diff --git a/src/hooks/chats/useChatSocket.ts b/src/hooks/chats/useChatSocket.ts
index a26af5b..394ff6a 100644
--- a/src/hooks/chats/useChatSocket.ts
+++ b/src/hooks/chats/useChatSocket.ts
@@ -113,6 +113,11 @@ export const useChatSocket = (
     emit("fetch_balance", { chatId });
   }, [emit, chatId]);
 
+  // Auto top-up: silent flow (no UI prompt)
+  const autoTopUpInProgressRef = useRef(false);
+  // Timer for delayed unlock after error
+  const autoTopUpUnlockTimerRef = useRef<NodeJS.Timeout | null>(null);
+
   // Auto top-up: use existing single checkout flow
   const { handleSingleCheckout, isLoading: isAutoTopUpLoading } =
     useSingleCheckout({
@@ -120,15 +125,18 @@ export const useChatSocket = (
       onError: () => {
         // eslint-disable-next-line no-console
         console.error("Auto top-up payment failed");
-        // Release in-flight lock on error so a future event can retry
-        autoTopUpInProgressRef.current = false;
+        // Throttle retries: keep the lock for 30 seconds after an error
+        if (autoTopUpUnlockTimerRef.current) {
+          clearTimeout(autoTopUpUnlockTimerRef.current);
+        }
+        autoTopUpUnlockTimerRef.current = setTimeout(() => {
+          autoTopUpInProgressRef.current = false;
+          autoTopUpUnlockTimerRef.current = null;
+        }, 30_000);
       },
       returnUrl: typeof window !== "undefined" ? window.location.href : "",
     });
 
-  // Auto top-up: silent flow (no UI prompt)
-  const autoTopUpInProgressRef = useRef(false);
-
   const balancePollId = useRef<NodeJS.Timeout | null>(null);
   // Avoid immediate leave_chat right after join in React 18 StrictMode (dev) double-invoke
   // We debounce leave so that a quick remount cancels it, but real navigation (or chat switch) proceeds.
@@ -203,12 +211,20 @@ export const useChatSocket = (
     // If auto top-up was in-flight, release the lock only after balance became positive
     if (autoTopUpInProgressRef.current && b?.data?.balance > 0) {
       autoTopUpInProgressRef.current = false;
+      if (autoTopUpUnlockTimerRef.current) {
+        clearTimeout(autoTopUpUnlockTimerRef.current);
+        autoTopUpUnlockTimerRef.current = null;
+      }
     }
   });
   useSocketEvent("balance_updated", b => {
     setBalance(prev => (prev ? { ...prev, balance: b.data.balance } : null));
     if (autoTopUpInProgressRef.current && b?.data?.balance > 0) {
       autoTopUpInProgressRef.current = false;
+      if (autoTopUpUnlockTimerRef.current) {
+        clearTimeout(autoTopUpUnlockTimerRef.current);
+        autoTopUpUnlockTimerRef.current = null;
+      }
     }
   });
   useSocketEvent("session_started", s => setSession(s.data));
@@ -310,6 +326,16 @@ export const useChatSocket = (
     };
   }, [session, endSession]);
 
+  // Cleanup pending unlock timer on unmount
+  useEffect(() => {
+    return () => {
+      if (autoTopUpUnlockTimerRef.current) {
+        clearTimeout(autoTopUpUnlockTimerRef.current);
+        autoTopUpUnlockTimerRef.current = null;
+      }
+    };
+  }, []);
+
   const isAvailableChatting =
     !!balance?.balance && !!session && !isSessionExpired;