diff --git a/messaging/platforms/discord.py b/messaging/platforms/discord.py
index eb80c3f3..925ca997 100644
--- a/messaging/platforms/discord.py
+++ b/messaging/platforms/discord.py
@@ -137,6 +137,13 @@ class DiscordPlatform(MessagingPlatform):
         if not self._message_handler:
             return False
 
+        await self.queue_send_message(
+            channel_id,
+            format_status_discord("Processing voice note..."),
+            reply_to=str(message.id),
+            fire_and_forget=False,
+        )
+
         user_id = str(message.author.id)
         message_id = str(message.id)
         reply_to = (
diff --git a/messaging/platforms/telegram.py b/messaging/platforms/telegram.py
index 731cf4be..95199b03 100644
--- a/messaging/platforms/telegram.py
+++ b/messaging/platforms/telegram.py
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ if TYPE_CHECKING:
 
 from .base import MessagingPlatform
 from ..models import IncomingMessage
-from ..rendering.telegram_markdown import escape_md_v2
+from ..rendering.telegram_markdown import escape_md_v2, format_status
 
 
 # Optional import - python-telegram-bot may not be installed
@@ -525,6 +525,14 @@ class TelegramPlatform(MessagingPlatform):
         if not self._message_handler:
             return
 
+        await self.queue_send_message(
+            chat_id,
+            format_status("⏳", "Processing voice note..."),
+            reply_to=str(update.message.message_id),
+            parse_mode="MarkdownV2",
+            fire_and_forget=False,
+        )
+
         message_id = str(update.message.message_id)
         reply_to = (
             str(update.message.reply_to_message.message_id)
diff --git a/tests/messaging/test_voice_handlers.py b/tests/messaging/test_voice_handlers.py
index 8975fcc2..55f65ce5 100644
--- a/tests/messaging/test_voice_handlers.py
+++ b/tests/messaging/test_voice_handlers.py
@@ -87,6 +87,7 @@ async def test_telegram_voice_success_invokes_handler(telegram_platform):
             whisper_model="base",
         )
 
+        mock_queue_send = AsyncMock()
         with (
             patch(
                 "config.settings.get_settings",
@@ -96,9 +97,20 @@ async def test_telegram_voice_success_invokes_handler(telegram_platform):
                 "messaging.transcription.transcribe_audio",
                 return_value="Hello from voice",
             ),
+            patch.object(
+                telegram_platform,
+                "queue_send_message",
+                mock_queue_send,
+            ),
         ):
             await telegram_platform._on_telegram_voice(mock_update, mock_context)
 
+        mock_queue_send.assert_called_once()
+        call_args, call_kw = mock_queue_send.call_args
+        assert "Processing voice note" in call_args[1]
+        assert call_kw["reply_to"] == "42"
+        assert call_kw["fire_and_forget"] is False
+
         handler.assert_called_once()
         incoming = handler.call_args[0][0]
         assert incoming.text == "Hello from voice"