diff --git a/firmware/esp32-csi-node/main/Kconfig.projbuild b/firmware/esp32-csi-node/main/Kconfig.projbuild
index 9487cf82d..0d5daa7a5 100644
--- a/firmware/esp32-csi-node/main/Kconfig.projbuild
+++ b/firmware/esp32-csi-node/main/Kconfig.projbuild
@@ -534,6 +534,19 @@ config THERMAL_MONITOR
       transition (~55-60 C) and sags slowly under its own weight, which never
       announces itself.
 
+config THERMAL_THROTTLE
+    bool "Act on the temperature by reducing transmit power"
+    depends on THERMAL_MONITOR
+    default n
+    help
+      Separate from monitoring on purpose. Reading the sensor is inert;
+      reducing transmit power moves every RSSI the node has, and doing that
+      mid-experiment gives any surprise two candidate causes.
+
+      Leave off until the fleet is stable and the logs show a node genuinely
+      running hot. If none ever does -- which is the likely outcome -- this
+      never needs enabling, and the thresholds below cost nothing.
+
 config THERMAL_WARN_C
     int "Warn above this die temperature (C)"
     depends on THERMAL_MONITOR
diff --git a/firmware/esp32-csi-node/main/thermal.c b/firmware/esp32-csi-node/main/thermal.c
index df411fbf8..407d8c2e5 100644
--- a/firmware/esp32-csi-node/main/thermal.c
+++ b/firmware/esp32-csi-node/main/thermal.c
@@ -133,12 +133,20 @@ void thermal_tick(void)
         s_state = next;
     }
 
+#ifdef CONFIG_THERMAL_THROTTLE
+    /* Acting on the reading is separate from taking it. Measuring is inert;
+     * changing transmit power mid-experiment moves every RSSI this node has,
+     * which is not something to introduce during a fleet bring-up when any
+     * surprise needs a single candidate cause. Turn this on once the fleet is
+     * stable AND the logs show a node actually gets hot -- if none ever does,
+     * it never needs turning on at all. */
     switch (s_state) {
     case THERMAL_CRITICAL:  apply_tx_power(TXP_MIN);   break;
     case THERMAL_THROTTLED: apply_tx_power(TXP_STEP2); break;
     case THERMAL_WARN:      apply_tx_power(TXP_STEP1); break;
     case THERMAL_OK:        apply_tx_power(TXP_FULL);  break;
     }
+#endif
 
     static int64_t s_last_log_us;
     int64_t now = esp_timer_get_time();