diff --git a/tools/re-capture/menu_blend_capture.sh b/tools/re-capture/menu_blend_capture.sh
index 9caaf984..13d26346 100755
--- a/tools/re-capture/menu_blend_capture.sh
+++ b/tools/re-capture/menu_blend_capture.sh
@@ -84,15 +84,33 @@ try: print("%.1f" % ring_row.ring_row(Image.open("/tmp/mbc_row.png")))
 except Exception: print("nan")
 PY
   }
+  # 🔴 The first version of this loop broke on its FIRST comparison -- one DOWN
+  # was dropped, the row read the same twice, it concluded "the cursor has
+  # stopped" and pressed (A) on NEW GAME. A stop test that cannot tell "at the
+  # end" from "the press was lost" is the counting bug wearing a different hat.
+  # So: a non-move only ends the walk AFTER at least one move has been seen, a
+  # run of dropped presses aborts instead of pressing (A), and (A) is pressed
+  # only if the cursor demonstrably moved.
   prev="$(row)"; echo "  cursor row $prev"
-  for _ in 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8; do
-    python3 "$SD/pad.py" tap DOWN 0.2; sleep 2
+  moved=0; stalls=0
+  for _ in 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10; do
+    python3 "$SD/pad.py" tap DOWN 0.2; sleep 3
     cur="$(row)"; echo "  cursor row $cur"
-    [ "$cur" = "$prev" ] && break
-    prev="$cur"
+    if [ "$cur" = "$prev" ]; then
+      if [ "$moved" = 1 ]; then echo "  cursor stopped -- at the last item"; break; fi
+      stalls=$((stalls+1))
+      [ "$stalls" -ge 4 ] && { echo "NO CURSOR MOVEMENT after 4 presses -- not pressing (A)"; exit 3; }
+    else
+      moved=1; stalls=0; prev="$cur"
+    fi
   done
+  [ "$moved" = 1 ] || { echo "CURSOR NEVER MOVED -- not pressing (A)"; exit 3; }
   python3 "$SD/pad.py" tap A 0.3; sleep 5
   s="$(screen)"; echo "  after EXTRAS attempt: $s"; shot "$OUT/extras.png"
+  # The blend map needs to know WHICH screen it is looking at, and screen_id
+  # calls both of these "menu". Ⓑ is advertised on EXTRAS and not on the main
+  # menu, so the footer is the discriminator a human would use; here the element
+  # count in the capture is checked instead, after the fact.
 fi
 
 # 3. arm, then dismiss the menu bar F10 opened