diff --git a/src/components/nodes/AudioInputNode.tsx b/src/components/nodes/AudioInputNode.tsx
index fb3a8d0c..98d42a6e 100644
--- a/src/components/nodes/AudioInputNode.tsx
+++ b/src/components/nodes/AudioInputNode.tsx
@@ -143,6 +143,11 @@ export function AudioInputNode({ id, data, selected }: NodeProps<AudioInputNodeT
 
       {nodeData.audioFile ? (
         <div className="relative group flex-1 flex flex-col min-h-0 gap-2">
+          {nodeData.isOptional && (
+            <span className="absolute top-1 left-1 z-10 text-[9px] font-medium text-neutral-300 bg-black/50 px-1.5 py-0.5 rounded">
+              Optional
+            </span>
+          )}
           {/* Filename and duration */}
           <div className="flex items-center justify-between shrink-0">
             <span className="text-[10px] text-neutral-400 truncate max-w-[150px]" title={nodeData.filename || ""}>
@@ -223,13 +228,13 @@ export function AudioInputNode({ id, data, selected }: NodeProps<AudioInputNodeT
           onClick={() => fileInputRef.current?.click()}
           onDrop={handleDrop}
           onDragOver={handleDragOver}
-          className="w-full h-full bg-neutral-900/40 flex flex-col items-center justify-center cursor-pointer hover:bg-neutral-800/60 transition-colors"
+          className={`w-full h-full bg-neutral-900/40 flex flex-col items-center justify-center cursor-pointer hover:bg-neutral-800/60 transition-colors ${nodeData.isOptional ? "border-2 border-dashed border-neutral-600" : ""}`}
         >
           <svg className="w-8 h-8 text-neutral-600" fill="none" viewBox="0 0 24 24" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth={1.5}>
             <path strokeLinecap="round" strokeLinejoin="round" d="M9 9l10.5-3m0 6.553v3.75a2.25 2.25 0 01-1.632 2.163l-1.32.377a1.803 1.803 0 11-.99-3.467l2.31-.66a2.25 2.25 0 001.632-2.163zm0 0V2.25L9 5.25v10.303m0 0v3.75a2.25 2.25 0 01-1.632 2.163l-1.32.377a1.803 1.803 0 01-.99-3.467l2.31-.66A2.25 2.25 0 009 15.553z" />
           </svg>
           <span className="text-xs text-neutral-500 mt-2">
-            Drop audio or click
+            {nodeData.isOptional ? "Optional" : "Drop audio or click"}
           </span>
         </div>
       )}
diff --git a/src/components/nodes/ImageInputNode.tsx b/src/components/nodes/ImageInputNode.tsx
index 3ae43d91..86a94499 100644
--- a/src/components/nodes/ImageInputNode.tsx
+++ b/src/components/nodes/ImageInputNode.tsx
@@ -106,6 +106,11 @@ export function ImageInputNode({ id, data, selected }: NodeProps<ImageInputNodeT
             alt={nodeData.filename || "Uploaded image"}
             className="w-full h-full object-cover rounded-lg"
           />
+          {nodeData.isOptional && (
+            <span className="absolute bottom-2 left-2 text-[9px] font-medium text-neutral-300 bg-black/50 px-1.5 py-0.5 rounded">
+              Optional
+            </span>
+          )}
           <button
             onClick={handleRemove}
             aria-label="Remove image"
@@ -130,12 +135,12 @@ export function ImageInputNode({ id, data, selected }: NodeProps<ImageInputNodeT
           }}
           onDrop={handleDrop}
           onDragOver={handleDragOver}
-          className="w-full h-full bg-neutral-900/40 flex flex-col items-center justify-center cursor-pointer hover:bg-neutral-900/60 transition-colors"
+          className={`w-full h-full bg-neutral-900/40 flex flex-col items-center justify-center cursor-pointer hover:bg-neutral-900/60 transition-colors ${nodeData.isOptional ? "border-2 border-dashed border-neutral-600" : ""}`}
         >
           <svg className="w-8 h-8 text-neutral-600" fill="none" viewBox="0 0 24 24" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth={1.5}>
             <path strokeLinecap="round" strokeLinejoin="round" d="M3 16.5v2.25A2.25 2.25 0 005.25 21h13.5A2.25 2.25 0 0021 18.75V16.5m-13.5-9L12 3m0 0l4.5 4.5M12 3v13.5" />
           </svg>
-          <span className="text-xs text-neutral-500 mt-2">Drop image</span>
+          <span className="text-xs text-neutral-500 mt-2">{nodeData.isOptional ? "Optional" : "Drop image"}</span>
         </div>
       )}
 
diff --git a/src/components/nodes/PromptNode.tsx b/src/components/nodes/PromptNode.tsx
index 8fa2b38d..f7ae402c 100644
--- a/src/components/nodes/PromptNode.tsx
+++ b/src/components/nodes/PromptNode.tsx
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ export function PromptNode({ id, data, selected }: NodeProps<PromptNodeType>) {
           onChange={handleChange}
           onFocus={handleFocus}
           onBlur={handleBlur}
-          placeholder={hasIncomingTextConnection ? "Text from connected node (editable)..." : "Describe what to generate..."}
+          placeholder={hasIncomingTextConnection ? "Text from connected node (editable)..." : nodeData.isOptional ? "Optional prompt (leave empty to skip)..." : "Describe what to generate..."}
           className="nodrag nopan nowheel w-full h-full p-3 pb-7 text-xs leading-relaxed text-neutral-100 bg-neutral-800 rounded-t-lg resize-none focus:outline-none placeholder:text-neutral-500"
         />
         <div className="absolute bottom-0 left-0 right-0 z-10 px-3 py-1.5 bg-neutral-900/90 rounded-b-lg">