diff --git a/fix.txt b/fix.txt
index 66a9f17..501511a 100644
--- a/fix.txt
+++ b/fix.txt
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ Priority 0: security and crashers
 Priority 1: transport, lifecycle, and correctness
 ---------------------------------------------------
 
-8. TCP audio is discarded before UDP is proven usable
+[x] 8. TCP audio is discarded before UDP is proven usable
    Files: gumble/gumble/crypt.go, gumble/gumble/client.go, gumble/gumble/udp.go
    udpActive is set immediately after CryptSetup. The TCP read routine then
    discards UDPTunnel packets even if inbound UDP is blocked or NAT setup has
diff --git a/gumble/gumble/client.go b/gumble/gumble/client.go
index 3c946f6..43054b6 100644
--- a/gumble/gumble/client.go
+++ b/gumble/gumble/client.go
@@ -74,6 +74,7 @@ type Client struct {
 	udpMu             sync.RWMutex
 	udpWriteMu        sync.Mutex
 	udpConn           *net.UDPConn
+	udpStarted        bool
 	udpActive         bool
 	udpCryptoOut      *cryptState15
 	udpCryptoIn       *cryptState15
diff --git a/gumble/gumble/crypt.go b/gumble/gumble/crypt.go
index ce7d8e8..4907c34 100644
--- a/gumble/gumble/crypt.go
+++ b/gumble/gumble/crypt.go
@@ -317,9 +317,11 @@ func (c *Client) handleCryptSetup(buffer []byte) error {
 
 	c.udpMu.Lock()
 	udpReady := c.udpCryptoOut != nil
-	startUDP := c.cryptOut.initialized && c.udpConn != nil && !c.udpActive && udpReady
+	startUDP := c.cryptOut.initialized && c.udpConn != nil && !c.udpStarted && udpReady
 	if startUDP {
-		c.udpActive = true
+		// Keep TCP tunnelling enabled until an authenticated UDP packet proves
+		// that the inbound path works.
+		c.udpStarted = true
 	}
 	noUDPConn := c.udpConn == nil
 	c.udpMu.Unlock()
diff --git a/gumble/gumble/udp15.go b/gumble/gumble/udp15.go
index 61df239..84da381 100644
--- a/gumble/gumble/udp15.go
+++ b/gumble/gumble/udp15.go
@@ -662,6 +662,7 @@ func (c *Client) HandleUDPPacket15(packet []byte, pktNum uint64) {
 	}
 
 	log.Debug("UDP15 #%d: decrypt OK, plaintext_len=%d", pktNum, len(plaintext))
+	c.markUDPActive()
 
 	// Check type byte (0x00 = Audio, 0x01 = Ping)
 	if len(plaintext) < 1 {
@@ -692,6 +693,14 @@ func (c *Client) HandleUDPPacket15(packet []byte, pktNum uint64) {
 	log.Warn("UDP15 #%d: unknown message type 0x%02x", pktNum, msgType)
 }
 
+// markUDPActive switches outgoing audio to UDP only after authentication has
+// proved that packets can return through the network path.
+func (c *Client) markUDPActive() {
+	c.udpMu.Lock()
+	c.udpActive = true
+	c.udpMu.Unlock()
+}
+
 // dispatchOpus15 processes a decoded MumbleUDP.Audio frame and dispatches
 // the decoded PCM to audio listeners.
 func (c *Client) dispatchOpus15(pktNum uint64, session uint32, frameNum int64, opusData []byte, terminator bool, context uint32, position *[3]float32, volumeAdjustment float32) {
diff --git a/gumble/gumble/udp_fallback_regression_test.go b/gumble/gumble/udp_fallback_regression_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..66e70c2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/gumble/gumble/udp_fallback_regression_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+package gumble
+
+import "testing"
+
+// Regression: CryptSetup selected UDP before any authenticated packet had
+// returned, causing TCP audio to be discarded on blocked inbound UDP paths.
+func TestUDPOnlyBecomesActiveAfterAuthenticatedResponse(t *testing.T) {
+	c := &Client{}
+	if c.udpActive {
+		t.Fatal("new transport is unexpectedly active")
+	}
+	c.markUDPActive()
+	c.udpMu.RLock()
+	active := c.udpActive
+	c.udpMu.RUnlock()
+	if !active {
+		t.Fatal("authenticated UDP response did not activate UDP")
+	}
+}