diff --git a/CLAUDE.md b/CLAUDE.md
index b9c267f..98c26e6 100644
--- a/CLAUDE.md
+++ b/CLAUDE.md
@@ -479,7 +479,7 @@ fallback for modern Intel), `PUNKTFUNK_NV12=0` (opt OUT of the default GPU RGB
 NVIDIA tiled zero-copy path), `PUNKTFUNK_INTRA_REFRESH=1` (opt-in NVENC intra-refresh loss recovery),
 `PUNKTFUNK_PIN_CLOCKS=1` (opt-in NVML GPU clock floor, root-gated), `PUNKTFUNK_GAMESCOPE_APP=...`,
 `PUNKTFUNK_INPUT_BACKEND=...`, `PUNKTFUNK_PERF=1` (per-stage timing), `PUNKTFUNK_VIDEO_DROP=N` (FEC
-test), `PUNKTFUNK_FEC_PCT=N`, `PUNKTFUNK_DSCP=1` (opt-in DSCP/SO_PRIORITY media QoS on the data +
+test — injects N% wire-packet loss on BOTH the GameStream and native video paths, no netem needed), `PUNKTFUNK_FEC_PCT=N`, `PUNKTFUNK_DSCP=1` (opt-in DSCP/SO_PRIORITY media QoS on the data +
 GameStream video/audio sockets; no-op on the wire on Windows without a qWAVE policy),
 `PUNKTFUNK_444=1` (full-chroma HEVC 4:4:4, see below).
 
diff --git a/clients/probe/src/main.rs b/clients/probe/src/main.rs
index 58cd883..75c3427 100644
--- a/clients/probe/src/main.rs
+++ b/clients/probe/src/main.rs
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ use punktfunk_core::input::{InputEvent, InputKind};
 use punktfunk_core::packet::FLAG_PROBE;
 use punktfunk_core::quic::{
     endpoint, io, window_loss_ppm, Hello, LossReport, ProbeRequest, ProbeResult, Reconfigure,
-    Reconfigured, Start, Welcome,
+    Reconfigured, RequestKeyframe, Start, Welcome,
 };
 use punktfunk_core::transport::UdpTransport;
 use punktfunk_core::{CompositorPref, Mode, PunktfunkError, Session};
@@ -505,6 +505,11 @@ async fn session(args: Args) -> Result<()> {
     // stream mode (no speed test / remode) a control-stream task relays it to the host as a
     // LossReport so it can size FEC to the link. u32::MAX = "no fresh sample this window".
     let loss_ppm = std::sync::Arc::new(std::sync::atomic::AtomicU32::new(u32::MAX));
+    // Decode-recovery feedback, mirroring the real clients: the data loop publishes the session's
+    // cumulative unrecoverable-frame count; the control task requests a keyframe when it grows
+    // (the correct loss trigger under infinite GOP — see NativeClient::frames_dropped). Lets the
+    // probe exercise the host's IDR-vs-intra-refresh recovery path under injected loss.
+    let dropped_frames = std::sync::Arc::new(std::sync::atomic::AtomicU64::new(0));
 
     // Mid-stream renegotiation test: after a delay, ask the host to switch modes on the
     // still-open control stream. The stream then carries new-mode AUs (IDR + in-band
@@ -617,21 +622,40 @@ async fn session(args: Args) -> Result<()> {
         });
     } else {
         // Normal stream mode: relay the data loop's windowed loss estimate to the host as periodic
-        // LossReports, so it can size FEC to the link (adaptive FEC). The control stream is otherwise
-        // idle here (remode/speed-test own it in their modes).
+        // LossReports, so it can size FEC to the link (adaptive FEC), and — like the real clients —
+        // request a keyframe whenever the unrecoverable-frame count grows (100 ms poll = a natural
+        // throttle; several drops in a burst coalesce into one request). The control stream is
+        // otherwise idle here (remode/speed-test own it in their modes).
         let mut ls = send;
         let lp = loss_ppm.clone();
+        let df = dropped_frames.clone();
         tokio::spawn(async move {
             use std::sync::atomic::Ordering::Relaxed;
+            let mut last_report = std::time::Instant::now();
+            let mut last_dropped = 0u64;
             loop {
-                tokio::time::sleep(std::time::Duration::from_millis(750)).await;
-                let v = lp.swap(u32::MAX, Relaxed);
-                if v != u32::MAX
-                    && io::write_msg(&mut ls, &LossReport { loss_ppm: v }.encode())
+                tokio::time::sleep(std::time::Duration::from_millis(100)).await;
+                let d = df.load(Relaxed);
+                if d > last_dropped {
+                    last_dropped = d;
+                    if io::write_msg(&mut ls, &RequestKeyframe.encode())
                         .await
                         .is_err()
-                {
-                    break; // control stream gone
+                    {
+                        break; // control stream gone
+                    }
+                    tracing::debug!(dropped = d, "unrecoverable frame — requested keyframe");
+                }
+                if last_report.elapsed() >= std::time::Duration::from_millis(750) {
+                    last_report = std::time::Instant::now();
+                    let v = lp.swap(u32::MAX, Relaxed);
+                    if v != u32::MAX
+                        && io::write_msg(&mut ls, &LossReport { loss_ppm: v }.encode())
+                            .await
+                            .is_err()
+                    {
+                        break; // control stream gone
+                    }
                 }
             }
         });
@@ -943,6 +967,7 @@ async fn session(args: Args) -> Result<()> {
     let out_path = args.out.clone();
     let (rxp_dt, rxb_dt) = (rx_wire_packets.clone(), rx_wire_bytes.clone());
     let lp_dt = loss_ppm.clone();
+    let df_dt = dropped_frames.clone();
 
     // Express our receive time in the host clock before differencing against the host-stamped
     // capture pts. 0 ⇒ same-host or an old host that didn't answer the skew handshake (the latency
@@ -988,6 +1013,7 @@ async fn session(args: Args) -> Result<()> {
                 let s = session.stats();
                 rxp_dt.store(s.packets_received, Relaxed);
                 rxb_dt.store(s.bytes_received, Relaxed);
+                df_dt.store(s.frames_dropped, Relaxed);
                 if last_loss_report.elapsed() >= std::time::Duration::from_millis(750) {
                     lp_dt.store(
                         window_loss_ppm(
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/punktfunk1.rs b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/punktfunk1.rs
index ad2d347..c5d5452 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/punktfunk1.rs
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/punktfunk1.rs
@@ -2290,6 +2290,9 @@ const PACE_CHUNK: usize = 16;
 /// it's needed (an unpaced line-rate burst overruns the kernel tx buffer → EAGAIN drop → under
 /// infinite GOP, a freeze until the next keyframe). With no slack (encode ≈ interval) the budget
 /// collapses to 0 and even the overflow goes out immediately, so this is never slower than unpaced.
+/// Parsed-once `PUNKTFUNK_VIDEO_DROP` percentage for the native data plane (see `paced_submit`).
+static NATIVE_VIDEO_DROP: std::sync::OnceLock<u32> = std::sync::OnceLock::new();
+
 fn paced_submit(
     session: &mut Session,
     data: &[u8],
@@ -2301,7 +2304,29 @@ fn paced_submit(
     let wires = session
         .seal_frame(data, pts_ns, flags)
         .map_err(|e| anyhow!("seal_frame: {e:?}"))?;
-    let refs: Vec<&[u8]> = wires.iter().map(|w| w.as_slice()).collect();
+    let mut refs: Vec<&[u8]> = wires.iter().map(|w| w.as_slice()).collect();
+    // FEC/recovery test knob: PUNKTFUNK_VIDEO_DROP=N discards N% of the sealed wire packets
+    // before send — controlled loss injection with no netem/root, same knob the GameStream video
+    // path honors. Parsed once; 0/unset = off (the normal path is untouched).
+    let drop_pct = *NATIVE_VIDEO_DROP.get_or_init(|| {
+        let pct = std::env::var("PUNKTFUNK_VIDEO_DROP")
+            .ok()
+            .and_then(|s| s.parse::<u32>().ok())
+            .filter(|p| (1..=90).contains(p))
+            .unwrap_or(0);
+        if pct > 0 {
+            tracing::warn!(
+                pct,
+                "PUNKTFUNK_VIDEO_DROP: injecting wire-packet loss (FEC test)"
+            );
+        }
+        pct
+    });
+    if drop_pct > 0 {
+        use rand::Rng;
+        let mut rng = rand::thread_rng();
+        refs.retain(|_| rng.gen_range(0..100) >= drop_pct);
+    }
     let start = std::time::Instant::now();
 
     // Split at the microburst cap: packets [0..split] burst out immediately, [split..] are paced.