--- a/addons/core/Scripts/Game/ERR/10_AI/ERR_HQ.c
+++ b/addons/core/Scripts/Game/ERR/10_AI/ERR_HQ.c
@@ -1408,6 +1408,8 @@
   Retask(now);
   Investigate(now, globalLimit);
   assigned = HuntingAssigned();
+  // Retask/investigation and cleanup above have settled commitments for this pass.
+  int totalAssigned = Assigned();
   array<vector> reserved = {};
   int first = -1;
   int second = -1;
@@ -1417,7 +1419,7 @@
   }
   // Strongest delivered track first; finite scans (64 beliefs,128 own units).
   array<int> considered = {};
-  for (int pass = 0; pass < m_PlanBeliefs.Count() && assigned < limit && Assigned() < globalLimit; pass++)
+  for (int pass = 0; pass < m_PlanBeliefs.Count() && assigned < limit && totalAssigned < globalLimit; pass++)
   {
    ERR_HQBelief belief;
    for (int i = 0; i < m_PlanBeliefs.Count(); i++)
@@ -1433,7 +1435,7 @@
    if (belief.Kind == ERR_HQMemoryKind.ALARM && AlarmCommitted()) continue;
    ERR_HQHuntWindow hunt = Hunt(belief.BeliefId);
    if (!hunt || now < hunt.NextHunt) continue;
-   for (int slot = 0; slot < limit && assigned < limit && Assigned() < globalLimit; slot++)
+   for (int slot = 0; slot < limit && assigned < limit && totalAssigned < globalLimit; slot++)
    {
     // One mobile search squad for uncertain sound; never empty objectives for it.
     if ((belief.Kind == ERR_HQMemoryKind.GUNFIRE || belief.Kind == ERR_HQMemoryKind.ALARM) && slot > 0) break;
@@ -1489,6 +1491,7 @@
     if (best.HomeGuard) m_HomeAvailable.Set(best.HomeId, HomeAvailable(best) - 1);
     hunt.NextHunt = Math.Max(hunt.NextHunt, task.ExpiresAt + 180000);
     assigned++;
+    totalAssigned++;
    }
   }
  }
--- a/tools/check.py
+++ b/tools/check.py
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
  subprocess.run([sys.executable,str(ROOT/'tests/test_spawn_scene_lease.py')],check=True)
  subprocess.run([sys.executable,str(ROOT/'tests/test_prison_ai.py')],check=True)
  subprocess.run([sys.executable,str(ROOT/'tests/test_native_player_death_fixture.py')],check=True)
+ subprocess.run([sys.executable,str(ROOT/'tests/test_hq_planner_budget.py')],check=True)
  ids={};graph={};resources={};paths={};owners={}
  for p in sorted((ROOT/'addons').glob('*/addon.gproj')):
   text=p.read_text();g=re.search(r'GUID "([A-F0-9]{16})"',text)[1]