diff --git a/src/components/ConnectionDropMenu.tsx b/src/components/ConnectionDropMenu.tsx
index 09bebbc4..c751475c 100644
--- a/src/components/ConnectionDropMenu.tsx
+++ b/src/components/ConnectionDropMenu.tsx
@@ -290,6 +290,15 @@ const VIDEO_SOURCE_OPTIONS: MenuOption[] = [
 
 // Audio target options (nodes that accept audio input)
 const AUDIO_TARGET_OPTIONS: MenuOption[] = [
+  {
+    type: "audioInput",
+    label: "Audio",
+    icon: (
+      <svg className="w-4 h-4" 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>
+    ),
+  },
   {
     type: "output",
     label: "Output",
@@ -314,7 +323,7 @@ const AUDIO_TARGET_OPTIONS: MenuOption[] = [
 const AUDIO_SOURCE_OPTIONS: MenuOption[] = [
   {
     type: "audioInput",
-    label: "Audio Input",
+    label: "Audio",
     icon: (
       <svg className="w-4 h-4" 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" />
diff --git a/src/components/WorkflowCanvas.tsx b/src/components/WorkflowCanvas.tsx
index f238e7b5..370ad48e 100644
--- a/src/components/WorkflowCanvas.tsx
+++ b/src/components/WorkflowCanvas.tsx
@@ -850,7 +850,8 @@ export function WorkflowCanvas() {
         }
       } else if (handleType === "audio") {
         if (nodeType === "audioInput") {
-          // AudioInput outputs audio
+          // Audio node: accepts audio input and outputs audio
+          targetHandleId = "audio";
           sourceHandleIdForNewNode = "audio";
         } else if (nodeType === "generateAudio") {
           // GenerateAudio outputs audio
diff --git a/src/components/nodes/AudioInputNode.tsx b/src/components/nodes/AudioInputNode.tsx
index 90882bb6..327efbf4 100644
--- a/src/components/nodes/AudioInputNode.tsx
+++ b/src/components/nodes/AudioInputNode.tsx
@@ -278,7 +278,7 @@ export function AudioInputNode({ id, data, selected }: NodeProps<AudioInputNodeT
   return (
     <BaseNode
       id={id}
-      title="Audio Input"
+      title="Audio"
       customTitle={nodeData.customTitle}
       comment={nodeData.comment}
       onCustomTitleChange={(title) => updateNodeData(id, { customTitle: title || undefined })}
@@ -389,6 +389,13 @@ export function AudioInputNode({ id, data, selected }: NodeProps<AudioInputNodeT
         </div>
       )}
 
+      <Handle
+        type="target"
+        position={Position.Left}
+        id="audio"
+        data-handletype="audio"
+        style={{ background: "rgb(167, 139, 250)" }}
+      />
       <Handle
         type="source"
         position={Position.Right}
diff --git a/src/store/execution/executeNode.ts b/src/store/execution/executeNode.ts
index 640cb3ed..160a34fd 100644
--- a/src/store/execution/executeNode.ts
+++ b/src/store/execution/executeNode.ts
@@ -41,9 +41,16 @@ export async function executeNode(
 
   switch (ctx.node.type) {
     case "imageInput":
-    case "audioInput":
-      // Data source nodes — no execution needed
+      // Data source node — no execution needed
       break;
+    case "audioInput": {
+      // If audio is connected from upstream, use it (connection wins over upload)
+      const audioInputs = ctx.getConnectedInputs(ctx.node.id);
+      if (audioInputs.audio.length > 0 && audioInputs.audio[0]) {
+        ctx.updateNodeData(ctx.node.id, { audioFile: audioInputs.audio[0] });
+      }
+      break;
+    }
     case "annotation":
       await executeAnnotation(ctx);
       break;
diff --git a/src/store/workflowStore.ts b/src/store/workflowStore.ts
index 435f9498..d255a9f7 100644
--- a/src/store/workflowStore.ts
+++ b/src/store/workflowStore.ts
@@ -870,9 +870,16 @@ export const useWorkflowStore = create<WorkflowStore>((set, get) => ({
 
       switch (node.type) {
           case "imageInput":
-          case "audioInput":
-            // Data source nodes - no execution needed
+            // Data source node - no execution needed
             break;
+          case "audioInput": {
+            // If audio is connected from upstream, use it (connection wins over upload)
+            const audioInputs = get().getConnectedInputs(node.id);
+            if (audioInputs.audio.length > 0 && audioInputs.audio[0]) {
+              get().updateNodeData(node.id, { audioFile: audioInputs.audio[0] });
+            }
+            break;
+          }
           case "glbViewer":
             await executeGlbViewer(executionCtx);
             break;