diff --git a/client/public/version.js b/client/public/version.js
index b4846c6..59ed5ba 100644
--- a/client/public/version.js
+++ b/client/public/version.js
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 // Maintainer-controlled web client version.
 // Format: YYYY.MM.DD Rn (example: 2026.02.20 R2)
-window.CHGRID_WEB_VERSION = "2026.02.22 R175";
+window.CHGRID_WEB_VERSION = "2026.02.22 R176";
 // Optional display timezone for timestamps. Falls back to America/Detroit if unset/invalid.
 window.CHGRID_TIME_ZONE = "America/Detroit";
diff --git a/client/src/main.ts b/client/src/main.ts
index d48e604..e2f3a8c 100644
--- a/client/src/main.ts
+++ b/client/src/main.ts
@@ -1110,7 +1110,7 @@ function handleMovement(): void {
   persistPlayerPosition();
   state.player.lastMoveTime = now;
   void refreshAudioSubscriptions(true);
-  void audio.playSample(randomFootstepUrl(), FOOTSTEP_GAIN, 40);
+  void audio.playSample(randomFootstepUrl(), FOOTSTEP_GAIN, 100);
   signaling.send({ type: 'update_position', x: nextX, y: nextY });
 
   const namesOnTile = getPeerNamesAtPosition(nextX, nextY);
diff --git a/client/src/session/connectionFlow.ts b/client/src/session/connectionFlow.ts
index 5385fca..9e836cb 100644
--- a/client/src/session/connectionFlow.ts
+++ b/client/src/session/connectionFlow.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 import type { GameState } from '../state/gameState';
 
+const WELCOME_TIMEOUT_MS = 8_000;
+
 type DomRefs = {
   preconnectNickname: HTMLInputElement;
   nicknameContainer: HTMLDivElement;
@@ -103,6 +105,16 @@ export async function runConnectFlow(deps: ConnectFlowDeps): Promise<void> {
 
   try {
     await deps.signalingConnect(deps.onMessage);
+    window.setTimeout(() => {
+      if (deps.state.running || !deps.mediaIsConnecting()) {
+        return;
+      }
+      deps.mediaStopLocalMedia();
+      deps.signalingDisconnect();
+      deps.mediaSetConnecting(false);
+      deps.updateConnectAvailability();
+      deps.updateStatus('Connect failed. Timed out waiting for server welcome.');
+    }, WELCOME_TIMEOUT_MS);
   } catch (error) {
     console.error(error);
     deps.mediaStopLocalMedia();