diff --git a/slab/bin/claude-notify.sh b/slab/bin/claude-notify.sh
--- a/slab/bin/claude-notify.sh
+++ b/slab/bin/claude-notify.sh
@@ -38,6 +38,13 @@ # set the pause flag above and want it to persist until UserPromptSubmit
 # or Stop clears it.
 "$SLAB_BIN/slab-fade-ambient"
 
+# Honor the menubar's "Mute ambient sonification" toggle — skip the
+# "help me" TTS while muted. The pause flag and awaiting marker above
+# still get set so the menubar / daemon stay accurate.
+if [[ -e "$SLAB_HOME/state/muted" ]]; then
+    exit 0
+fi
+
 py="$SLAB_HOME/venv/bin/python3"
 helper="$SLAB_BIN/claude-help.py"
 if [[ -x "$py" && -f "$helper" ]]; then
diff --git a/slab/bin/claude-subagent-stop.sh b/slab/bin/claude-subagent-stop.sh
--- a/slab/bin/claude-subagent-stop.sh
+++ b/slab/bin/claude-subagent-stop.sh
@@ -7,10 +7,17 @@ SLAB_HOME=${SLAB_HOME:-$HOME/.local/share/slab}
 SLAB_BIN=${SLAB_BIN:-$HOME/.local/bin}
 SUBAGENT_DIR="$SLAB_HOME/state/active-subagents"
 SOUNDS="$SLAB_HOME/sounds"
+MUTE_FLAG="$SLAB_HOME/state/muted"
 
 mkdir -p "$SUBAGENT_DIR"
 oldest=$(ls -1tr "$SUBAGENT_DIR" 2>/dev/null | head -1)
 [[ -n "$oldest" ]] && rm -f "$SUBAGENT_DIR/$oldest"
+
+# Honor the menubar's "Mute ambient sonification" toggle — no ping / TTS
+# while muted. Marker accounting above still runs so counts stay correct.
+if [[ -e "$MUTE_FLAG" ]]; then
+    exit 0
+fi
 
 py="$SLAB_HOME/venv/bin/python3"
 helper="$SLAB_BIN/jeffrey-say.py"
diff --git a/slab/bin/lid-ambient.sh b/slab/bin/lid-ambient.sh
--- a/slab/bin/lid-ambient.sh
+++ b/slab/bin/lid-ambient.sh
@@ -27,6 +27,9 @@ # Set by claude-notify.sh when the agent pauses for user feedback. While
 # present, ambient stays off even though an active marker exists. Cleared by
 # claude-prompt-log.sh (user responded) or claude-stop.sh (work ended).
 AMBIENT_PAUSE_FLAG=/tmp/slab-ambient-paused
+# Persistent mute flag toggled by the menubar's "Mute ambient sonification"
+# item. When present, ambient never starts and any in-flight pad is faded.
+MUTE_FLAG="$SLAB_HOME/state/muted"
 
 ACTIVE_DIR="$SLAB_HOME/state/active-prompts"
 SUBAGENT_DIR="$SLAB_HOME/state/active-subagents"
@@ -175,9 +178,10 @@ fi
     fi
 
     # Ambient gate: lid closed + sleep disabled + active prompt or subagent,
-    # and NOT paused-for-feedback by a Notification hook.
+    # and NOT paused-for-feedback by a Notification hook, and NOT muted
+    # via the menubar's "Mute ambient sonification" toggle.
     ambient_wanted=0
-    if [[ "$lid_state" == "Yes" && "$sleep_disabled" == "1" ]] && (( active_count > 0 )) && [[ ! -f "$AMBIENT_PAUSE_FLAG" ]]; then
+    if [[ "$lid_state" == "Yes" && "$sleep_disabled" == "1" ]] && (( active_count > 0 )) && [[ ! -f "$AMBIENT_PAUSE_FLAG" ]] && [[ ! -f "$MUTE_FLAG" ]]; then
         ambient_wanted=1
     fi