diff --git a/examples/companion_radio/DataStore.cpp b/examples/companion_radio/DataStore.cpp
index 85a5c6f7..baec7e90 100644
--- a/examples/companion_radio/DataStore.cpp
+++ b/examples/companion_radio/DataStore.cpp
@@ -343,12 +343,14 @@ void DataStore::loadPrefsInt(const char *filename, NodePrefs& _prefs, double& no
   rd(&_prefs.repeat_max_hops,     sizeof(_prefs.repeat_max_hops));
   rd(&_prefs.repeat_delay_boost,  sizeof(_prefs.repeat_delay_boost));
   rd(&_prefs.repeat_min_snr,      sizeof(_prefs.repeat_min_snr));
+  rd(&_prefs.repeat_suppress_dup, sizeof(_prefs.repeat_suppress_dup));
   if (_prefs.repeat_skip_adverts > 1) _prefs.repeat_skip_adverts = 0;
   if (_prefs.repeat_max_hops > 64)    _prefs.repeat_max_hops = 0;
   if (_prefs.repeat_delay_boost > 8)  _prefs.repeat_delay_boost = 0;
   if (_prefs.repeat_min_snr != NodePrefs::REPEAT_SNR_DISABLED &&
       (_prefs.repeat_min_snr < -30 || _prefs.repeat_min_snr > 20))
     _prefs.repeat_min_snr = NodePrefs::REPEAT_SNR_DISABLED;
+  if (_prefs.repeat_suppress_dup > 1) _prefs.repeat_suppress_dup = 0;
   // → 0xC0DE000B: append bot_commands_enabled + quiet-hours. Older files leave
   // stray bytes here; clamp so upgraders fall back to off / no quiet hours.
   if (_prefs.bot_commands_enabled > 1)  _prefs.bot_commands_enabled = 0;
@@ -510,6 +512,7 @@ void DataStore::savePrefs(const NodePrefs& _prefs, double node_lat, double node_
     file.write((uint8_t *)&_prefs.repeat_max_hops,      sizeof(_prefs.repeat_max_hops));
     file.write((uint8_t *)&_prefs.repeat_delay_boost,   sizeof(_prefs.repeat_delay_boost));
     file.write((uint8_t *)&_prefs.repeat_min_snr,       sizeof(_prefs.repeat_min_snr));
+    file.write((uint8_t *)&_prefs.repeat_suppress_dup,  sizeof(_prefs.repeat_suppress_dup));
 
     // Tail sentinel — must be last. See NodePrefs::SCHEMA_SENTINEL.
     uint32_t sentinel = NodePrefs::SCHEMA_SENTINEL;
diff --git a/examples/companion_radio/MyMesh.h b/examples/companion_radio/MyMesh.h
index ee98d86a..a033274f 100644
--- a/examples/companion_radio/MyMesh.h
+++ b/examples/companion_radio/MyMesh.h
@@ -153,6 +153,9 @@ protected:
   bool filterRecvFloodPacket(mesh::Packet* packet) override;
   bool allowPacketForward(const mesh::Packet* packet) override;
   bool isRepeatLooped(const mesh::Packet* packet) const;
+  // Overhear suppression only makes sense while repeating; gated behind its own
+  // opt-in pref (Settings > Radio > Suppress dup).
+  bool wantsOverhearSuppress() const override { return _prefs.client_repeat && _prefs.repeat_suppress_dup; }
 
   void sendFloodScoped(const TransportKey& scope, mesh::Packet* pkt, uint32_t delay_millis);
   void sendFloodScoped(const ContactInfo& recipient, mesh::Packet* pkt, uint32_t delay_millis=0) override;
diff --git a/examples/companion_radio/NodePrefs.h b/examples/companion_radio/NodePrefs.h
index afc39671..46a8bf15 100644
--- a/examples/companion_radio/NodePrefs.h
+++ b/examples/companion_radio/NodePrefs.h
@@ -164,17 +164,20 @@ struct NodePrefs {  // persisted to file
   //    fixed repeaters. Effective delay = base * (1 + repeat_delay_boost). 0 = off.
   //  repeat_min_snr: drop a flood packet received below this SNR (dB), so marginal
   //    fringe traffic isn't re-flooded. REPEAT_SNR_DISABLED (-128) = off.
+  //  repeat_suppress_dup: 1 = cancel a queued retransmit when the same flood is
+  //    overheard from another node first (less redundant airtime in dense mesh).
   uint8_t  repeat_skip_adverts;
   uint8_t  repeat_max_hops;
   uint8_t  repeat_delay_boost;
   int8_t   repeat_min_snr;
   static const int8_t REPEAT_SNR_DISABLED = -128;
+  uint8_t  repeat_suppress_dup;
 
   // Tail sentinel written at the end of /new_prefs. Bump the low byte when
   // adding/removing/reordering fields in DataStore::savePrefs/loadPrefsInt so
   // older saves are detected on load and skipped (zero-init defaults kept).
   // High 24 bits identify the file format; low byte is the schema revision.
-  static const uint32_t SCHEMA_SENTINEL = 0xC0DE000E;
+  static const uint32_t SCHEMA_SENTINEL = 0xC0DE000F;
 
   // Bit-index for each home page. Used by page_order (entries store bit+1) and
   // by home_pages_mask. Single source of truth — both HomeScreen::pageBit/bitToPage
diff --git a/examples/companion_radio/ui-new/SettingsScreen.h b/examples/companion_radio/ui-new/SettingsScreen.h
index f963c988..08d57c36 100644
--- a/examples/companion_radio/ui-new/SettingsScreen.h
+++ b/examples/companion_radio/ui-new/SettingsScreen.h
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@ class SettingsScreen : public UIScreen {
     RPT_MAX_HOPS,
     RPT_DELAY,
     RPT_MIN_SNR,
+    RPT_SUPPRESS,
     POWER_SAVE,
     TX_APC,
     // System section
@@ -290,7 +291,8 @@ class SettingsScreen : public UIScreen {
   }
 
   bool isRepeaterSubItem(int item) const {
-    return item == RPT_SKIP_ADV || item == RPT_MAX_HOPS || item == RPT_DELAY || item == RPT_MIN_SNR;
+    return item == RPT_SKIP_ADV || item == RPT_MAX_HOPS || item == RPT_DELAY
+        || item == RPT_MIN_SNR || item == RPT_SUPPRESS;
   }
 
   bool isHomePage(int item) const {
@@ -648,6 +650,10 @@ class SettingsScreen : public UIScreen {
       else strcpy(buf, "Off");
       display.setCursor(valCol(display), y);
       display.print(buf);
+    } else if (item == RPT_SUPPRESS) {
+      display.print(" Suppress dup");
+      display.setCursor(valCol(display), y);
+      display.print((p && p->repeat_suppress_dup) ? "ON" : "OFF");
     } else if (item == POWER_SAVE) {
       display.print("Pwr save");
       display.setCursor(valCol(display), y);
@@ -1073,6 +1079,11 @@ public:
         _dirty = true; return true;
       }
     }
+    if (_selected == RPT_SUPPRESS && p && (left || right || enter)) {
+      p->repeat_suppress_dup ^= 1;
+      _dirty = true;
+      return true;
+    }
     if (_selected == POWER_SAVE && p && (left || right || enter)) {
       p->rx_powersave ^= 1;
       _task->applyPowerSave();
diff --git a/src/Dispatcher.cpp b/src/Dispatcher.cpp
index 375debe0..59b8ca55 100644
--- a/src/Dispatcher.cpp
+++ b/src/Dispatcher.cpp
@@ -240,6 +240,9 @@ void Dispatcher::checkRecv() {
     logRx(pkt, pkt->getRawLength(), score);   // hook for custom logging
 
     n_recv_by_type[pkt->getPayloadType()]++;
+    // Overhear suppression: if we just heard a flood packet that we still have
+    // queued to retransmit, another node beat us to it — drop our copy.
+    if (pkt->isRouteFlood() && wantsOverhearSuppress()) suppressQueuedDuplicate(pkt);
     if (pkt->isRouteFlood()) {
       n_recv_flood++;
 
@@ -261,6 +264,27 @@ void Dispatcher::checkRecv() {
   }
 }
 
+void Dispatcher::suppressQueuedDuplicate(Packet* pkt) {
+  uint8_t h[MAX_HASH_SIZE];
+  pkt->calculatePacketHash(h);
+  // Scan the whole outbound queue (not just due entries). hasSeen() already
+  // keeps at most one copy queued, so the first hash match is the only one.
+  int n = _mgr->getOutboundTotal();
+  for (int i = 0; i < n; i++) {
+    Packet* q = _mgr->getOutboundByIdx(i);
+    if (q == NULL) continue;
+    uint8_t qh[MAX_HASH_SIZE];
+    q->calculatePacketHash(qh);
+    if (memcmp(h, qh, MAX_HASH_SIZE) == 0) {
+      _mgr->removeOutboundByIdx(i);
+      onRetransmitCancelled(q);
+      _mgr->free(q);
+      MESH_DEBUG_PRINTLN("%s Dispatcher: overhear suppressed a queued retransmit", getLogDateTime());
+      return;
+    }
+  }
+}
+
 void Dispatcher::processRecvPacket(Packet* pkt) {
   DispatcherAction action = onRecvPacket(pkt);
   if (action == ACTION_RELEASE) {
diff --git a/src/Dispatcher.h b/src/Dispatcher.h
index de26ee91..557216be 100644
--- a/src/Dispatcher.h
+++ b/src/Dispatcher.h
@@ -170,6 +170,14 @@ protected:
   virtual int getAGCResetInterval() const { return 0; }    // disabled by default
   virtual unsigned long getDutyCycleWindowMs() const { return 3600000; }
 
+  // When true, a received flood packet whose hash matches one still waiting in
+  // the outbound queue cancels that queued retransmit (overhear suppression):
+  // another node already relayed it, so this node stays quiet. Default off.
+  virtual bool wantsOverhearSuppress() const { return false; }
+  // Hook fired when such a queued retransmit is cancelled — lets a sub-class
+  // keep its forward counter honest. Default no-op.
+  virtual void onRetransmitCancelled(Packet* packet) { }
+
 public:
   void begin();
   void loop();
@@ -205,6 +213,7 @@ public:
 private:
   void checkRecv();
   void checkSend();
+  void suppressQueuedDuplicate(Packet* pkt);   // overhear cancel (see wantsOverhearSuppress)
 };
 
 }
diff --git a/src/Mesh.h b/src/Mesh.h
index a81d7a7c..fd1ea663 100644
--- a/src/Mesh.h
+++ b/src/Mesh.h
@@ -56,6 +56,10 @@ protected:
    */
   virtual bool allowPacketForward(const Packet* packet);
 
+  // Keep the forward counter honest when an overhear cancels a queued retransmit:
+  // the packet was counted at the ACTION_RETRANSMIT decision, so back it out here.
+  void onRetransmitCancelled(Packet* packet) override { if (n_forwarded) n_forwarded--; }
+
   /**
    * \returns  number of milliseconds delay to apply to retransmitting the given packet.
    */