diff --git a/backend/novasonic-server.js b/backend/novasonic-server.js
index bc94573..9953dac 100644
--- a/backend/novasonic-server.js
+++ b/backend/novasonic-server.js
@@ -124,13 +124,21 @@ async function _resolveSpotifyViaSpotdl(url) {
   });
 }
 
-async function _resolveSpotify(type, id, originalUrl) {
-  return await _resolveSpotifyViaSpotdl(originalUrl);
-}
+// Tracks when the Spotify rate limit window expires so retries never reach Spotify.
+let _spRateLimitUntil = 0;
 
 app.post('/api/spotify/resolve', async (req, res) => {
   const { url } = req.body;
   if (!url) return res.status(400).json({ error: 'url required' });
+
+  // Block retries until the cooldown the Spotify told us has actually elapsed.
+  const now = Date.now();
+  if (_spRateLimitUntil > now) {
+    const secs = Math.ceil((_spRateLimitUntil - now) / 1000);
+    console.log(`[spotify/resolve] cooldown active — ${secs}s remaining`);
+    return res.status(429).json({ error: 'RATE_LIMITED', retryAfter: secs });
+  }
+
   try {
     const { type, id } = parseSpotifyUrl(url);
     console.log(`[spotify/resolve] ${type} ${id}`);
@@ -138,7 +146,7 @@ app.post('/api/spotify/resolve', async (req, res) => {
     const timeout = new Promise((_, reject) =>
       setTimeout(() => reject(new Error('Zeitüberschreitung — Spotify API antwortet nicht (>120s)')), 120000)
     );
-    const data = await Promise.race([_resolveSpotify(type, id, url), timeout]);
+    const data = await Promise.race([_resolveSpotifyViaSpotdl(url), timeout]);
     res.json(data);
   } catch(e) {
     console.error('[spotify/resolve]', e.message);
@@ -147,6 +155,7 @@ app.post('/api/spotify/resolve', async (req, res) => {
     }
     if (e.message.startsWith('RATE_LIMITED:')) {
       const secs = parseInt(e.message.split(':')[1], 10) || 30;
+      _spRateLimitUntil = Date.now() + secs * 1000;
       return res.status(429).json({ error: 'RATE_LIMITED', retryAfter: secs });
     }
     res.status(500).json({ error: e.message });
diff --git a/src/spotify.js b/src/spotify.js
index 6f85fa4..059d726 100644
--- a/src/spotify.js
+++ b/src/spotify.js
@@ -63,13 +63,7 @@ export async function resolveSpotifyLink() {
     }
     if (e.message.startsWith('RATE_LIMITED:')) {
       const secs = parseInt(e.message.split(':')[1], 10) || 30;
-      const mins = secs >= 60 ? `${Math.ceil(secs / 60)} Min.` : `${secs}s`;
-      inner.innerHTML = `<div style="color:var(--text);padding:16px;background:var(--surface);border-radius:10px;border-left:3px solid var(--warning,#f59e0b)">
-        <div style="font-weight:600;margin-bottom:6px">⏳ Spotify Rate Limit</div>
-        <div style="font-size:13px;line-height:1.5;color:var(--text2)">
-          Spotify hat zu viele Anfragen erhalten. Bitte in ca. <strong>${mins}</strong> erneut versuchen.
-        </div>
-      </div>`;
+      _startRateLimitCountdown(inner, secs);
       return;
     }
     if (e.message === 'EDITORIAL_PLAYLIST') {
@@ -232,6 +226,26 @@ async function _loadSpotifyTrackArtwork(tracks, listEl) {
   }
 }
 
+function _startRateLimitCountdown(inner, totalSecs) {
+  const endMs = Date.now() + totalSecs * 1000;
+  const render = (remaining) => {
+    const s = Math.max(0, Math.ceil(remaining / 1000));
+    const label = s >= 60 ? `${Math.ceil(s / 60)} Min.` : `${s}s`;
+    inner.innerHTML = `<div style="color:var(--text);padding:16px;background:var(--surface);border-radius:10px;border-left:3px solid var(--warning,#f59e0b)">
+      <div style="font-weight:600;margin-bottom:6px">⏳ Spotify Rate Limit</div>
+      <div style="font-size:13px;line-height:1.5;color:var(--text2)">
+        Bitte warte noch <strong id="sp-rl-countdown">${label}</strong> — nicht erneut versuchen, das setzt den Timer zurück.
+      </div>
+    </div>`;
+  };
+  render(totalSecs * 1000);
+  const iv = setInterval(() => {
+    const remaining = endMs - Date.now();
+    if (remaining <= 0) { clearInterval(iv); render(0); return; }
+    render(remaining);
+  }, 1000);
+}
+
 function _setArt(el, url) {
   if (!el) return;
   const img = document.createElement('img');