diff --git a/content.js b/content.js
index ba89cbd..202a154 100644
--- a/content.js
+++ b/content.js
@@ -26,8 +26,9 @@ let settings = {
   taskDelayMs: 20000,           // base pause between tasks (jittered up to 2x)
   restEvery: 15,                // after this many gens, take a longer rest
   restMs: 15 * 60 * 1000,       // length of that scheduled rest
-  autoRefreshOnJam: true,       // reload the tab on the abuse flag to clear a stuck session
-  cooldownUntil: 0              // epoch ms; set on rate-limit/rest, persists across reload
+  autoRefreshOnJam: true,       // refresh WHEN RESUMING after the abuse flag (never during the freeze)
+  cooldownUntil: 0,             // epoch ms; set on rate-limit/rest, persists across reload
+  reloadOnResume: false         // set by the abuse flag: hard-refresh once the freeze ends, then resume
 };
 
 let pollTimeout = null;
@@ -281,6 +282,15 @@ function scheduleNext(immediate = false) {
 async function pollOnce() {
   if (!settings.isRunning) return;
   if (generationInProgress) return scheduleNext();
+  if (settings.reloadOnResume) {
+    // Freeze is over — come back on a FRESH session before touching anything.
+    settings.reloadOnResume = false;
+    chrome.storage.local.set({ reloadOnResume: false });
+    log('system', 'Abuse-flag freeze over — hard refreshing before resuming.');
+    const r = await bg({ type: 'hardReload' });
+    if (!r || !r.ok) location.reload();
+    return;
+  }
   try {
     const res = await fetch(`${settings.serverUrl}/next-task`);
     if (res.status === 204) return scheduleNext();          // queue drained
@@ -298,6 +308,7 @@ async function pollOnce() {
 // HARD refresh (cache bypass), not "Try again". Keep the task PENDING server-side,
 // count attempts in storage (survives the reload), and reload the tab.
 async function requeueWithReload(task, why) {
+  if (persistentError()) return handleRateLimit(task);   // abuse flag outranks any retry — freeze, don't reload
   const key = 'requeue_' + task.id;
   const n = ((await new Promise(r => chrome.storage.local.get({ [key]: 0 }, r)))[key] || 0) + 1;
   if (n > 3) {
@@ -404,14 +415,20 @@ function setCooldown(ms, why) {
   log('system', `${why} — pausing ${Math.round(ms / 60000)} min.`);
 }
 
-// Hit the account abuse flag: keep the task PENDING (retry later), back off (growing with
-// consecutive hits), and refresh the tab to clear the stuck session.
+// Hit the account abuse flag ("unusual activity"). This is an ACTIVE account-level
+// flag — worse than "Try again". Any activity while it's up (including reloads)
+// feeds it, and it wears off on its own. So: report the task back as pending,
+// then CEASE COMPLETELY for a solid 30 min (60/90 on repeat hits). The tab is
+// hard-refreshed only when the freeze expires, right before resuming.
 async function handleRateLimit(task) {
   consecutiveRateLimits++;
-  const mins = Math.min(60, 15 * consecutiveRateLimits);   // 15 → 30 → 45 → 60
-  await reportCompletion(task.id, 'ratelimited', 'unusual activity — backing off', []);
-  setCooldown(mins * 60 * 1000, `⚠ Abuse flag ("unusual activity") ×${consecutiveRateLimits}`);
-  if (settings.autoRefreshOnJam) { await sleep(2500); location.reload(); }
+  const mins = Math.min(90, 30 * consecutiveRateLimits);   // 30 → 60 → 90
+  await reportCompletion(task.id, 'ratelimited', 'unusual activity — ceasing all activity', []);
+  if (settings.autoRefreshOnJam) {
+    settings.reloadOnResume = true;
+    chrome.storage.local.set({ reloadOnResume: true });
+  }
+  setCooldown(mins * 60 * 1000, `⚠ Abuse flag ("unusual activity") ×${consecutiveRateLimits} — total freeze`);
 }
 
 function log(level, text) {