diff --git a/internal/uploads/intake.go b/internal/uploads/intake.go
index ebc8b19..c1e3664 100644
--- a/internal/uploads/intake.go
+++ b/internal/uploads/intake.go
@@ -108,6 +108,14 @@ func (in *Intake) Accept(ctx context.Context, userID, title string, src io.Reade
 		return "", fmt.Errorf("uploads: create: %w", err)
 	}
 	if err := in.sub.Submit(Job{UserID: userID, UploadID: id, Path: path, Duration: probe.Duration}); err != nil {
+		if errors.Is(err, ErrQueueFull) {
+			// The user's to retry, not a server fault: refuse it as such, and do not leave
+			// the row queued -- that is the stuck spinner.
+			if ferr := in.store.FailUpload(ctx, userID, id, domain.UploadErrBusy); ferr != nil {
+				return "", fmt.Errorf("uploads: submit: %w (and failing the row: %v)", err, ferr)
+			}
+			return "", &RejectError{Reason: ReasonBusy, Message: "Too many recordings are waiting to be transcribed. Please try again in a few minutes."}
+		}
 		// A row that will never run must not sit queued: that is the stuck spinner.
 		if ferr := in.store.FailUpload(ctx, userID, id, domain.UploadErrInterrupted); ferr != nil {
 			return "", fmt.Errorf("uploads: submit: %w (and failing the row: %v)", err, ferr)