diff --git a/src/lib/components/Controls.svelte b/src/lib/components/Controls.svelte
index 987ace0..296f465 100644
--- a/src/lib/components/Controls.svelte
+++ b/src/lib/components/Controls.svelte
@@ -20,14 +20,17 @@
       } else {
         await backendStore.apiPost("/api/start");
       }
-      // Poll status to update UI immediately instead of waiting
-      // for WebSocket broadcast (which can be delayed or missed)
-      await backendStore.pollStatus();
     } catch (err: unknown) {
       const msg = err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err);
-      console.error("Failed to toggle transcription:", msg);
-      errorMessage = msg;
+      // Ignore "Already transcribing/not transcribing" -- just sync the state
+      if (!msg.includes("400")) {
+        console.error("Failed to toggle transcription:", msg);
+        errorMessage = msg;
+      }
     } finally {
+      // Always poll status to sync UI with actual backend state,
+      // even if the API call failed (e.g. "Already transcribing")
+      await backendStore.pollStatus();
       isLoading = false;
     }
   }