diff --git a/script.js b/script.js
index 68e52c6..f0813a6 100644
--- a/script.js
+++ b/script.js
@@ -1545,6 +1545,7 @@ let isBroadcasting = false;
 let autoStartStream = false;
 let listenerAudioContext = null;
 let listenerGainNode = null;
+let listenerChunksReceived = 0;
 
 // Initialize SocketIO connection
 function initSocket() {
@@ -2206,6 +2207,7 @@ function initListenerMode() {
         hasHeader = true; // No header request needed for WebM relay
 
         chunksReceived++;
+        listenerChunksReceived = chunksReceived;
         audioQueue.push(data);
 
         // JITTER BUFFER: Reduced to 1 segments (buffered) for WebM/Opus
@@ -2352,8 +2354,9 @@ async function enableListenerAudio() {
             // If no buffered data yet, show status but don't block playback
             if (!hasBufferedData()) {
                 console.log('⏳ Waiting for audio data to buffer...');
+                const chunkCount = Number.isFinite(listenerChunksReceived) ? listenerChunksReceived : 0;
                 if (audioText) {
-                    audioText.textContent = chunksReceived > 0 ? 'BUFFERING...' : 'WAITING FOR STREAM...';
+                    audioText.textContent = chunkCount > 0 ? 'BUFFERING...' : 'WAITING FOR STREAM...';
                 }
                 
                 // Start a background checker to update UI
@@ -2361,7 +2364,8 @@ async function enableListenerAudio() {
                     if (hasBufferedData()) {
                         clearInterval(checkInterval);
                         console.log('✅ Audio data buffered');
-                    } else if (audioText && chunksReceived > 0 && audioText.textContent === 'WAITING FOR STREAM...') {
+                    const chunkCount = Number.isFinite(listenerChunksReceived) ? listenerChunksReceived : 0;
+                    } else if (audioText && chunkCount > 0 && audioText.textContent === 'WAITING FOR STREAM...') {
                         audioText.textContent = 'BUFFERING...';
                     }
                 }, 500);