diff --git a/src-tauri/crates/berd-call/src/host_session.rs b/src-tauri/crates/berd-call/src/host_session.rs
index 3b9ce4735..156d37d4e 100644
--- a/src-tauri/crates/berd-call/src/host_session.rs
+++ b/src-tauri/crates/berd-call/src/host_session.rs
@@ -951,6 +951,8 @@ struct PendingSpeak {
     text: String,
     non_blocking: bool,
     response: Option<SyncSender<Result<Value, String>>>,
+    /// When the voice session was asked to speak, for timing diagnostics.
+    prepared: Instant,
 }
 
 enum AudioCommand {
@@ -1421,6 +1423,7 @@ impl SessionActor {
                     text,
                     non_blocking,
                     response: Some(response),
+                    prepared: Instant::now(),
                 });
             }
             ControlCommand::Restart {
@@ -1608,6 +1611,12 @@ impl SessionActor {
             SessionMessage::Admitted { id, speech_id, .. }
                 if self.pending_prepare_id() == Some(id) =>
             {
+                if let Some(pending) = &self.pending_speak {
+                    eprintln!(
+                        "berd-call: speech admitted after {} ms",
+                        pending.prepared.elapsed().as_millis()
+                    );
+                }
                 send_request(&self.writer, &SessionRequest::OutputReady { id, speech_id })?;
             }
             SessionMessage::OutputReadyResult { id, outcome, .. }
@@ -1623,6 +1632,14 @@ impl SessionActor {
                     }
                 }
             }
+            SessionMessage::SpeechStarted { id, .. } if self.pending_prepare_id() == Some(id) => {
+                if let Some(pending) = &self.pending_speak {
+                    eprintln!(
+                        "berd-call: speech first audio accepted after {} ms",
+                        pending.prepared.elapsed().as_millis()
+                    );
+                }
+            }
             SessionMessage::SpeechCompleted { id, .. } if self.pending_prepare_id() == Some(id) => {
                 self.respond_speak(Ok(json!({"spoke":true,"status":"completed"})));
             }
@@ -3909,6 +3926,7 @@ mod tests {
             text: "first".into(),
             non_blocking: false,
             response: Some(first_tx),
+            prepared: Instant::now(),
         });
         let (next_tx, next_rx) = mpsc::sync_channel(1);
         actor
@@ -3969,6 +3987,7 @@ mod tests {
             text: "playing".into(),
             non_blocking: false,
             response: Some(playing_tx),
+            prepared: Instant::now(),
         });
         let (queued_tx, queued) = mpsc::sync_channel(1);
         actor
@@ -4046,6 +4065,7 @@ mod tests {
             text: "playing".into(),
             non_blocking: false,
             response: Some(playing_tx),
+            prepared: Instant::now(),
         });
         let (restart, _restarted) = restart_command();
         actor.handle_command(restart).unwrap();
@@ -4334,6 +4354,7 @@ mod tests {
             text: "playing".into(),
             non_blocking: false,
             response: Some(playing_tx),
+            prepared: Instant::now(),
         });
         let (restart, restarted) = restart_command();
         actor.handle_command(restart).unwrap();