diff --git a/src/system/audio.py b/src/system/audio.py
index 78bab91..9ab037f 100644
--- a/src/system/audio.py
+++ b/src/system/audio.py
@@ -294,8 +294,9 @@ class AudioSystem:
         # IMPORTANT: On JACK 1.9.22 there is no /dev/shm/jack_default_0_0
         # socket. Instead, verify via jack_lsp which tests actual IPC.
         if _jack_is_running():
-            # Verify JACK is actually accepting connections
-            if _jack_is_operational():
+            # Verify JACK is actually accepting connections AND matches
+            # our device (ignore rogue jackd -T from bt-a2dp's alsa_in)
+            if _jack_is_operational() and _jack_matches_config(self.config.output_device):
                 logger.info("JACK already running and operational — reusing")
                 return True
             # Process exists but can't connect — likely a zombie that
@@ -356,7 +357,7 @@ class AudioSystem:
                     # Stabilization check — JACK can start briefly then crash
                     # if the ALSA device is flaky. Wait 1.5s with retries.
                     time.sleep(0.5)
-                    if _jack_is_operational():
+                    if _jack_is_operational() and _jack_matches_config(self.config.output_device):
                         # Auto-connect ports if enabled
                         if self.config.auto_connect:
                             self.connect_fx_ports()
@@ -388,6 +389,16 @@ class AudioSystem:
             )
         except Exception:
             pass
+        # Kill alsa_in — bt-a2dp's bridge uses it, and when JACK dies
+        # alsa_in auto-spawns a rogue jackd -T -ndefault that satisfies
+        # _jack_is_operational() but connects as the wrong server.
+        try:
+            subprocess.run(
+                ["killall", "alsa_in"],
+                capture_output=True, timeout=3,
+            )
+        except Exception:
+            pass
         try:
             subprocess.run(
                 ["killall", "jackd"],
@@ -879,6 +890,35 @@ def _jack_is_operational() -> bool:
         return False
 
 
+def _jack_matches_config(cmdline_match: str = "") -> bool:
+    """Check if the running jackd command matches expected args.
+
+    On systems with bt-a2dp-jack, ``alsa_in`` can auto-spawn a rogue
+    ``jackd -T -ndefault`` that satisfies ``_jack_is_operational()``
+    but uses the wrong server name/ALSA device. Only return True if
+    the running jackd's ``/proc/*/cmdline`` contains the expected
+    device string.
+
+    Args:
+        cmdline_match: String to match in the jackd cmdline
+            (e.g. ``hw:USB,0`` or a period value).
+    """
+    if not cmdline_match:
+        return True  # no filter — just return operational status
+    try:
+        import glob as _glob
+        for proc_dir in _glob.glob("/proc/[0-9]*"):
+            try:
+                cmd = (Path(proc_dir) / "cmdline").read_bytes().decode("utf-8", errors="replace").replace("\0", " ")
+                if "jackd" in cmd and cmdline_match in cmd:
+                    return True
+            except (OSError, PermissionError):
+                continue
+        return False
+    except Exception:
+        return True  # on error, don't block — rely on operational check
+
+
 # ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
 # JACK audio client (real-time I/O with pipeline)
 # ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════