diff --git a/core/scrobbler/play_tracker.go b/core/scrobbler/play_tracker.go
index bdb261ef2..860a80bce 100644
--- a/core/scrobbler/play_tracker.go
+++ b/core/scrobbler/play_tracker.go
@@ -371,7 +371,14 @@ func (p *playTracker) ReportPlayback(ctx context.Context, params ReportPlaybackP
 		p.broker.SendBroadcastMessage(ctx, &events.NowPlayingCount{Count: p.playMap.Len()})
 	}
 
-	if !params.IgnoreScrobble && player.ScrobbleEnabled &&
+	// NowPlaying gating, by design distinct from scrobble submission:
+	//   - IgnoreScrobble=true   -> still send NowPlaying (suppresses only the
+	//     scrobble submission/play-count above), mirroring the legacy scrobble
+	//     endpoint's submission=false behavior.
+	//   - player.ScrobbleEnabled=false -> never send NowPlaying.
+	// External agents here are the active scrobblers (Last.fm, ListenBrainz, and
+	// scrobbler plugins) returned by getActiveScrobblers; see dispatchNowPlaying.
+	if player.ScrobbleEnabled &&
 		(params.State == StateStarting || params.State == StatePlaying) {
 		if info, err := p.playMap.Get(clientId); err == nil {
 			p.enqueueNowPlaying(ctx, clientId, user.ID, &info.MediaFile, int(params.PositionMs/1000))
diff --git a/core/scrobbler/play_tracker_test.go b/core/scrobbler/play_tracker_test.go
index 5383244cd..b5a478c2a 100644
--- a/core/scrobbler/play_tracker_test.go
+++ b/core/scrobbler/play_tracker_test.go
@@ -521,6 +521,7 @@ var _ = Describe("PlayTracker", func() {
 			})
 
 			It("does NOT scrobble when ignoreScrobble=true even if threshold met", func() {
+				fake.ScrobbleCalled.Store(false)
 				err := tracker.ReportPlayback(ctx, ReportPlaybackParams{
 					MediaId: "123", PositionMs: 0, State: "starting", PlaybackRate: 1.0, ClientId: defaultClientId,
 				})
@@ -531,6 +532,7 @@ var _ = Describe("PlayTracker", func() {
 				})
 				Expect(err).ToNot(HaveOccurred())
 				Expect(track.PlayCount).To(Equal(int64(0)))
+				Consistently(func() bool { return fake.ScrobbleCalled.Load() }).Should(BeFalse())
 			})
 
 			It("does NOT scrobble when player ScrobbleEnabled=false even if threshold met", func() {
@@ -715,14 +717,14 @@ var _ = Describe("PlayTracker", func() {
 				Consistently(func() bool { return fake.GetNowPlayingCalled() }).Should(BeFalse())
 			})
 
-			It("does NOT dispatch when ignoreScrobble=true", func() {
+			It("still dispatches NowPlaying when ignoreScrobble=true", func() {
 				fake.nowPlayingCalled.Store(false)
 				err := tracker.ReportPlayback(ctx, ReportPlaybackParams{
 					MediaId: "123", PositionMs: 0, State: "starting", PlaybackRate: 1.0, ClientId: defaultClientId,
 					IgnoreScrobble: true,
 				})
 				Expect(err).ToNot(HaveOccurred())
-				Consistently(func() bool { return fake.GetNowPlayingCalled() }).Should(BeFalse())
+				Eventually(func() bool { return fake.GetNowPlayingCalled() }).Should(BeTrue())
 			})
 
 			It("does NOT dispatch when ScrobbleEnabled=false", func() {