diff --git a/tests/browser/audio-check.test.js b/tests/browser/audio-check.test.js
index e78bc38ea..4a1db7ff0 100644
--- a/tests/browser/audio-check.test.js
+++ b/tests/browser/audio-check.test.js
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 import { test } from "node:test";
 import assert from "node:assert/strict";
 import { FakeStream, FakeTrack, settle } from "./fake-media.js";
+import { loadInterview, read } from "./source.js";
 
 import {
   MIC_CONFIRM_FRAMES,
@@ -106,6 +107,41 @@ test("hearing nothing keeps the room closed even with a working microphone", ()
   assert.equal(state.blocker, "output");
 });
 
+test("the Sound step reads the same before and after the preflight paints it", () => {
+  // The candidate may confirm without playing anything, so no line may read
+  // as if the test sound were required. The step text is written twice, once
+  // in the markup and again by `paintPreflight` on every refresh, and the two
+  // drifting apart would change the instruction under the candidate's eyes.
+  const markup = /id="audio-output-state"[^>]*>([^<]*)</.exec(
+    read("web/interview.html"),
+  )[1];
+  const nodes = new Proxy(
+    { audioHeard: {} },
+    {
+      get: (target, key) =>
+        (target[key] ??= { textContent: "", classList: { toggle() {} } }),
+    },
+  );
+  const { paintPreflight } = loadInterview(["paintPreflight"], { nodes });
+  paintPreflight(
+    mediaReadiness({ ...passingMedia, outputConfirmed: false }),
+    null,
+  );
+  assert.equal(
+    nodes.audioOutputState.textContent,
+    markup.replace(/\s+/g, " ").trim(),
+  );
+  assert.equal(
+    nodes.audioOutputState.textContent,
+    'play a test sound to check your audio, or click "I heard it" if it already works.',
+  );
+  // With output the remaining step, the status line says the same thing.
+  assert.equal(
+    nodes.audioStatus.textContent,
+    'Play the test tone or voice to check your audio, or click "I heard it" if it already works.',
+  );
+});
+
 test("all required media proven opens the room", () => {
   const state = mediaReadiness(passingMedia);
 
diff --git a/web/audio-check.js b/web/audio-check.js
index 7c9b4b0a7..5d90bc704 100644
--- a/web/audio-check.js
+++ b/web/audio-check.js
@@ -124,7 +124,8 @@ export function mediaReadiness({
       steps,
       ready: false,
       blocker: "output",
-      message: "Play the test tone or voice and confirm you heard it.",
+      message:
+        'Play the test tone or voice to check your audio, or click "I heard it" if it already works.',
     };
   }
   return {
diff --git a/web/interview.html b/web/interview.html
index 416fa113a..e434c31b4 100644
--- a/web/interview.html
+++ b/web/interview.html
@@ -712,7 +712,8 @@ <h3 id="devices-title" class="preflight-section-title">
                   <span class="step-mark" aria-hidden="true"></span
                   ><strong>Sound</strong> —
                   <span id="audio-output-state" aria-live="polite"
-                    >play a test sound and confirm you heard it.</span
+                    >play a test sound to check your audio, or click "I heard
+                    it" if it already works.</span
                   >
                 </p>
                 <div class="audio-check-actions">
diff --git a/web/interview.js b/web/interview.js
index 6c49625b7..1548b17c3 100644
--- a/web/interview.js
+++ b/web/interview.js
@@ -1704,7 +1704,7 @@ function paintPreflight(state, hint) {
   nodes.audioStatus.textContent = hint || state.message;
   nodes.audioOutputState.textContent = state.steps.output
     ? "Confirmed"
-    : "play a test sound and confirm you heard it.";
+    : 'play a test sound to check your audio, or click "I heard it" if it already works.';
   nodes.cameraState.textContent = state.cameraSkipped
     ? `Not used (${state.cameraSkipReason}).`
     : state.steps.camera