsConnected && !prevIsWsConnected.current) {
       const isInActiveVoice = useVoiceStore.getState().isLiveKitConnected;
-      if (!isInActiveVoice) {
+      const downtime = wsDisconnectedAt.current > 0 ? Date.now() - wsDisconnectedAt.current : Infinity;
+      if (!isInActiveVoice && downtime > 3000) {
         audioManager.playSound('reconnect');
       }
     }
diff --git a/packages/web/src/hooks/useWebSocket.ts b/packages/web/src/hooks/useWebSocket.ts
index f956afab..e6bbf80d 100644
--- a/packages/web/src/hooks/useWebSocket.ts
+++ b/packages/web/src/hooks/useWebSocket.ts
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import type { ServerEvent, ClientEvent } from '@opencord/shared';
 let globalWs: WebSocket | null = null;
 let reconnectAttempts = 0;
 let reconnectTimer: ReturnType<typeof setTimeout> | undefined;
+let heartbeatInterval: ReturnType<typeof setInterval> | undefined;
 let currentToken: string | null = null;
 let isInitialized = false;
 
@@ -280,6 +281,10 @@ function handleEvent(event: ServerEvent): void {
       break;
     }
 
+    case 'pong':
+      // Heartbeat response — no action needed
+      break;
+
     case 'error':
       console.error('WebSocket error:', event.message);
       break;
@@ -300,6 +305,14 @@ function connect(): void {
   ws.onopen = () => {
     reconnectAttempts = 0;
     ws.send(JSON.stringify({ type: 'auth', token: currentToken }));
+
+    // Start heartbeat to keep connection alive through proxies/NATs
+    if (heartbeatInterval) clearInterval(heartbeatInterval);
+    heartbeatInterval = setInterval(() => {
+      if (ws.readyState === WebSocket.OPEN) {
+        ws.send(JSON.stringify({ type: 'ping' }));
+      }
+    }, 30_000);
   };
 
   ws.onmessage = (e) => {
@@ -313,6 +326,10 @@ function connect(): void {
 
   ws.onclose = () => {
     globalWs = null;
+    if (heartbeatInterval) {
+      clearInterval(heartbeatInterval);
+      heartbeatInterval = undefined;
+    }
     if (currentToken) {
       const delay = Math.min(1000 * Math.pow(2, reconnectAttempts), 30000);
       reconnectAttempts++;
@@ -332,6 +349,10 @@ function disconnect(): void {
     clearTimeout(reconnectTimer);
     reconnectTimer = undefined;
   }
+  if (heartbeatInterval) {
+    clearInterval(heartbeatInterval);
+    heartbeatInterval = undefined;
+  }
   if (globalWs) {
     globalWs.close();
     globalWs = null;