diff --git a/service-configs.nix b/service-configs.nix
index 4cb200d..3f20d4a 100644
--- a/service-configs.nix
+++ b/service-configs.nix
@@ -81,6 +81,12 @@ rec {
         port = 6011;
         proto = "tcp";
       };
+      # Webhook receiver for the Jellyfin-qBittorrent monitor — Jellyfin pushes
+      # playback events here so throttling reacts without waiting for the poll.
+      jellyfin_qbittorrent_monitor_webhook = {
+        port = 9898;
+        proto = "tcp";
+      };
       bitmagnet = {
         port = 3333;
         proto = "tcp";
diff --git a/services/jellyfin/jellyfin-qbittorrent-monitor.nix b/services/jellyfin/jellyfin-qbittorrent-monitor.nix
index 4bf57d7..9b800d1 100644
--- a/services/jellyfin/jellyfin-qbittorrent-monitor.nix
+++ b/services/jellyfin/jellyfin-qbittorrent-monitor.nix
@@ -5,14 +5,67 @@
   lib,
   ...
 }:
+let
+  webhookPlugin = import ./jellyfin-webhook-plugin.nix { inherit pkgs lib; };
+  jellyfinPort = service_configs.ports.private.jellyfin.port;
+  webhookPort = service_configs.ports.private.jellyfin_qbittorrent_monitor_webhook.port;
+in
 lib.mkIf config.services.jellyfin.enable {
+  # Materialise the Jellyfin Webhook plugin into Jellyfin's plugins dir before
+  # Jellyfin starts. Jellyfin rewrites meta.json at runtime, so a read-only
+  # nix-store symlink would EACCES — we copy instead.
+  systemd.services.jellyfin-webhook-install = {
+    before = [ "jellyfin.service" ];
+    wantedBy = [ "jellyfin.service" ];
+    serviceConfig = {
+      Type = "oneshot";
+      RemainAfterExit = true;
+      User = config.services.jellyfin.user;
+      Group = config.services.jellyfin.group;
+      ExecStart = webhookPlugin.mkInstallScript {
+        pluginsDir = "${config.services.jellyfin.dataDir}/plugins";
+      };
+    };
+  };
+
+  # After Jellyfin starts, POST the plugin configuration so the webhook
+  # targets the monitor's receiver. Idempotent; runs on every boot.
+  systemd.services.jellyfin-webhook-configure = {
+    after = [ "jellyfin.service" ];
+    wants = [ "jellyfin.service" ];
+    before = [ "jellyfin-qbittorrent-monitor.service" ];
+    wantedBy = [ "multi-user.target" ];
+    serviceConfig = {
+      Type = "oneshot";
+      RemainAfterExit = true;
+      DynamicUser = true;
+      LoadCredential = "jellyfin-api-key:${config.age.secrets.jellyfin-api-key.path}";
+      ExecStart = webhookPlugin.mkConfigureScript {
+        jellyfinUrl = "http://127.0.0.1:${toString jellyfinPort}";
+        webhooks = [
+          {
+            name = "qBittorrent Monitor";
+            uri = "http://127.0.0.1:${toString webhookPort}/";
+            notificationTypes = [
+              "PlaybackStart"
+              "PlaybackProgress"
+              "PlaybackStop"
+            ];
+          }
+        ];
+      };
+    };
+  };
+
   systemd.services."jellyfin-qbittorrent-monitor" = {
     description = "Monitor Jellyfin streaming and control qBittorrent rate limits";
     after = [
       "network.target"
       "jellyfin.service"
       "qbittorrent.service"
+      "jellyfin-webhook-configure.service"
     ];
+    wants = [ "jellyfin-webhook-configure.service" ];
     wantedBy = [ "multi-user.target" ];
 
     serviceConfig = {
@@ -44,7 +97,7 @@ lib.mkIf config.services.jellyfin.enable {
     };
 
     environment = {
-      JELLYFIN_URL = "http://localhost:${builtins.toString service_configs.ports.private.jellyfin.port}";
+      JELLYFIN_URL = "http://localhost:${builtins.toString jellyfinPort}";
       QBITTORRENT_URL = "http://${config.vpnNamespaces.wg.namespaceAddress}:${builtins.toString service_configs.ports.private.torrent.port}";
       CHECK_INTERVAL = "30";
       # Bandwidth budget configuration
@@ -53,6 +106,9 @@ lib.mkIf config.services.jellyfin.enable {
       DEFAULT_STREAM_BITRATE = "10000000"; # 10 Mbps fallback when bitrate unknown (bps)
       MIN_TORRENT_SPEED = "100"; # KB/s - below this, pause torrents instead
       STREAM_BITRATE_HEADROOM = "1.1"; # multiplier per stream for bitrate fluctuations
+      # Webhook receiver: Jellyfin Webhook plugin POSTs events here to throttle immediately.
+      WEBHOOK_BIND = "127.0.0.1";
+      WEBHOOK_PORT = toString webhookPort;
     };
   };
 }
diff --git a/services/jellyfin/jellyfin-qbittorrent-monitor.py b/services/jellyfin/jellyfin-qbittorrent-monitor.py
index 3c01cee..5c9326b 100644
--- a/services/jellyfin/jellyfin-qbittorrent-monitor.py
+++ b/services/jellyfin/jellyfin-qbittorrent-monitor.py
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@ import sys
 import signal
 import json
 import ipaddress
+import threading
+from http.server import HTTPServer, BaseHTTPRequestHandler
 
 logging.basicConfig(
     level=logging.INFO, format="%(asctime)s - %(levelname)s - %(message)s"
@@ -34,6 +36,8 @@ class JellyfinQBittorrentMonitor:
         default_stream_bitrate=10000000,
         min_torrent_speed=100,
         stream_bitrate_headroom=1.1,
+        webhook_port=0,
+        webhook_bind="127.0.0.1",
     ):
         self.jellyfin_url = jellyfin_url
         self.qbittorrent_url = qbittorrent_url
@@ -57,6 +61,12 @@ class JellyfinQBittorrentMonitor:
         self.streaming_stop_delay = streaming_stop_delay
         self.last_state_change = 0
 
+        # Webhook receiver: allows Jellyfin to push events instead of waiting for the poll
+        self.webhook_port = webhook_port
+        self.webhook_bind = webhook_bind
+        self.wake_event = threading.Event()
+        self.webhook_server = None
+
         # Local network ranges (RFC 1918 private networks + localhost)
         self.local_networks = [
             ipaddress.ip_network("10.0.0.0/8"),
@@ -79,9 +89,56 @@ class JellyfinQBittorrentMonitor:
     def signal_handler(self, signum, frame):
         logger.info("Received shutdown signal, cleaning up...")
         self.running = False
+        if self.webhook_server is not None:
+            # shutdown() blocks until serve_forever returns; run from a thread so we don't deadlock
+            threading.Thread(target=self.webhook_server.shutdown, daemon=True).start()
         self.restore_normal_limits()
         sys.exit(0)
 
+    def wake(self) -> None:
+        """Signal the main loop to re-evaluate state immediately."""
+        self.wake_event.set()
+
+    def sleep_or_wake(self, seconds: float) -> None:
+        """Wait up to `seconds`, returning early if a webhook wakes the loop."""
+        self.wake_event.wait(seconds)
+        self.wake_event.clear()
+
+    def start_webhook_server(self) -> None:
+        """Start a background HTTP server that wakes the monitor on any POST."""
+        if not self.webhook_port:
+            return
+
+        monitor = self
+
+        class WebhookHandler(BaseHTTPRequestHandler):
+            def do_POST(self):  # noqa: N802
+                length = int(self.headers.get("Content-Length", "0") or "0")
+                body = self.rfile.read(min(length, 65536)) if length else b""
+                event = "unknown"
+                try:
+                    if body:
+                        event = json.loads(body).get("NotificationType", "unknown")
+                except (json.JSONDecodeError, ValueError):
+                    pass
+                logger.info(f"Webhook received: {event}")
+                self.send_response(204)
+                self.end_headers()
+                monitor.wake()
+
+            def log_message(self, format, *args):
+                return  # suppress default access log
+
+        self.webhook_server = HTTPServer(
+            (self.webhook_bind, self.webhook_port), WebhookHandler
+        )
+        threading.Thread(
+            target=self.webhook_server.serve_forever, daemon=True, name="webhook-server"
+        ).start()
+        logger.info(
+            f"Webhook receiver listening on http://{self.webhook_bind}:{self.webhook_port}"
+        )
+
     def check_jellyfin_sessions(self) -> list[dict]:
         headers = (
             {"X-Emby-Token": self.jellyfin_api_key} if self.jellyfin_api_key else {}
@@ -297,10 +354,14 @@ class JellyfinQBittorrentMonitor:
         logger.info(f"Default stream bitrate: {self.default_stream_bitrate} bps")
         logger.info(f"Minimum torrent speed: {self.min_torrent_speed} KB/s")
         logger.info(f"Stream bitrate headroom: {self.stream_bitrate_headroom}x")
+        if self.webhook_port:
+            logger.info(f"Webhook receiver: {self.webhook_bind}:{self.webhook_port}")
 
         signal.signal(signal.SIGINT, self.signal_handler)
         signal.signal(signal.SIGTERM, self.signal_handler)
 
+        self.start_webhook_server()
+
         while self.running:
             try:
                 self.sync_qbittorrent_state()
@@ -309,7 +370,7 @@ class JellyfinQBittorrentMonitor:
                     active_streams = self.check_jellyfin_sessions()
                 except ServiceUnavailable:
                     logger.warning("Jellyfin unavailable, maintaining current state")
-                    time.sleep(self.check_interval)
+                    self.sleep_or_wake(self.check_interval)
                     continue
 
                 streaming_active = len(active_streams) > 0
@@ -394,13 +455,13 @@ class JellyfinQBittorrentMonitor:
 
                 self.current_state = desired_state
                 self.last_active_streams = active_streams
-                time.sleep(self.check_interval)
+                self.sleep_or_wake(self.check_interval)
 
             except KeyboardInterrupt:
                 break
             except Exception as e:
                 logger.error(f"Unexpected error in monitoring loop: {e}")
-                time.sleep(self.check_interval)
+                self.sleep_or_wake(self.check_interval)
 
         self.restore_normal_limits()
         logger.info("Monitor stopped")
@@ -421,6 +482,8 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
     default_stream_bitrate = int(os.getenv("DEFAULT_STREAM_BITRATE", "10000000"))
     min_torrent_speed = int(os.getenv("MIN_TORRENT_SPEED", "100"))
     stream_bitrate_headroom = float(os.getenv("STREAM_BITRATE_HEADROOM", "1.1"))
+    webhook_port = int(os.getenv("WEBHOOK_PORT", "0"))
+    webhook_bind = os.getenv("WEBHOOK_BIND", "127.0.0.1")
 
     monitor = JellyfinQBittorrentMonitor(
         jellyfin_url=jellyfin_url,
@@ -434,6 +497,8 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
         default_stream_bitrate=default_stream_bitrate,
         min_torrent_speed=min_torrent_speed,
         stream_bitrate_headroom=stream_bitrate_headroom,
+        webhook_port=webhook_port,
+        webhook_bind=webhook_bind,
     )
 
     monitor.run()
diff --git a/tests/jellyfin-qbittorrent-monitor.nix b/tests/jellyfin-qbittorrent-monitor.nix
index dd6508e..e3c248a 100644
--- a/tests/jellyfin-qbittorrent-monitor.nix
+++ b/tests/jellyfin-qbittorrent-monitor.nix
@@ -6,6 +6,21 @@
 }:
 let
   jfLib = import ./jellyfin-test-lib.nix { inherit pkgs lib; };
+  webhookPlugin = import ../services/jellyfin/jellyfin-webhook-plugin.nix { inherit pkgs lib; };
+  configureWebhook = webhookPlugin.mkConfigureScript {
+    jellyfinUrl = "http://localhost:8096";
+    webhooks = [
+      {
+        name = "qBittorrent Monitor";
+        uri = "http://127.0.0.1:9898/";
+        notificationTypes = [
+          "PlaybackStart"
+          "PlaybackProgress"
+          "PlaybackStop"
+        ];
+      }
+    ];
+  };
 in
 pkgs.testers.runNixOSTest {
   name = "jellyfin-qbittorrent-monitor";
@@ -69,11 +84,30 @@ pkgs.testers.runNixOSTest {
           }
         ];
 
-        # Create directories for qBittorrent
+        # Create directories for qBittorrent.
         systemd.tmpfiles.rules = [
           "d /var/lib/qbittorrent/downloads 0755 qbittorrent qbittorrent"
           "d /var/lib/qbittorrent/incomplete 0755 qbittorrent qbittorrent"
         ];
+
+        # Install the Jellyfin Webhook plugin before Jellyfin starts, mirroring
+        # the production module. Jellyfin rewrites meta.json at runtime so a
+        # read-only nix-store symlink would fail — we materialise a writable copy.
+        systemd.services."jellyfin-webhook-install" = {
+          description = "Install Jellyfin Webhook plugin files";
+          before = [ "jellyfin.service" ];
+          wantedBy = [ "jellyfin.service" ];
+          serviceConfig = {
+            Type = "oneshot";
+            RemainAfterExit = true;
+            User = "jellyfin";
+            Group = "jellyfin";
+            UMask = "0077";
+            ExecStart = webhookPlugin.mkInstallScript {
+              pluginsDir = "/var/lib/jellyfin/plugins";
+            };
+          };
+        };
       };
 
     # Public test IP (RFC 5737 TEST-NET-3) so Jellyfin sees it as external
@@ -394,6 +428,97 @@ pkgs.testers.runNixOSTest {
         local_playback["PositionTicks"] = 50000000
         server.succeed(f"curl -sf -X POST 'http://localhost:8096/Sessions/Playing/Stopped' -d '{json.dumps(local_playback)}' -H 'Content-Type:application/json' -H 'X-Emby-Authorization:{local_auth}, Token={local_token}'")
 
+    # === WEBHOOK TESTS ===
+    #
+    # Configure the Jellyfin Webhook plugin to target the monitor, then verify
+    # the real Jellyfin → plugin → monitor path reacts faster than any possible
+    # poll. CHECK_INTERVAL=30 rules out polling as the cause.
+
+    WEBHOOK_PORT = 9898
+    WEBHOOK_CREDS = "/tmp/webhook-creds"
+
+    # Start a webhook-enabled monitor with long poll interval.
+    server.succeed("systemctl stop monitor-test || true")
+    time.sleep(1)
+    server.succeed(f"""
+      systemd-run --unit=monitor-webhook \
+        --setenv=JELLYFIN_URL=http://localhost:8096 \
+        --setenv=JELLYFIN_API_KEY={token} \
+        --setenv=QBITTORRENT_URL=http://localhost:8080 \
+        --setenv=CHECK_INTERVAL=30 \
+        --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 \
+        --setenv=WEBHOOK_PORT={WEBHOOK_PORT} \
+        --setenv=WEBHOOK_BIND=127.0.0.1 \
+        {python} {monitor}
+    """)
+    server.wait_until_succeeds(f"ss -ltn | grep -q ':{WEBHOOK_PORT}'", timeout=15)
+    time.sleep(2)
+    assert not is_throttled(), "Should start unthrottled"
+
+    # Drop the admin token where the configure script expects it (production uses agenix).
+    server.succeed(f"mkdir -p {WEBHOOK_CREDS} && echo '{token}' > {WEBHOOK_CREDS}/jellyfin-api-key")
+    server.succeed(
+        f"systemd-run --wait --unit=webhook-configure-test "
+        f"--setenv=CREDENTIALS_DIRECTORY={WEBHOOK_CREDS} "
+        f"${configureWebhook}"
+    )
+
+    with subtest("Real PlaybackStart event throttles via the plugin"):
+        playback_start = {
+            "ItemId": movie_id,
+            "MediaSourceId": media_source_id,
+            "PlaySessionId": "test-plugin-start",
+            "CanSeek": True,
+            "IsPaused": False,
+        }
+        start_cmd = f"curl -sf -X POST 'http://{server_ip}:8096/Sessions/Playing' -d '{json.dumps(playback_start)}' -H 'Content-Type:application/json' -H 'X-Emby-Authorization:{client_auth}, Token={client_token}'"
+        client.succeed(start_cmd)
+        server.wait_until_succeeds(
+            "curl -sf http://localhost:8080/api/v2/transfer/speedLimitsMode | grep -q '^1$'",
+            timeout=5,
+        )
+        # Let STREAMING_STOP_DELAY (1s) elapse so the upcoming stop is not swallowed by hysteresis.
+        time.sleep(2)
+
+    with subtest("Real PlaybackStop event unthrottles via the plugin"):
+        playback_stop = {
+            "ItemId": movie_id,
+            "MediaSourceId": media_source_id,
+            "PlaySessionId": "test-plugin-start",
+            "PositionTicks": 50000000,
+        }
+        stop_cmd = f"curl -sf -X POST 'http://{server_ip}:8096/Sessions/Playing/Stopped' -d '{json.dumps(playback_stop)}' -H 'Content-Type:application/json' -H 'X-Emby-Authorization:{client_auth}, Token={client_token}'"
+        client.succeed(stop_cmd)
+        server.wait_until_succeeds(
+            "curl -sf http://localhost:8080/api/v2/transfer/speedLimitsMode | grep -q '^0$'",
+            timeout=10,
+        )
+
+    # Restore fast-polling monitor for the service-restart tests below.
+    server.succeed("systemctl stop monitor-webhook || 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"):