diff --git a/fix.txt b/fix.txt
index 2a8cde9..ffb60c6 100644
--- a/fix.txt
+++ b/fix.txt
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ Priority 1: transport, lifecycle, and correctness
     output file creation fails, the tone goroutine continues. Create the saver
     first, or close/wait for the tone generator and reset Tx on every failure.
 
-15. Gumble ffmpeg Pause can block forever
+[x] 15. Gumble ffmpeg Pause can block forever
     File: gumble/gumbleffmpeg/stream.go
     Pause checks StatePlaying, releases the lock, then sends on an unbuffered
     pause channel. If process exits in between, no receiver remains. Redesign
diff --git a/gumble/gumbleffmpeg/stream.go b/gumble/gumbleffmpeg/stream.go
index e5518fe..bed0c14 100644
--- a/gumble/gumbleffmpeg/stream.go
+++ b/gumble/gumbleffmpeg/stream.go
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ func New(client *gumble.Client, source Source) *Stream {
 		Volume:  1.0,
 		Source:  source,
 		Command: "ffmpeg",
-		pause:   make(chan struct{}),
+		pause:   make(chan struct{}, 1),
 		state:   StateInitial,
 	}
 }
@@ -124,7 +124,12 @@ func (s *Stream) Pause() error {
 	}
 	s.state = StatePaused
 	s.l.Unlock()
-	s.pause <- struct{}{}
+	// The process can exit after the state check. A buffered, coalesced pause
+	// request preserves the state transition without blocking the caller.
+	select {
+	case s.pause <- struct{}{}:
+	default:
+	}
 	return nil
 }
 
@@ -176,9 +181,12 @@ func (s *Stream) process() {
 				return
 			}
 			int16Buffer := make([]int16, frameSize)
+			s.l.Lock()
+			volume := s.Volume
+			s.l.Unlock()
 			for i := range int16Buffer {
 				float := float32(int16(binary.LittleEndian.Uint16(byteBuffer[i*2 : (i+1)*2])))
-				int16Buffer[i] = int16(s.Volume * float)
+				int16Buffer[i] = int16(volume * float)
 			}
 			atomic.AddInt64(&s.elapsed, int64(interval))
 			outgoing <- gumble.AudioBuffer(int16Buffer)
diff --git a/gumble/gumbleffmpeg/stream_test.go b/gumble/gumbleffmpeg/stream_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cd1300c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/gumble/gumbleffmpeg/stream_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+package gumbleffmpeg
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+)
+
+// Regression: Pause sent on an unbuffered channel after the process had
+// exited, leaving callers blocked forever.
+func TestPauseDoesNotBlockWhenProcessHasExited(t *testing.T) {
+	s := &Stream{state: StatePlaying, pause: make(chan struct{}, 1)}
+	done := make(chan error, 1)
+	go func() { done <- s.Pause() }()
+	select {
+	case err := <-done:
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+	case <-time.After(time.Second):
+		t.Fatal("Pause blocked after process exit")
+	}
+}