diff --git a/amethyst/src/main/java/com/vitorpamplona/amethyst/ui/screen/loggedIn/nests/room/screen/NestFullScreen.kt b/amethyst/src/main/java/com/vitorpamplona/amethyst/ui/screen/loggedIn/nests/room/screen/NestFullScreen.kt
index ed6f90ea2..4e01702aa 100644
--- a/amethyst/src/main/java/com/vitorpamplona/amethyst/ui/screen/loggedIn/nests/room/screen/NestFullScreen.kt
+++ b/amethyst/src/main/java/com/vitorpamplona/amethyst/ui/screen/loggedIn/nests/room/screen/NestFullScreen.kt
@@ -372,6 +372,17 @@ internal fun NestFullScreen(
                                     R.string.nest_leave_host_close_failed,
                                 )
                             }
+                            // Tear down the speaker session + listener
+                            // BEFORE finishing the activity so the
+                            // AudioRecord (and the system mic indicator)
+                            // releases promptly. onCleared() alone runs
+                            // late in the destroy lifecycle and can
+                            // leave the mic held while the activity is
+                            // queued for destruction. Only the
+                            // "Close the Room" path triggers this — the
+                            // "Just leave" and non-host leave paths
+                            // still rely on onCleared.
+                            viewModel.leave()
                             onLeave()
                         }
                     },
diff --git a/commons/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/vitorpamplona/amethyst/commons/viewmodels/NestViewModel.kt b/commons/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/vitorpamplona/amethyst/commons/viewmodels/NestViewModel.kt
index e9c64fddf..60c7e6769 100644
--- a/commons/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/vitorpamplona/amethyst/commons/viewmodels/NestViewModel.kt
+++ b/commons/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/vitorpamplona/amethyst/commons/viewmodels/NestViewModel.kt
@@ -545,6 +545,24 @@ class NestViewModel(
         teardown(targetState = ConnectionUiState.Idle, finalCleanup = false)
     }
 
+    /**
+     * User-driven leave-the-activity teardown. Mirrors [onCleared]: marks
+     * the VM closed and routes both the speaker handle close (which
+     * releases the AudioRecord and clears the system mic indicator) and
+     * the listener close to [cleanupScope] so the teardown survives
+     * Activity destruction. Call this from the leave-the-room button
+     * BEFORE finishing the activity; relying on [onCleared] alone leaves
+     * a window where the AudioRecord stays held while the activity is
+     * paused / queued for destruction.
+     */
+    fun leave() {
+        if (closed) return
+        closed = true
+        requestedSpeakers = emptySet()
+        teardownBroadcast(BroadcastUiState.Idle, finalCleanup = true)
+        teardown(targetState = ConnectionUiState.Closed, finalCleanup = true)
+    }
+
     override fun onCleared() {
         closed = true
         teardownBroadcast(BroadcastUiState.Idle, finalCleanup = true)