diff --git a/waku/v2/api/filter/filter_manager.go b/waku/v2/api/filter/filter_manager.go
index 5f2c2589..0388fbc4 100644
--- a/waku/v2/api/filter/filter_manager.go
+++ b/waku/v2/api/filter/filter_manager.go
@@ -197,9 +197,12 @@ func (mgr *FilterManager) NetworkChange() {
 func (mgr *FilterManager) SetBackgroundMode(background bool) {
 	mgr.Lock()
 	defer mgr.Unlock()
+	// Gate subscription renewal (api/filter layer)
 	for _, subDetails := range mgr.filterSubscriptions {
 		subDetails.sub.SetBackgroundMode(background)
 	}
+	// Gate health-check pings (protocol/filter layer) — the dominant LTE radio wakeup source
+	mgr.node.SetBackgroundMode(background)
 }
 
 // checkAndProcessQueue drains the offline-pending filter queue. For each batch
diff --git a/waku/v2/protocol/filter/client.go b/waku/v2/protocol/filter/client.go
index 727200ba..bd6dccb9 100644
--- a/waku/v2/protocol/filter/client.go
+++ b/waku/v2/protocol/filter/client.go
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import (
 	"math"
 	"net/http"
 	"sync"
+	"sync/atomic"
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/libp2p/go-libp2p/core/host"
@@ -57,6 +58,7 @@ type WakuFilterLightNode struct {
 	pm               *peermanager.PeerManager
 	limiter          *utils.RateLimiter
 	peerPingInterval time.Duration
+	backgroundMode   atomic.Bool // true when app UI is not visible; suppresses health-check pings
 }
 
 type WakuFilterPushError struct {
diff --git a/waku/v2/protocol/filter/filter_health_check.go b/waku/v2/protocol/filter/filter_health_check.go
index 86fa77e7..78ec7d3d 100644
--- a/waku/v2/protocol/filter/filter_health_check.go
+++ b/waku/v2/protocol/filter/filter_health_check.go
@@ -42,6 +42,13 @@ func (wf *WakuFilterLightNode) PingPeer(peer peer.ID) {
 	}
 }
 
+// SetBackgroundMode suppresses (background=true) or re-enables (background=false)
+// the periodic health-check pings sent to filter peers. Call with background=true
+// when the app UI is not visible to avoid waking the LTE radio during Doze windows.
+func (wf *WakuFilterLightNode) SetBackgroundMode(background bool) {
+	wf.backgroundMode.Store(background)
+}
+
 func (wf *WakuFilterLightNode) FilterHealthCheckLoop() {
 	defer utils.LogOnPanic()
 	defer wf.WaitGroup().Done()
@@ -50,6 +57,11 @@ func (wf *WakuFilterLightNode) FilterHealthCheckLoop() {
 	for {
 		select {
 		case <-ticker.C:
+			if wf.backgroundMode.Load() {
+				// In background: skip health-check ping to avoid waking the LTE radio.
+				// SetBackgroundMode(false) will resume pings on foreground return.
+				continue
+			}
 			if wf.onlineChecker.IsOnline() {
 				wf.PingPeers()
 			}