diff --git a/livekit-rtc/livekit/rtc/participant.py b/livekit-rtc/livekit/rtc/participant.py
index 2a53526e..dbdbd677 100644
--- a/livekit-rtc/livekit/rtc/participant.py
+++ b/livekit-rtc/livekit/rtc/participant.py
@@ -861,6 +861,10 @@ async def unpublish_track(self, track_sid: str) -> None:
             cb: proto_ffi.FfiEvent = await queue.wait_for(
                 lambda e: e.unpublish_track.async_id == resp.unpublish_track.async_id
             )
+            # wait_for hands back one event the caller owns; mark it done before the
+            # error check, otherwise raising here leaves the room queue's join()
+            # waiting on it forever and the room event loop stalls.
+            queue.task_done()
 
             if cb.unpublish_track.error:
                 raise UnpublishTrackError(cb.unpublish_track.error)
@@ -879,7 +883,6 @@ async def unpublish_track(self, track_sid: str) -> None:
                 if publication._track is not None:
                     publication._track._set_room(None)
                 publication._track = None
-            queue.task_done()
         finally:
             self._room_queue.unsubscribe(queue)
 
diff --git a/livekit-rtc/tests/test_unpublish_track_deadlock.py b/livekit-rtc/tests/test_unpublish_track_deadlock.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..dd76706d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/livekit-rtc/tests/test_unpublish_track_deadlock.py
@@ -0,0 +1,71 @@
+# Copyright 2026 LiveKit, Inc.
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+
+"""Regression test for unpublish_track deadlocking the room event loop.
+
+When the FFI reports an unpublish error, unpublish_track raises. If it raises
+before marking its room-queue event done, Room._listen_task's join() blocks on
+that unconsumed event forever and the room stops processing events.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import asyncio
+from unittest.mock import MagicMock, patch
+
+import pytest
+
+from livekit import rtc
+from livekit.rtc._ffi_client import FfiClient
+from livekit.rtc._proto import ffi_pb2 as proto_ffi
+from livekit.rtc._utils import BroadcastQueue
+from livekit.rtc.participant import UnpublishTrackError
+
+_ASYNC_ID = 4242
+
+
+async def test_unpublish_track_error_does_not_deadlock_room_queue() -> None:
+    room_queue: BroadcastQueue[proto_ffi.FfiEvent] = BroadcastQueue()
+
+    participant = rtc.LocalParticipant.__new__(rtc.LocalParticipant)
+    participant._room_queue = room_queue
+    participant._ffi_handle = MagicMock(handle=1)
+    participant._track_publications = {}
+
+    resp = proto_ffi.FfiResponse()
+    resp.unpublish_track.async_id = _ASYNC_ID
+
+    error_event = proto_ffi.FfiEvent()
+    error_event.unpublish_track.async_id = _ASYNC_ID
+    error_event.unpublish_track.error = "unpublish failed"
+
+    async def deliver_event_like_listen_task() -> None:
+        # Mirror Room._listen_task: hand the event to subscribers, then wait for
+        # them to finish before moving on to the next event.
+        room_queue.put_nowait(error_event)
+        await room_queue.join()
+
+    with patch.object(FfiClient.instance, "request", return_value=resp):
+        unpublish = asyncio.ensure_future(participant.unpublish_track("TR_test"))
+        await asyncio.sleep(0)  # let unpublish subscribe before the event is delivered
+        listen = asyncio.ensure_future(deliver_event_like_listen_task())
+
+        with pytest.raises(UnpublishTrackError):
+            await unpublish
+
+        try:
+            await asyncio.wait_for(listen, timeout=5)
+        except asyncio.TimeoutError:
+            listen.cancel()
+            pytest.fail("room queue join() deadlocked after unpublish_track error")