diff --git a/docs/plugins/voice-call.md b/docs/plugins/voice-call.md
index 590988f5d0..aba6355502 100644
--- a/docs/plugins/voice-call.md
+++ b/docs/plugins/voice-call.md
@@ -126,6 +126,35 @@ Notes:
 - `tunnel.allowNgrokFreeTierLoopbackBypass: true` allows Twilio webhooks with invalid signatures **only** when `tunnel.provider="ngrok"` and `serve.bind` is loopback (ngrok local agent). Use for local dev only.
 - Ngrok free tier URLs can change or add interstitial behavior; if `publicUrl` drifts, Twilio signatures will fail. For production, prefer a stable domain or Tailscale funnel.
 
+## Stale call reaper
+
+Use `staleCallReaperSeconds` to end calls that never receive a terminal webhook
+(for example, notify-mode calls that never complete). The default is `0`
+(disabled).
+
+Recommended ranges:
+
+- **Production:** `120`–`300` seconds for notify-style flows.
+- Keep this value **higher than `maxDurationSeconds`** so normal calls can
+  finish. A good starting point is `maxDurationSeconds + 30–60` seconds.
+
+Example:
+
+```json5
+{
+  plugins: {
+    entries: {
+      "voice-call": {
+        config: {
+          maxDurationSeconds: 300,
+          staleCallReaperSeconds: 360,
+        },
+      },
+    },
+  },
+}
+```
+
 ## Webhook Security
 
 When a proxy or tunnel sits in front of the Gateway, the plugin reconstructs the
diff --git a/extensions/voice-call/README.md b/extensions/voice-call/README.md
index 6ac2dd602a..88328b6a33 100644
--- a/extensions/voice-call/README.md
+++ b/extensions/voice-call/README.md
@@ -87,6 +87,26 @@ Notes:
 - Telnyx requires `telnyx.publicKey` (or `TELNYX_PUBLIC_KEY`) unless `skipSignatureVerification` is true.
 - `tunnel.allowNgrokFreeTierLoopbackBypass: true` allows Twilio webhooks with invalid signatures **only** when `tunnel.provider="ngrok"` and `serve.bind` is loopback (ngrok local agent). Use for local dev only.
 
+## Stale call reaper
+
+Use `staleCallReaperSeconds` to end calls that never receive a terminal webhook
+(for example, notify-mode calls that never complete). The default is `0`
+(disabled).
+
+Recommended ranges:
+
+- **Production:** `120`–`300` seconds for notify-style flows.
+- Keep this value **higher than `maxDurationSeconds`** so normal calls can
+  finish. A good starting point is `maxDurationSeconds + 30–60` seconds.
+
+Example:
+
+```json5
+{
+  staleCallReaperSeconds: 360,
+}
+```
+
 ## TTS for calls
 
 Voice Call uses the core `messages.tts` configuration (OpenAI or ElevenLabs) for
diff --git a/extensions/voice-call/src/webhook.test.ts b/extensions/voice-call/src/webhook.test.ts
index 2b4b611c3f..51afdb7eba 100644
--- a/extensions/voice-call/src/webhook.test.ts
+++ b/extensions/voice-call/src/webhook.test.ts
@@ -80,6 +80,24 @@ describe("VoiceCallWebhookServer stale call reaper", () => {
     }
   });
 
+  it("skips calls that are younger than the threshold", async () => {
+    const now = new Date("2026-02-16T00:00:00Z");
+    vi.setSystemTime(now);
+
+    const call = createCall(now.getTime() - 10_000);
+    const { manager, endCall } = createManager([call]);
+    const config = createConfig({ staleCallReaperSeconds: 60 });
+    const server = new VoiceCallWebhookServer(config, manager, provider);
+
+    try {
+      await server.start();
+      await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(30_000);
+      expect(endCall).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    } finally {
+      await server.stop();
+    }
+  });
+
   it("does not run when staleCallReaperSeconds is disabled", async () => {
     const now = new Date("2026-02-16T00:00:00Z");
     vi.setSystemTime(now);