diff --git a/daemon/src/decoder.c b/daemon/src/decoder.c
index a43d6ab..10f70f5 100644
--- a/daemon/src/decoder.c
+++ b/daemon/src/decoder.c
@@ -10,12 +10,55 @@
 #include <errno.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include <string.h>
+#include <time.h>
 
 #include <linux/videodev2.h>
 
 #include <libavcodec/avcodec.h>
 #include <libavutil/pixfmt.h>
 
+/*
+ * Per-codec running stats — daedalus-v4l2#11 step 1.  Establishes
+ * baseline observability before any daedalus-fourier kernel
+ * substitution lands, so we can see what each substitution actually
+ * shifted.  Per-frame `decoder: OK` line now carries decode_us; a
+ * "decoder stats" summary line lands every DAEDALUS_STATS_EVERY OK
+ * frames with throughput + per-frame budget aggregates.
+ *
+ * Counters are static (process-local) and unsynchronised — the
+ * daemon's chardev event loop is single-threaded, so no atomics or
+ * locking needed.  Reset when codec_id changes (different stream).
+ */
+#define DAEDALUS_STATS_EVERY	60u
+
+struct daedalus_decode_stats {
+	uint32_t codec_id;
+	uint64_t frames;
+	uint64_t total_decode_ns;
+	uint64_t total_bitstream_bytes;
+	uint64_t total_mbs;	/* derived from frame WxH; H.264-style 16x16 */
+	struct timespec window_start;
+};
+
+static struct daedalus_decode_stats g_stats;
+
+static inline uint64_t timespec_delta_ns(const struct timespec *a,
+					 const struct timespec *b)
+{
+	return (uint64_t)(b->tv_sec - a->tv_sec) * 1000000000ull +
+	       (uint64_t)(b->tv_nsec - a->tv_nsec);
+}
+
+static const char *codec_id_name(uint32_t cid)
+{
+	switch (cid) {
+	case DAEDALUS_CODEC_VP9:	 return "vp9";
+	case DAEDALUS_CODEC_AV1:	 return "av1";
+	case DAEDALUS_CODEC_H264: return "h264";
+	default:		 return "?";
+	}
+}
+
 /*
  * FNV-1a 32-bit hash.  Used as a compact digest of the decoded
  * frame's YUV planes so the kernel can verify "the daemon produced
@@ -467,6 +510,17 @@ int daedalus_decoder_run_request(struct daedalus_decoder *dec,
 		dec->pkt->size = (int) req->bitstream_len;
 	}
 
+	/*
+	 * Time send_packet+receive_frame for the per-frame `decoder: OK`
+	 * line + the periodic stats summary.  Includes only the
+	 * libavcodec round-trip — not the bitstream packing, SPS/PPS
+	 * synth, or pack-to-planes work (those are accounted for
+	 * separately in the request's overall handle time).
+	 */
+	struct timespec t_decode_start, t_decode_end;
+	uint64_t decode_ns = 0;
+	clock_gettime(CLOCK_MONOTONIC, &t_decode_start);
+
 	rc = fm->avcodec_send_packet(ctx, dec->pkt);
 	if (rc < 0) {
 		log_err("decoder: avcodec_send_packet failed: %d", rc);
@@ -476,8 +530,11 @@ int daedalus_decoder_run_request(struct daedalus_decoder *dec,
 
 	fm->av_frame_unref(dec->frame);
 	rc = fm->avcodec_receive_frame(ctx, dec->frame);
+	clock_gettime(CLOCK_MONOTONIC, &t_decode_end);
+	decode_ns = timespec_delta_ns(&t_decode_start, &t_decode_end);
 	if (rc == AVERROR(EAGAIN) || rc == AVERROR_EOF) {
-		log_debug("decoder: no frame ready yet (rc=%d)", rc);
+		log_debug("decoder: no frame ready yet (rc=%d, %lu us)",
+			  rc, (unsigned long)(decode_ns / 1000));
 		resp->status = DAEDALUS_DECODE_NO_FRAME;
 		goto out;
 	}
@@ -584,10 +641,61 @@ int daedalus_decoder_run_request(struct daedalus_decoder *dec,
 					 fr->format, req->capture_pix_fmt);
 		}
 
-		log_info("decoder: OK %dx%d fmt=%d (%s) fnv1a=0x%08x luma=%u chroma=%u",
+		log_info("decoder: OK %dx%d fmt=%d (%s) fnv1a=0x%08x luma=%u chroma=%u decode_us=%lu",
 			 fr->width, fr->height, fr->format,
 			 desc ? desc->name : "?",
-			 h, luma_len, chroma_len);
+			 h, luma_len, chroma_len,
+			 (unsigned long)(decode_ns / 1000));
+
+		/*
+		 * Periodic stats summary (every DAEDALUS_STATS_EVERY frames).
+		 * Reset window on codec change.  Gives observable baseline
+		 * for the daedalus-v4l2#11 substitution arc: fps, average
+		 * decode_us, MB/s throughput, bitstream B/MB.  Compare
+		 * against daedalus-fourier README's per-kernel NEON
+		 * baselines (e.g. H.264 IDCT 4x4 = 175 Mblock/s) to gauge
+		 * which substitutions are worth pursuing.
+		 */
+		if (g_stats.codec_id != req->codec_id) {
+			g_stats.codec_id = req->codec_id;
+			g_stats.frames = 0;
+			g_stats.total_decode_ns = 0;
+			g_stats.total_bitstream_bytes = 0;
+			g_stats.total_mbs = 0;
+			clock_gettime(CLOCK_MONOTONIC, &g_stats.window_start);
+		}
+		g_stats.frames++;
+		g_stats.total_decode_ns += decode_ns;
+		g_stats.total_bitstream_bytes += req->bitstream_len;
+		g_stats.total_mbs += (uint64_t)((fr->width  + 15) / 16) *
+				     (uint64_t)((fr->height + 15) / 16);
+
+		if (g_stats.frames % DAEDALUS_STATS_EVERY == 0) {
+			struct timespec t_now;
+			clock_gettime(CLOCK_MONOTONIC, &t_now);
+			uint64_t window_ns =
+				timespec_delta_ns(&g_stats.window_start, &t_now);
+			double window_s = (double)window_ns / 1e9;
+			double fps = window_s > 0 ?
+				(double)g_stats.frames / window_s : 0.0;
+			double avg_decode_us = g_stats.frames > 0 ?
+				(double)g_stats.total_decode_ns /
+				(double)g_stats.frames / 1000.0 : 0.0;
+			double mb_per_s = window_s > 0 ?
+				(double)g_stats.total_mbs / window_s : 0.0;
+			double bs_b_per_mb = g_stats.total_mbs > 0 ?
+				(double)g_stats.total_bitstream_bytes /
+				(double)g_stats.total_mbs : 0.0;
+
+			log_info("decoder stats: codec=%s "
+				 "frames=%llu window=%.2fs fps=%.2f "
+				 "avg_decode_us=%.1f mbs_per_s=%.0f "
+				 "bs_b_per_mb=%.2f",
+				 codec_id_name(g_stats.codec_id),
+				 (unsigned long long)g_stats.frames,
+				 window_s, fps, avg_decode_us,
+				 mb_per_s, bs_b_per_mb);
+		}
 	}
 
 	fm->av_frame_unref(dec->frame);