diff --git a/cli.py b/cli.py
index 17d33cf46..f809f797b 100644
--- a/cli.py
+++ b/cli.py
@@ -10107,9 +10107,11 @@ class HermesCLI(CLIAgentSetupMixin, CLICommandsMixin):
             target=self._reload_mcp, daemon=True
         )
         _reload_thread.start()
-        _reload_thread.join(timeout=30)
-        if _reload_thread.is_alive():
-            print("  ⚠️  MCP reload timed out (30s). Some servers may not have reconnected.")
+        # Do NOT join here — process_loop calls this from its idle branch, so a
+        # blocking join would freeze input consumption for up to 30s (and a hung
+        # MCP server could block far longer). The reload runs purely in the
+        # background daemon thread, which reports its own progress/completion
+        # status via print() inside _reload_mcp().
 
     # Inline-skip tokens that bypass the destructive-slash confirmation modal.
     # A general escape hatch for non-interactive use (scripting/automation) and
@@ -10737,8 +10739,16 @@ class HermesCLI(CLIAgentSetupMixin, CLICommandsMixin):
         except Exception:
             pass
 
+        # Recorder creation can fail (no input device, PortAudio init error).
+        # Reset the flag on failure or _voice_recording stays True forever and
+        # every future voice start is silently skipped by the guard above.
         if self._voice_recorder is None:
-            self._voice_recorder = create_audio_recorder()
+            try:
+                self._voice_recorder = create_audio_recorder()
+            except Exception:
+                with self._voice_lock:
+                    self._voice_recording = False
+                raise
 
         # Apply config-driven silence params (numeric-guarded so YAML
         # scalar corruption doesn't break recording start-up).