diff --git a/crates/rutster/src/media_thread.rs b/crates/rutster/src/media_thread.rs
index 84f7913..c659495 100644
--- a/crates/rutster/src/media_thread.rs
+++ b/crates/rutster/src/media_thread.rs
@@ -285,21 +285,11 @@ fn run_media_thread(
                 }
                 MediaCmd::Delete { id, reply } => {
                     if let Some(mut s) = sessions.remove(&id) {
-                        if let Some(mut conn) = s.tap_conn.take() {
-                            let _ = conn.close_tx.send(());
-                            let teardown = tokio_handle.block_on(tokio::time::timeout(
-                                Duration::from_millis(750),
-                                &mut conn.join,
-                            ));
-                            match teardown {
-                                Ok(Ok(())) => {
-                                    info!(channel_id = %id, "tap engine torn down via Delete (graceful)");
-                                }
-                                _ => {
-                                    conn.join.abort();
-                                    info!(channel_id = %id, "tap engine torn down via Delete (abort after timeout)");
-                                }
-                            }
+                        if let Some(conn) = s.tap_conn.take() {
+                            // Hand the 750ms bounded teardown to tokio —
+                            // the tick loop never waits on brain I/O
+                            // (review M7; see spawn_tap_teardown docs).
+                            crate::tap_engine::spawn_tap_teardown(&tokio_handle, id, conn);
                         }
                         s.rtc.channel.tap = None;
                         s.rtc.channel.state = rutster_call_model::ChannelState::Closed;
diff --git a/crates/rutster/src/tap_engine.rs b/crates/rutster/src/tap_engine.rs
index 94e30fc..6fcb831 100644
--- a/crates/rutster/src/tap_engine.rs
+++ b/crates/rutster/src/tap_engine.rs
@@ -111,6 +111,33 @@ pub struct TapConn {
     pub tool_registry: Arc<Mutex<ToolRegistry>>,
 }
 
+/// Tear down one session's tap engine WITHOUT blocking the caller.
+///
+/// # Why this must never run inline on the media thread (review M7)
+///
+/// The old Delete arm did `tokio_handle.block_on(timeout(750ms, join))`
+/// inside the tick loop: one teardown with an unresponsive brain froze
+/// the 20 ms loop for EVERY live call on the node (~37 missed frames),
+/// and batched Deletes stacked sequentially. Teardown is brain I/O —
+/// exactly what the tick loop must never wait on. Same discipline as the
+/// tap pipe's try_send posture.
+pub fn spawn_tap_teardown(tokio_handle: &tokio::runtime::Handle, id: ChannelId, mut conn: TapConn) {
+    tokio_handle.spawn(async move {
+        // Gentle path first (AGENTS.md: close_tx is the documented
+        // trigger, abort is the safety net).
+        let _ = conn.close_tx.send(());
+        match tokio::time::timeout(Duration::from_millis(750), &mut conn.join).await {
+            Ok(Ok(())) => {
+                info!(channel_id = %id, "tap engine torn down (graceful)");
+            }
+            _ => {
+                conn.join.abort();
+                info!(channel_id = %id, "tap engine torn down (abort after timeout)");
+            }
+        }
+    });
+}
+
 /// Spawn the TapEngine task for one session. Dials `tap_url`, runs the pump
 /// loop, reconnects with bounded backoff on failure (spec §4.3, §5.2).
 ///
@@ -456,6 +483,47 @@ mod tests {
     use super::*;
     use rutster_media::AudioSource;
 
+    #[test]
+    fn spawn_tap_teardown_returns_immediately_and_aborts_stuck_engine() {
+        let rt = tokio::runtime::Runtime::new().unwrap();
+        // A "stuck brain": the engine task never finishes on its own. Its
+        // guard's Drop fires on abort — our proof the teardown completed.
+        struct DropGuard(std::sync::mpsc::Sender<()>);
+        impl Drop for DropGuard {
+            fn drop(&mut self) {
+                let _ = self.0.send(());
+            }
+        }
+        let (dropped_tx, dropped_rx) = std::sync::mpsc::channel();
+        let join = rt.spawn(async move {
+            let _guard = DropGuard(dropped_tx);
+            std::future::pending::<()>().await;
+        });
+        let (close_tx, _close_rx) = oneshot::channel();
+        let conn = TapConn {
+            close_tx,
+            join,
+            metrics: TapMetrics::new(),
+            flush_rx: None,
+            rx_function_call: None,
+            tx_function_call_output: None,
+            tool_registry: Arc::new(Mutex::new(ToolRegistry::default())),
+        };
+
+        let started = std::time::Instant::now();
+        spawn_tap_teardown(rt.handle(), rutster_call_model::ChannelId::new(), conn);
+        // The whole point (review M7): the caller — the media TICK LOOP —
+        // must not wait out the 750ms brain timeout.
+        assert!(
+            started.elapsed() < Duration::from_millis(100),
+            "teardown must not block the caller"
+        );
+        // …but the stuck engine task must still get aborted after the cap.
+        dropped_rx
+            .recv_timeout(Duration::from_secs(2))
+            .expect("stuck engine task was aborted (guard dropped)");
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn backoff_doubles_until_cap() {
         let mut b = Backoff::default();