diff --git a/packages/engine/src/automaton.ts b/packages/engine/src/automaton.ts
index 5dc5de8..72264d4 100644
--- a/packages/engine/src/automaton.ts
+++ b/packages/engine/src/automaton.ts
@@ -1374,19 +1374,25 @@ export function automatonCommand(
     const ownGoldCells = new Set(view.treasures
       .filter((t) => t.owner === view.you && t.position && !t.carriedBy)
       .map((t) => cellKey(t.position!)));
-    // A thief already underfoot is not a destination — with the chase
-    // moot, march on the real goals (deliver, grab) instead of standing
-    // on them forever.
-    const thiefAfar = thief && cellKey(thief.position) !== here ? thief : null;
+    // The chase exists to deliver a blow, so it claims the march only
+    // while that blow is still live: an attack in hand, this turn's
+    // attack unspent, casting not yet closed. Those gates hold still as
+    // the clockwork walks — a goal keyed to the thief's nearness flips
+    // underfoot and shuttles the walker on and off their square. Caught
+    // with the strike still live, it stands its ground (a goal underfoot
+    // ends the march); otherwise the gold has its legs for the turn.
+    const strikeLive = !view.turn.attackUsed && !view.turn.attackForbidden &&
+      !view.turn.actionsEnded && view.yourHand.some((c) => ATTACKS[c.cardId] != null);
+    const chasing = thief !== null && strikeLive;
     const objectives = cursedIdiot && ownGoldCells.size > 0
       ? ownGoldCells
-      : thiefAfar
-        ? new Set([cellKey(thiefAfar.position)])
+      : chasing
+        ? new Set([cellKey(thief.position)])
         : style === "berserker" && !self.carriedTreasureId
           ? (enemyCells.size > 0 ? enemyCells : gold)
           : gold;
     const path =
-      pathToward(view, self.position, objectives, { avoidNearEnemies: style === "worrier" && !thiefAfar, canUnlock }) ??
+      pathToward(view, self.position, objectives, { avoidNearEnemies: style === "worrier" && !chasing, canUnlock }) ??
       pathToward(view, self.position, objectives, { canUnlock }) ??
       pathToward(view, self.position, enemyCells, { canUnlock }) ??
       // No clean road to anything: grit the teeth and wade the hazards,
diff --git a/packages/engine/test/automaton.test.ts b/packages/engine/test/automaton.test.ts
index 938381b..2448449 100644
--- a/packages/engine/test/automaton.test.ts
+++ b/packages/engine/test/automaton.test.ts
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import { pushSustained } from "./helpers";
 /** Whose input does the maze want right now? */
 function actingSeat(state: GameState): PlayerId {
   return (
+    state.wardPending?.ownerId ??
     state.stack?.waitingOn ??
     state.pendingDiscard ??
     state.chaosPending?.queue[0] ??
@@ -735,3 +736,42 @@ describe("the clockwork flees the dread", () => {
     }
   });
 });
+
+describe("the thief-chase holds one goal per turn", () => {
+  it("a clockwork beside its thief never shuttles on and off their square", () => {
+    let { state } = createGame({ playerIds: ["thief", "bot"], seed: 42, sets: ["basic", "expansion1"] });
+    // Round 2, thief's turn burned; the bot acts with a full allowance.
+    while (state.turn.round < 2 || state.players[state.turn.activeIndex]!.id !== "bot") {
+      const r = applyCommand(state, actingSeat(state), { type: "endTurn", draw: 0 });
+      if (!r.ok) throw new Error(r.error);
+      state = r.state;
+    }
+    const thief = state.players.find((p) => p.id === "thief")!;
+    const bot = state.players.find((p) => p.id === "bot")!;
+    // The thief carries the bot's gold and stands one step away.
+    const mine = state.treasures.find((t) => t.owner === "bot")!;
+    mine.carriedBy = "thief";
+    mine.position = null;
+    thief.position = { x: 2, y: 4 };
+    bot.position = { x: 2, y: 5 };
+    state.edgeOverrides[edgeKey({ x: 2, y: 4 }, "S")] = "open";
+    // A number card and no attacks: the blow the chase serves cannot land.
+    bot.hand = [];
+    bot.hand.push({ cardId: "number-2", instanceId: "N2" } as never);
+    const visited = [cellKey(bot.position)];
+    for (let guard = 0; guard < 40; guard++) {
+      const view = viewFor(state, "bot");
+      const cmd = automatonCommand(view, "hunter", "archmage") ?? automatonFallback(view, "archmage");
+      if (cmd.type === "endTurn") break;
+      const r = applyCommand(state, "bot", cmd);
+      if (!r.ok) break;
+      state = r.state;
+      const at = cellKey(state.players.find((p) => p.id === "bot")!.position);
+      if (cmd.type === "move" && at !== visited[visited.length - 1]) visited.push(at);
+    }
+    // No step may return to the square just departed: A-B-A is the shuttle.
+    for (let i = 2; i < visited.length; i++) {
+      expect(visited[i]).not.toBe(visited[i - 2]);
+    }
+  });
+});