diff --git a/system/public/aesthetic.computer/bios.mjs b/system/public/aesthetic.computer/bios.mjs
index a42fdbeec7..8251eaec54 100644
--- a/system/public/aesthetic.computer/bios.mjs
+++ b/system/public/aesthetic.computer/bios.mjs
@@ -4355,12 +4355,7 @@ async function boot(parsed, bpm = 60, resolution, debug) {
     });
   }
 
-  // macOS/Chromium can take more than a second to answer this host permission
-  // query. It is useful state for microphone pieces, but it must not hold up
-  // the disk worker or the first rendered frame.
-  const microphonePermissionPromise = checkMicrophonePermission();
-
-  // Extract embedded source if available
+  // Extract embedded source if available
   let embeddedSource = null;
   try {
     const embeddedScript = document.getElementById("embedded-source");
@@ -4417,9 +4412,6 @@ async function boot(parsed, bpm = 60, resolution, debug) {
     firstMessageSent = true;
     send(firstMessage);
     consumeDiskSends(send);
-    microphonePermissionPromise.then((permission) => {
-      send({ type: "microphone-permission", content: permission });
-    });
   };
 
   const TAPE_PREVIEW_MAX_FRAMES = 90;
@@ -15052,10 +15044,16 @@ async function boot(parsed, bpm = 60, resolution, debug) {
       return;
     }
 
-    if (type === "microphone") {
-      receivedMicrophone(content);
-      return;
-    }
+    if (type === "microphone") {
+      receivedMicrophone(content);
+      return;
+    }
+
+    if (type === "microphone-permission-request") {
+      const permission = await checkMicrophonePermission();
+      send({ type: "microphone-permission", content: permission });
+      return;
+    }
 
     if (type === "notifications:web") {
       window.acRequestNotifications?.(content);
diff --git a/system/public/aesthetic.computer/lib/disk.mjs b/system/public/aesthetic.computer/lib/disk.mjs
index f2ed27815a..948efbf20a 100644
--- a/system/public/aesthetic.computer/lib/disk.mjs
+++ b/system/public/aesthetic.computer/lib/disk.mjs
@@ -7497,8 +7497,17 @@ class Microphone {
   recording = false;
   recordingPromise;
   permission = "";
+  permissionPending = false;
+  permissionChecked = false;
   recordingBuffer = null; // Live recording buffer for preview
 
+  requestPermission() {
+    if (this.permissionPending || this.permissionChecked) return this;
+    this.permissionPending = true;
+    send({ type: "microphone-permission-request" });
+    return this;
+  }
+
   // Note: can send `{monitor: true}` in `options` for audio feedback.
   connect(options) {
     send({ type: "microphone", content: options });
@@ -10644,6 +10653,8 @@ async function makeFrame({ data: { type, content } }) {
 
   if (type === "microphone-permission") {
     microphone.permission = content;
+    microphone.permissionPending = false;
+    microphone.permissionChecked = true;
     if (
       content === "granted" &&
       globalKidLispInstance?.containsMicrophoneFunctions?.(
diff --git a/system/public/aesthetic.computer/lib/kidlisp.mjs b/system/public/aesthetic.computer/lib/kidlisp.mjs
index 7cdfbac27e..e2a039905a 100644
--- a/system/public/aesthetic.computer/lib/kidlisp.mjs
+++ b/system/public/aesthetic.computer/lib/kidlisp.mjs
@@ -4699,9 +4699,9 @@ class KidLisp {
       } else if (this.microphoneApi.permission !== "granted") {
         // Log request for permission (one-time)
         if (!this.micPermissionRequested) {
+          this.microphoneApi.requestPermission?.();
           console.log("🎤 Microphone permission needed for 'mic' global - please grant access");
           this.micPermissionRequested = true;
-          // Future: Could trigger UI prompt here
         }
       }
     }