diff --git a/src/bot.py b/src/bot.py
index 2a6d72b..a1e4c43 100644
--- a/src/bot.py
+++ b/src/bot.py
@@ -930,6 +930,10 @@ class Bot:
             if self._curr_loc:
                 items = result_items
                 sell_items = any([item.sell for item in items]) if items else None
+                # Recompute: a protected item (e.g. a charm) blocked at the vendor is
+                # flipped to keep=True so the stash step below picks it up. keep_items
+                # was computed before this call and would otherwise still be stale.
+                keep_items = any([item.keep for item in items]) if items else keep_items
                 Logger.debug(f"Needs: {consumables.get_needs()}")
                 _step("buy_consumables", "ok", f"at {self._curr_loc} | after: {consumables.get_needs()}")
             else:
diff --git a/src/inventory/personal.py b/src/inventory/personal.py
index 900cd88..b21e7c5 100644
--- a/src/inventory/personal.py
+++ b/src/inventory/personal.py
@@ -462,8 +462,14 @@ def transfer_items(items: list, action: str = "drop", img: np.ndarray = None) ->
         safe = []
         for item in candidates:
             if _is_protected(item):
-                Logger.warning(f"Blocked {action_name} for protected item: {item.name} at {item.pos}")
+                Logger.warning(f"Blocked {action_name} for protected item: {item.name} at {item.pos} — marking for stash")
                 item.sell = False
+                # Send it to the stash instead of leaving it in limbo. Without this a
+                # protected item pickit rejected (keep=False) can be neither sold, nor
+                # dropped, nor stashed (the stash branch only takes keep==True), so it
+                # sits in the inventory forever and is re-hovered every single game.
+                # This mirrors the per-item recovery already done by inspect_inventory.
+                item.keep = True
                 continue
             safe.append(item)
         return safe