diff --git a/components/InteractiveAvatar.tsx b/components/InteractiveAvatar.tsx
index 8e3d9db..57d914d 100644
--- a/components/InteractiveAvatar.tsx
+++ b/components/InteractiveAvatar.tsx
@@ -97,11 +97,14 @@ export default function InteractiveAvatar() {
           emotion: VoiceEmotion.EXCITED,
         },
         language: language,
+        disableIdleTimeout: true,
       });
 
       setData(res);
       // default to voice mode
-      await avatar.current?.startVoiceChat();
+      await avatar.current?.startVoiceChat({
+        useSilencePrompt: false
+      });
       setChatMode("voice_mode");
     } catch (error) {
       console.error("Error starting avatar session:", error);
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 9086768..963b9de 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
   },
   "dependencies": {
     "@ai-sdk/openai": "^0.0.34",
-    "@heygen/streaming-avatar": "^2.0.7",
+    "@heygen/streaming-avatar": "^2.0.8",
     "@nextui-org/button": "2.0.34",
     "@nextui-org/chip": "^2.0.32",
     "@nextui-org/code": "2.0.29",