diff --git a/src/config/types.telegram.ts b/src/config/types.telegram.ts
index 6e2aba3583d..52fa1bb24cb 100644
--- a/src/config/types.telegram.ts
+++ b/src/config/types.telegram.ts
@@ -185,6 +185,8 @@ export type TelegramTopicConfig = {
   allowFrom?: Array<string | number>;
   /** Optional system prompt snippet for this topic. */
   systemPrompt?: string;
+  /** If true, skip automatic voice-note transcription for mention detection in this topic. */
+  disableAudioPreflight?: boolean;
 };
 
 export type TelegramGroupConfig = {
@@ -204,6 +206,8 @@ export type TelegramGroupConfig = {
   allowFrom?: Array<string | number>;
   /** Optional system prompt snippet for this group. */
   systemPrompt?: string;
+  /** If true, skip automatic voice-note transcription for mention detection in this group. */
+  disableAudioPreflight?: boolean;
 };
 
 export type TelegramDirectConfig = {
diff --git a/src/telegram/bot-message-context.audio-transcript.test.ts b/src/telegram/bot-message-context.audio-transcript.test.ts
index 4e6a06132a7..90a3c28720e 100644
--- a/src/telegram/bot-message-context.audio-transcript.test.ts
+++ b/src/telegram/bot-message-context.audio-transcript.test.ts
@@ -41,4 +41,53 @@ describe("buildTelegramMessageContext audio transcript body", () => {
     expect(ctx?.ctxPayload?.Body).toContain("hey bot please help");
     expect(ctx?.ctxPayload?.Body).not.toContain("<media:audio>");
   });
+
+  it("skips preflight transcription when disableAudioPreflight is true", async () => {
+    transcribeFirstAudioMock.mockClear();
+
+    const ctx = await buildTelegramMessageContext({
+      primaryCtx: {
+        message: {
+          message_id: 2,
+          chat: { id: -1001234567891, type: "supergroup", title: "Test Group 2" },
+          date: 1700000100,
+          from: { id: 43, first_name: "Bob" },
+          voice: { file_id: "voice-2" },
+        },
+        me: { id: 7, username: "bot" },
+      } as never,
+      allMedia: [{ path: "/tmp/voice2.ogg", contentType: "audio/ogg" }],
+      storeAllowFrom: [],
+      options: { forceWasMentioned: true },
+      bot: {
+        api: {
+          sendChatAction: vi.fn(),
+          setMessageReaction: vi.fn(),
+        },
+      } as never,
+      cfg: {
+        agents: { defaults: { model: "anthropic/claude-opus-4-5", workspace: "/tmp/openclaw" } },
+        channels: { telegram: {} },
+        messages: { groupChat: { mentionPatterns: ["\\bbot\\b"] } },
+      } as never,
+      account: { accountId: "default" } as never,
+      historyLimit: 0,
+      groupHistories: new Map(),
+      dmPolicy: "open",
+      allowFrom: [],
+      groupAllowFrom: [],
+      ackReactionScope: "off",
+      logger: { info: vi.fn() },
+      resolveGroupActivation: () => true,
+      resolveGroupRequireMention: () => true,
+      resolveTelegramGroupConfig: () => ({
+        groupConfig: { requireMention: true, disableAudioPreflight: true },
+        topicConfig: undefined,
+      }),
+    });
+
+    expect(ctx).not.toBeNull();
+    expect(transcribeFirstAudioMock).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(ctx?.ctxPayload?.Body).toContain("<media:audio>");
+  });
 });
diff --git a/src/telegram/bot-message-context.ts b/src/telegram/bot-message-context.ts
index bca275ee2cc..6216c801441 100644
--- a/src/telegram/bot-message-context.ts
+++ b/src/telegram/bot-message-context.ts
@@ -393,11 +393,19 @@ export const buildTelegramMessageContext = async ({
   let bodyText = rawBody;
   const hasAudio = allMedia.some((media) => media.contentType?.startsWith("audio/"));
 
+  const disableAudioPreflight =
+    firstDefined(topicConfig?.disableAudioPreflight, groupConfig?.disableAudioPreflight) === true;
+
   // Preflight audio transcription for mention detection in groups
   // This allows voice notes to be checked for mentions before being dropped
   let preflightTranscript: string | undefined;
   const needsPreflightTranscription =
-    isGroup && requireMention && hasAudio && !hasUserText && mentionRegexes.length > 0;
+    isGroup &&
+    requireMention &&
+    hasAudio &&
+    !hasUserText &&
+    mentionRegexes.length > 0 &&
+    !disableAudioPreflight;
 
   if (needsPreflightTranscription) {
     try {