diff --git a/services/jellyfin/jellyfin-qbittorrent-monitor.py b/services/jellyfin/jellyfin-qbittorrent-monitor.py
index 3973ce9..a80e08a 100644
--- a/services/jellyfin/jellyfin-qbittorrent-monitor.py
+++ b/services/jellyfin/jellyfin-qbittorrent-monitor.py
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@ class JellyfinQBittorrentMonitor:
         self.streaming_start_delay = streaming_start_delay
         self.streaming_stop_delay = streaming_stop_delay
         self.last_state_change = 0
+        self._last_seen_state = None  # tracks previous poll's streaming_active for flicker detection
 
         # Webhook receiver: allows Jellyfin to push events instead of waiting for the poll
         self.webhook_port = webhook_port
@@ -355,12 +356,24 @@ class JellyfinQBittorrentMonitor:
             pass
 
     def should_change_state(self, new_streaming_state: bool) -> bool:
-        """Apply hysteresis to prevent rapid state changes"""
+        """Apply hysteresis to prevent rapid state changes.
+
+        The delay must be contiguous: if the session flickers (absent→present
+        while a stop-countdown is in progress, or vice versa), the timer resets
+        so brief gaps don't accumulate into a spurious state transition.
+        Routine repeated presence (e.g. webhook PlaybackProgress every second)
+        does NOT reset the timer — only a direction reversal does.
+        """
         now = time.time()
 
         if new_streaming_state == self.last_streaming_state:
+            if self._last_seen_state != self.last_streaming_state:
+                self.last_state_change = now
+            self._last_seen_state = new_streaming_state
             return False
 
+        self._last_seen_state = new_streaming_state
+
         time_since_change = now - self.last_state_change
 
         if new_streaming_state and not self.last_streaming_state:
diff --git a/tests/jellyfin-qbittorrent-monitor.nix b/tests/jellyfin-qbittorrent-monitor.nix
index 39ba24c..55127f6 100644
--- a/tests/jellyfin-qbittorrent-monitor.nix
+++ b/tests/jellyfin-qbittorrent-monitor.nix
@@ -586,6 +586,97 @@ pkgs.testers.runNixOSTest {
     time.sleep(2)
 
 
+    # === FLICKER TEST ===
+    #
+    # Session flicker (brief appear→disappear→reappear cycles) is the
+    # production reality when xmrig starves the transcode CPU and the
+    # client's buffer oscillates. The hysteresis timer must measure
+    # CONTIGUOUS absence, not cumulative gaps across flickers. A 5s
+    # stop delay with flickers of 2s absent / 2s present must NOT
+    # accumulate into a spurious unlimited transition.
+
+    server.succeed("systemctl stop monitor-test || true")
+    time.sleep(1)
+    server.succeed(f"""
+      systemd-run --unit=monitor-flicker \
+        --setenv=JELLYFIN_URL=http://localhost:8096 \
+        --setenv=JELLYFIN_API_KEY={token} \
+        --setenv=QBITTORRENT_URL=http://localhost:8080 \
+        --setenv=CHECK_INTERVAL=1 \
+        --setenv=STREAMING_START_DELAY=1 \
+        --setenv=STREAMING_STOP_DELAY=5 \
+        --setenv=TOTAL_BANDWIDTH_BUDGET=50000000 \
+        --setenv=SERVICE_BUFFER=2000000 \
+        --setenv=DEFAULT_STREAM_BITRATE=10000000 \
+        --setenv=MIN_TORRENT_SPEED=100 \
+        {python} {monitor}
+    """)
+    time.sleep(2)
+    assert not is_throttled(), "Should start unthrottled"
+
+    with subtest("Session flicker does not accumulate hysteresis timer"):
+        # Start playback
+        playback_flicker = {
+            "ItemId": movie_id,
+            "MediaSourceId": media_source_id,
+            "PlaySessionId": "test-play-session-flicker",
+            "CanSeek": True,
+            "IsPaused": False,
+        }
+        start_cmd = f"curl -sf -X POST 'http://{server_ip}:8096/Sessions/Playing' -d '{json.dumps(playback_flicker)}' -H 'Content-Type:application/json' -H 'X-Emby-Authorization:{client_auth}, Token={client_token}'"
+        client.succeed(start_cmd)
+        time.sleep(2)
+        assert is_throttled(), "Should throttle when streaming starts"
+
+        # Flicker 1: stop 2s, restart 2s
+        playback_flicker["PositionTicks"] = 50000000
+        stop_flicker = f"curl -sf -X POST 'http://{server_ip}:8096/Sessions/Playing/Stopped' -d '{json.dumps(playback_flicker)}' -H 'Content-Type:application/json' -H 'X-Emby-Authorization:{client_auth}, Token={client_token}'"
+        client.succeed(stop_flicker)
+        time.sleep(2)
+        client.succeed(start_cmd)
+        time.sleep(2)
+
+        # Flicker 2: stop 2s, restart 2s (total absent = 4s < 5s delay)
+        client.succeed(stop_flicker)
+        time.sleep(2)
+        client.succeed(start_cmd)
+        time.sleep(2)
+
+        # Should still be throttled — flicker gaps didn't accumulate
+        assert is_throttled(), "Should remain throttled after session flickers (contiguous absence < 5s)"
+
+        # Genuine stop: absent for full stop delay
+        client.succeed(stop_flicker)
+        time.sleep(6)
+        assert not is_throttled(), "Should unthrottle after contiguous 5s+ absence"
+
+        # Restart after genuine stop
+        client.succeed(start_cmd)
+        time.sleep(2)
+        assert is_throttled(), "Should re-throttle after restart"
+
+        # Clean up
+        client.succeed(stop_flicker)
+        time.sleep(2)
+
+    # Restore the fast-polling monitor for subsequent tests
+    server.succeed("systemctl stop monitor-flicker || true")
+    time.sleep(1)
+    server.succeed(f"""
+      systemd-run --unit=monitor-test \
+        --setenv=JELLYFIN_URL=http://localhost:8096 \
+        --setenv=JELLYFIN_API_KEY={token} \
+        --setenv=QBITTORRENT_URL=http://localhost:8080 \
+        --setenv=CHECK_INTERVAL=1 \
+        --setenv=STREAMING_START_DELAY=1 \
+        --setenv=STREAMING_STOP_DELAY=1 \
+        --setenv=TOTAL_BANDWIDTH_BUDGET=50000000 \
+        --setenv=SERVICE_BUFFER=2000000 \
+        --setenv=DEFAULT_STREAM_BITRATE=10000000 \
+        --setenv=MIN_TORRENT_SPEED=100 \
+        {python} {monitor}
+    """)
+    time.sleep(2)
     # === SERVICE RESTART TESTS ===
 
     with subtest("qBittorrent restart during throttled state re-applies throttling"):