diff --git a/examples/companion_radio/ui-new/UITask.cpp b/examples/companion_radio/ui-new/UITask.cpp
index 94a8ee3ef..b53b18b0c 100644
--- a/examples/companion_radio/ui-new/UITask.cpp
+++ b/examples/companion_radio/ui-new/UITask.cpp
@@ -132,11 +132,19 @@ class HomeScreen : public UIScreen {
     int fillWidth = (batteryPercentage * (iconWidth - 4)) / 100;
     display.fillRect(iconX + 2, iconY + 2, fillWidth, iconHeight - 4);
 
+    int statusIconX = iconX - 9;
+
+    if (_task->isScreenLocked()) {
+      display.setColor(DisplayDriver::YELLOW);
+      display.drawXbm(statusIconX, iconY + 1, lock_icon, 8, 8);
+      statusIconX -= 9;
+    }
+
     // show muted icon if buzzer is muted
 #ifdef PIN_BUZZER
     if (_task->isBuzzerQuiet()) {
       display.setColor(DisplayDriver::RED);
-      display.drawXbm(iconX - 9, iconY + 1, muted_icon, 8, 8);
+      display.drawXbm(statusIconX, iconY + 1, muted_icon, 8, 8);
     }
 #endif
   }
@@ -575,6 +583,7 @@ void UITask::begin(DisplayDriver* display, SensorManager* sensors, NodePrefs* no
 
   ui_started_at = millis();
   _alert_expiry = 0;
+  _screen_locked = false;
 
   splash = new SplashScreen(this);
   home = new HomeScreen(this, &rtc_clock, sensors, node_prefs);
@@ -767,9 +776,17 @@ void UITask::loop() {
 #endif
 
   if (c != 0 && curr) {
-    curr->handleInput(c);
-    _auto_off = millis() + AUTO_OFF_MILLIS;   // extend auto-off timer
-    _next_refresh = 100;  // trigger refresh
+    if (_screen_locked) {
+      // Always show the lock alert when input is attempted on a locked screen.
+      // This ensures the user immediately sees that the screen is locked,
+      // even if a previous alert is still active.
+      showAlert("Locked, long press", 2000);
+      _next_refresh = 100;
+    } else {
+      curr->handleInput(c);
+      _auto_off = millis() + AUTO_OFF_MILLIS;   // extend auto-off timer
+      _next_refresh = 100;  // trigger refresh
+    }
   }
 
   userLedHandler();
@@ -849,9 +866,21 @@ char UITask::checkDisplayOn(char c) {
 }
 
 char UITask::handleLongPress(char c) {
+  if (_screen_locked) {
+    _screen_locked = false;
+    showAlert("Screen unlocked.", 1000);
+    _next_refresh = 0;
+    return 0;   // consume unlock gesture
+  }
+
   if (millis() - ui_started_at < 8000) {   // long press in first 8 seconds since startup -> CLI/rescue
     the_mesh.enterCLIRescue();
     c = 0;   // consume event
+  } else {
+    _screen_locked = true;
+    showAlert("Locked, long press", 2000);
+    _next_refresh = 0;
+    c = 0;   // consume lock gesture
   }
   return c;
 }
@@ -863,6 +892,12 @@ char UITask::handleDoubleClick(char c) {
 }
 
 char UITask::handleTripleClick(char c) {
+  if (_screen_locked) {
+    showAlert("Locked, long press", 2000);
+    _next_refresh = 100;
+    return 0;
+  }
+
   MESH_DEBUG_PRINTLN("UITask: triple click triggered");
   checkDisplayOn(c);
   toggleBuzzer();
diff --git a/examples/companion_radio/ui-new/UITask.h b/examples/companion_radio/ui-new/UITask.h
index a77ad6e7e..d56ddfb25 100644
--- a/examples/companion_radio/ui-new/UITask.h
+++ b/examples/companion_radio/ui-new/UITask.h
@@ -35,6 +35,8 @@ class UITask : public AbstractUITask {
   NodePrefs* _node_prefs;
   char _alert[80];
   unsigned long _alert_expiry;
+  // Flag indicating whether the screen is locked to prevent accidental input
+  bool _screen_locked;
   int _msgcount;
   unsigned long ui_started_at, next_batt_chck;
   int next_backlight_btn_check = 0;
@@ -65,7 +67,8 @@ class UITask : public AbstractUITask {
 
 public:
 
-  UITask(mesh::MainBoard* board, BaseSerialInterface* serial) : AbstractUITask(board, serial), _display(NULL), _sensors(NULL) {
+  UITask(mesh::MainBoard* board, BaseSerialInterface* serial) : AbstractUITask(board, serial), _display(NULL), _sensors(NULL),
+    _screen_locked(false) {
     next_batt_chck = _next_refresh = 0;
     ui_started_at = 0;
     curr = NULL;
@@ -77,6 +80,7 @@ class UITask : public AbstractUITask {
   int  getMsgCount() const { return _msgcount; }
   bool hasDisplay() const { return _display != NULL; }
   bool isButtonPressed() const;
+  bool isScreenLocked() const { return _screen_locked; }
 
   bool isBuzzerQuiet() { 
 #ifdef PIN_BUZZER
diff --git a/examples/companion_radio/ui-new/icons.h b/examples/companion_radio/ui-new/icons.h
index cbe237902..a17824c60 100644
--- a/examples/companion_radio/ui-new/icons.h
+++ b/examples/companion_radio/ui-new/icons.h
@@ -119,4 +119,8 @@ static const uint8_t advert_icon[] = {
 
 static const uint8_t muted_icon[] = {
   0x20, 0x6a, 0xea, 0xe4, 0xe4, 0xea, 0x6a, 0x20
+};
+
+static const uint8_t lock_icon[] = {
+  0x3c, 0x66, 0x66, 0xff, 0xdb, 0xc3, 0xc3, 0xff
 };
\ No newline at end of file