diff --git a/core/duplex_pipeline.py b/core/duplex_pipeline.py
index fd5c071..9d4a938 100644
--- a/core/duplex_pipeline.py
+++ b/core/duplex_pipeline.py
@@ -213,26 +213,26 @@ class DuplexPipeline:
                 # 1. Process through VAD
                 vad_result = self.vad_processor.process(pcm_bytes, settings.chunk_size_ms)
             
-            vad_status = "Silence"
-            if vad_result:
-                event_type, probability = vad_result
-                vad_status = "Speech" if event_type == "speaking" else "Silence"
+                vad_status = "Silence"
+                if vad_result:
+                    event_type, probability = vad_result
+                    vad_status = "Speech" if event_type == "speaking" else "Silence"
+                    
+                    # Emit VAD event
+                    await self.event_bus.publish(event_type, {
+                        "trackId": self.session_id,
+                        "probability": probability
+                    })
+                else:
+                    # No state change - keep previous status
+                    vad_status = self._last_vad_status
+                
+                # Update state based on VAD
+                if vad_status == "Speech" and self._last_vad_status != "Speech":
+                    await self._on_speech_start()
+                
+                self._last_vad_status = vad_status
                 
-                # Emit VAD event
-                await self.event_bus.publish(event_type, {
-                    "trackId": self.session_id,
-                    "probability": probability
-                })
-            else:
-                # No state change - keep previous status
-                vad_status = self._last_vad_status
-            
-            # Update state based on VAD
-            if vad_status == "Speech" and self._last_vad_status != "Speech":
-                await self._on_speech_start()
-            
-            self._last_vad_status = vad_status
-            
                 # 2. Check for barge-in (user speaking while bot speaking)
                 # Filter false interruptions by requiring minimum speech duration
                 if self._is_bot_speaking: