diff --git a/modules/Mpris.qml b/modules/Mpris.qml
index 252a3cc..d24c39e 100644
--- a/modules/Mpris.qml
+++ b/modules/Mpris.qml
@@ -41,9 +41,26 @@ M.BarSection {
 
     // Cava visualizer — 16 bars, raw output mode
     property var _cavaBars: Array(16).fill(0)
+    property bool _cavaActive: false
+
+    on_ShowPanelChanged: {
+        if (_showPanel) {
+            _cavaKillTimer.stop();
+            _cavaActive = true;
+        } else {
+            _cavaKillTimer.restart();
+        }
+    }
+
+    Timer {
+        id: _cavaKillTimer
+        interval: 30000
+        onTriggered: root._cavaActive = false
+    }
+
     Process {
         id: cavaProc
-        running: root.playing && root.visible
+        running: root.playing && root._cavaActive
         command: ["sh", "-c", "cfg=$(mktemp /tmp/nova-cava-XXXXXX.conf);" + "cat > \"$cfg\" << 'CAVAEOF'\n" + "[general]\nbars=16\nframerate=30\n[output]\nmethod=raw\nraw_target=/dev/stdout\ndata_format=ascii\nascii_max_range=100\n" + "CAVAEOF\n" + "trap 'rm -f \"$cfg\"' EXIT;" + "exec cava -p \"$cfg\""]
         stdout: SplitParser {
             splitMarker: "\n"