diff --git a/pkg/client/client.go b/pkg/client/client.go
index ae13adb2..46bcf733 100644
--- a/pkg/client/client.go
+++ b/pkg/client/client.go
@@ -1428,9 +1428,14 @@ func (c *Client) GetZoneMembers() ([]string, error) {
 // An empty <group/> response is reported as a zero-value Group; callers can
 // distinguish with (*Group).IsEmpty().
 //
-// ST-10 is the only product that supports stereo pairs; on other devices
-// the call is harmless but will always return an empty group. The endpoint
-// is named /getGroup on the device (mirroring /getZone), even though some
+// ST-10 is the only product that supports stereo pairs. Verified against
+// real hardware: a SoundTouch 20 does not reply to /getGroup at all -- the
+// request hangs until the client's own timeout (30s by default, see
+// DefaultConfig) rather than returning an empty group quickly. Callers on
+// a poll cycle must gate this call behind a stereo-pair-capable model check
+// (see stereoPairCapable in pkg/service/soundtouchweb) instead of relying on
+// a fast, harmless response on unsupported models. The endpoint is named
+// /getGroup on the device (mirroring /getZone), even though some
 // third-party wikis document it as plain /group.
 func (c *Client) GetGroup() (*models.Group, error) {
 	var g models.Group
diff --git a/pkg/service/soundtouchweb/websocket.go b/pkg/service/soundtouchweb/websocket.go
index 9df2b365..e2dfb742 100644
--- a/pkg/service/soundtouchweb/websocket.go
+++ b/pkg/service/soundtouchweb/websocket.go
@@ -303,7 +303,9 @@ func (app *WebApp) UpdateDeviceStatus(_ string, conn *webtypes.DeviceConnection)
 		return
 	}
 
-	// /getGroup is ST10-only; ST20/ST30 may accept the request but never reply.
+	// /getGroup must be gated to ST10 models -- see Client.GetGroup's doc
+	// comment (verified against real hardware: a ST20 never replies at all,
+	// hanging until the client's timeout instead of returning quickly).
 	stereoCapable := stereoPairCapable(conn.DeviceInfo)
 
 	var groupGeneration uint64