diff --git a/webui/static/api-monitor.js b/webui/static/api-monitor.js
index 1b4215b1..fa653f5a 100644
--- a/webui/static/api-monitor.js
+++ b/webui/static/api-monitor.js
@@ -236,6 +236,7 @@ function _renderEqualizerBars(grid, data) {
                         <div class="rate-eq-shimmer"></div>
                         <div class="rate-eq-tip"></div>
                     </div>
+                    <div class="rate-eq-peak"></div>
                     <div class="rate-eq-value">0</div>
                 </div>
                 <div class="rate-eq-meta">
@@ -275,6 +276,26 @@ function _renderEqualizerBars(grid, data) {
         const fill = bar.querySelector('.rate-eq-fill');
         if (fill) fill.style.height = `${pct * 100}%`;
 
+        // Peak-hold tick — the VU-meter idiom: a thin marker sticks at the
+        // recent maximum, holds ~1.2s, then falls a few %/update until it
+        // rests on the live fill. A burst stays readable after it's over.
+        const nowTs = performance.now();
+        let peak = prev.peak ?? pct;
+        let peakAt = prev.peakAt ?? nowTs;
+        if (pct >= peak) {
+            peak = pct;
+            peakAt = nowTs;
+        } else if (nowTs - peakAt > 1200) {
+            peak = Math.max(pct, peak - 0.045);
+        }
+        const peakEl = bar.querySelector('.rate-eq-peak');
+        if (peakEl) {
+            peakEl.style.bottom = `${peak * 100}%`;
+            // Only show while meaningfully above the live fill — idle bars
+            // shouldn't carry a stray line.
+            peakEl.classList.toggle('visible', peak > pct + 0.015 && peak > 0.06);
+        }
+
         // The reflection puddle (CSS ::after on the track) fades in
         // proportional to the real (unclamped) rate so idle services
         // don't pollute the row with a floor of glow. Bound to a
@@ -329,7 +350,7 @@ function _renderEqualizerBars(grid, data) {
         bar.classList.toggle('active', value > 0 || wStatus === 'running');
         bar.classList.toggle('rate-limited', isRateLimited);
 
-        _eqDisplay[svc] = { value, pct };
+        _eqDisplay[svc] = { value, pct, peak, peakAt };
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/webui/static/style.css b/webui/static/style.css
index 4c153f12..a67d3318 100644
--- a/webui/static/style.css
+++ b/webui/static/style.css
@@ -63242,6 +63242,29 @@ body.reduce-effects .dash-card::after {
     opacity: 0.85;
 }
 
+/* Peak-hold tick — sticks at the recent maximum and slowly falls, like a
+ * hardware VU meter's peak LED. Position (bottom %) is driven from JS;
+ * only visible while it's meaningfully above the live fill so idle bars
+ * don't carry a stray line. */
+.rate-eq-peak {
+    position: absolute;
+    left: 10%;
+    right: 10%;
+    bottom: 4%;
+    height: 2px;
+    border-radius: 1px;
+    background: color-mix(in srgb, var(--eq-accent) 55%, white 45%);
+    box-shadow: 0 0 6px color-mix(in srgb, var(--eq-accent) 70%, transparent);
+    opacity: 0;
+    transition: bottom 0.9s linear, opacity 0.4s;
+    pointer-events: none;
+    z-index: 2;
+}
+
+.rate-eq-peak.visible {
+    opacity: 0.75;
+}
+
 /* Vertical shimmer scan — runs continuously when active */
 .rate-eq-shimmer {
     position: absolute;