diff --git a/codec_observer.py b/codec_observer.py
index 181c0be..57bd76e 100644
--- a/codec_observer.py
+++ b/codec_observer.py
@@ -120,6 +120,18 @@
     "cadence_idle_s": 300,
     "idle_threshold_s": 60,
     "buffer_depth_min": 10,
+    # OCR enable flag (2026-05-02 hotfix). Default True preserves Step 5
+    # design behavior on machines where Screen Recording permission is
+    # granted to the python3.13 process running codec-observer. Set false
+    # to skip the screencapture+Vision call entirely — buffer still gets
+    # active_window + clipboard + recent_files signals, just no OCR.
+    # Flipping this to false is the recommended workaround for the macOS
+    # popup-storm bug when permissions aren't granted to the PM2 child:
+    # screencapture blocks subprocess.run waiting for the popup AND the
+    # ThreadPoolExecutor's `with` exit waits for the thread to finish,
+    # so each poll generates ~2 popups + ~5s of blocking until dismissal.
+    # See ~/.codec/config.json:observer.ocr_enabled to override.
+    "ocr_enabled": True,
     "ocr_timeout_ms": 100,
     "ocr_retry_timeout_ms": 200,         # Q5.1
     "reset_on_long_idle": True,
@@ -514,9 +526,16 @@ def poll(buffer: Optional[RingBuffer] = None,
             "content_type": _classify_clipboard_kind(cb_now),
         }
 
-    # 3. Screenshot OCR (with retry per Q5.1)
-    ocr_text, ocr_skipped = _get_screenshot_ocr(
-        int(cfg["ocr_timeout_ms"]), int(cfg["ocr_retry_timeout_ms"]))
+    # 3. Screenshot OCR (with retry per Q5.1).
+    # 2026-05-02 hotfix: bypass entirely when ocr_enabled=False to avoid
+    # the screencapture popup storm on machines without Screen Recording
+    # permission granted to the PM2 child process. Buffer still gets
+    # active_window + clipboard + recent_files signals.
+    if cfg.get("ocr_enabled", True):
+        ocr_text, ocr_skipped = _get_screenshot_ocr(
+            int(cfg["ocr_timeout_ms"]), int(cfg["ocr_retry_timeout_ms"]))
+    else:
+        ocr_text, ocr_skipped = ("", True)
 
     # 4. Recent files
     recent_files = _get_recent_files(window_seconds=300)
diff --git a/tests/test_observer.py b/tests/test_observer.py
index ec3abf9..569e8e9 100644
--- a/tests/test_observer.py
+++ b/tests/test_observer.py
@@ -492,3 +492,61 @@ def test_inject_empty_buffer_returns_skipped(monkeypatch, temp_audit_log):
     # No audit emit on skipped
     recs = _records(temp_audit_log)
     assert _events_of(recs, codec_audit.OBSERVATION_SUMMARY_INJECTED) == []
+
+
+# ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+# 2026-05-02 hotfix — ocr_enabled flag (popup storm mitigation)
+# ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+def test_ocr_enabled_false_skips_screenshot_call(fresh_buffer, temp_audit_log,
+                                                  monkeypatch):
+    """When config.observer.ocr_enabled=False, poll() must NOT call
+    _get_screenshot_ocr. Verified by sentinel that raises if called."""
+    cfg = dict(codec_observer._DEFAULT_CONFIG)
+    cfg["ocr_enabled"] = False
+    monkeypatch.setattr(codec_observer, "_idle_seconds", lambda: 0.0)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(codec_observer, "_get_active_window", lambda: {})
+    monkeypatch.setattr(codec_observer, "_get_clipboard_now", lambda: "")
+    monkeypatch.setattr(codec_observer, "_get_recent_files",
+                        lambda window_seconds=300: [])
+
+    def _should_not_be_called(*a, **kw):
+        raise AssertionError("_get_screenshot_ocr called despite ocr_enabled=False")
+    monkeypatch.setattr(codec_observer, "_get_screenshot_ocr",
+                        _should_not_be_called)
+
+    snap = codec_observer.poll(buffer=fresh_buffer, cfg=cfg, emit_audit=True)
+    assert snap["ocr_skipped"] is True
+    assert snap["screenshot_ocr"] == ""
+    # Audit emit still records the skipped state correctly
+    recs = _records(temp_audit_log)
+    extra = _events_of(recs, codec_audit.OBSERVATION_TICK)[0]["extra"]
+    assert extra["ocr_skipped"] is True
+    assert extra["ocr_chars"] == 0
+
+
+def test_ocr_enabled_default_is_true():
+    """Default config has ocr_enabled=True (preserves Step 5 behavior
+    on properly-permissioned machines)."""
+    assert codec_observer._DEFAULT_CONFIG["ocr_enabled"] is True
+
+
+def test_ocr_enabled_true_calls_screenshot(fresh_buffer, temp_audit_log,
+                                              monkeypatch):
+    """Sanity check: when ocr_enabled=True (default), _get_screenshot_ocr
+    IS called. Confirms the new flag isn't accidentally always-bypassing."""
+    cfg = dict(codec_observer._DEFAULT_CONFIG)
+    assert cfg["ocr_enabled"] is True
+    monkeypatch.setattr(codec_observer, "_idle_seconds", lambda: 0.0)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(codec_observer, "_get_active_window", lambda: {})
+    monkeypatch.setattr(codec_observer, "_get_clipboard_now", lambda: "")
+    monkeypatch.setattr(codec_observer, "_get_recent_files",
+                        lambda window_seconds=300: [])
+    call_count = [0]
+
+    def _track_call(*a, **kw):
+        call_count[0] += 1
+        return ("", True)   # mocked skip — doesn't actually screencapture
+    monkeypatch.setattr(codec_observer, "_get_screenshot_ocr", _track_call)
+    codec_observer.poll(buffer=fresh_buffer, cfg=cfg, emit_audit=False)
+    assert call_count[0] == 1