diff --git a/src/mesh/Router.cpp b/src/mesh/Router.cpp
index 66bc1d3b3b8..17efaa475fa 100644
--- a/src/mesh/Router.cpp
+++ b/src/mesh/Router.cpp
@@ -1017,6 +1017,19 @@ static bool signedDataFits(meshtastic_Data *d)
 #endif
 
 #if !(MESHTASTIC_EXCLUDE_PKI)
+static bool isLocalStatsTelemetry(const meshtastic_MeshPacket *p)
+{
+    if (p->decoded.portnum != meshtastic_PortNum_TELEMETRY_APP)
+        return false;
+
+    // Telemetry is large on smaller targets, so do not place this decode scratch on the stack.
+    // perhapsEncode() holds cryptLock while calling wouldEncryptWithPKC(), which serializes its use.
+    static meshtastic_Telemetry telemetry;
+    memset(&telemetry, 0, sizeof(telemetry));
+    return pb_decode_from_bytes(p->decoded.payload.bytes, p->decoded.payload.size, &meshtastic_Telemetry_msg, &telemetry) &&
+           telemetry.which_variant == meshtastic_Telemetry_local_stats_tag;
+}
+
 bool wouldEncryptWithPKC(const meshtastic_MeshPacket *p, ChannelIndex chIndex, bool haveDestKey)
 {
     // First, only PKC encrypt packets we are originating
@@ -1035,6 +1048,9 @@ bool wouldEncryptWithPKC(const meshtastic_MeshPacket *p, ChannelIndex chIndex, b
            // Some portnums either make no sense to send with PKC
            p->decoded.portnum != meshtastic_PortNum_TRACEROUTE_APP && p->decoded.portnum != meshtastic_PortNum_NODEINFO_APP &&
            p->decoded.portnum != meshtastic_PortNum_ROUTING_APP && p->decoded.portnum != meshtastic_PortNum_POSITION_APP &&
+           // LocalStats is shared-channel encrypted unless a caller explicitly requests PKC.
+           // Other telemetry keeps its existing PKC behavior.
+           (p->pki_encrypted || !isLocalStatsTelemetry(p)) &&
            // We allow Key Verification messages to be sent without a known destination key, since the point of those messages is
            // to exchange keys. The first exchange (no usable key yet) falls through to channel encryption; the follow-on packet
            // uses the pending key resolved into haveDestKey/destKey above.
diff --git a/test/test_admin_session_repro/test_main.cpp b/test/test_admin_session_repro/test_main.cpp
index c93c1fd9472..18063735a96 100644
--- a/test/test_admin_session_repro/test_main.cpp
+++ b/test/test_admin_session_repro/test_main.cpp
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 
 #include "mesh/Channels.h"
 #include "mesh/NodeDB.h"
+#include "mesh/Router.h"
 #include "mesh/mesh-pb-constants.h"
 #include "modules/AdminModule.h"
 #include "support/AdminModuleTestShim.h"
@@ -556,6 +557,38 @@ void test_ham_mode_request_is_not_pinned(void)
                              "a request that could not have gone out over PKC must not be pinned");
 }
 
+// LocalStats requests and replies need normal shared-channel encryption so every node with the
+// channel key can decode the payload. They must not be auto-upgraded to PKC merely because both
+// endpoints have identity keys. Other telemetry retains its normal PKC behavior.
+void test_local_stats_uses_channel_encryption_not_pkc(void)
+{
+    meshtastic_MeshPacket telemetry = meshtastic_MeshPacket_init_zero;
+    telemetry.from = LOCAL_NODE;
+    telemetry.to = QUERIED_NODE;
+    telemetry.channel = channels.getPrimaryIndex();
+    telemetry.which_payload_variant = meshtastic_MeshPacket_decoded_tag;
+    telemetry.decoded.portnum = meshtastic_PortNum_TELEMETRY_APP;
+    meshtastic_Telemetry localStats = meshtastic_Telemetry_init_zero;
+    localStats.which_variant = meshtastic_Telemetry_local_stats_tag;
+    telemetry.decoded.payload.size = pb_encode_to_bytes(telemetry.decoded.payload.bytes, sizeof(telemetry.decoded.payload.bytes),
+                                                        &meshtastic_Telemetry_msg, &localStats);
+
+    TEST_ASSERT_FALSE_MESSAGE(wouldEncryptWithPKC(&telemetry, telemetry.channel, true),
+                              "LocalStats telemetry must use normal channel encryption");
+
+    telemetry.pki_encrypted = true;
+    TEST_ASSERT_TRUE_MESSAGE(wouldEncryptWithPKC(&telemetry, telemetry.channel, true),
+                             "an explicitly PKI LocalStats request must retain PKC encryption");
+
+    telemetry.pki_encrypted = false;
+    meshtastic_Telemetry deviceMetrics = meshtastic_Telemetry_init_zero;
+    deviceMetrics.which_variant = meshtastic_Telemetry_device_metrics_tag;
+    telemetry.decoded.payload.size = pb_encode_to_bytes(telemetry.decoded.payload.bytes, sizeof(telemetry.decoded.payload.bytes),
+                                                        &meshtastic_Telemetry_msg, &deviceMetrics);
+    TEST_ASSERT_TRUE_MESSAGE(wouldEncryptWithPKC(&telemetry, telemetry.channel, true),
+                             "non-LocalStats telemetry must retain its existing PKC behavior");
+}
+
 // The response must echo our request's packet id, so an injector cannot answer a request it did
 // not see just by naming the right node and variant.
 void test_response_with_wrong_request_id_is_rejected(void)
@@ -690,6 +723,7 @@ void setup()
     RUN_TEST(test_pinned_request_keeps_its_key_after_an_unpinned_request);
     RUN_TEST(test_request_to_keyed_node_pins_the_stored_key);
     RUN_TEST(test_ham_mode_request_is_not_pinned);
+    RUN_TEST(test_local_stats_uses_channel_encryption_not_pkc);
     RUN_TEST(test_response_with_wrong_request_id_is_rejected);
     RUN_TEST(test_request_without_an_id_admits_nothing);
     RUN_TEST(test_module_config_subtype_must_match);