diff --git a/config/params.ini b/config/params.ini
index 7ee363f..040c1e5 100644
--- a/config/params.ini
+++ b/config/params.ini
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ max_game_length_s=900
 ; max_maintenance_time_s: if the town maintenance loop (heal/buy/stash/repair) takes
 ; longer than this many seconds, save-and-exit and rejoin a fresh game.
 ; Prevents the bot staying stuck in A5 town forever when NPCs or pathing fail.
-max_maintenance_time_s=120
+max_maintenance_time_s=240
 ; auto_downgrade_threshold: if combined chickens+deaths exceed this number within 1 hour,
 ; bot automatically lowers difficulty by one tier (hell->nightmare->normal) and restarts.
 ; Set to 0 to disable. (NOTE: feature is parsed but not yet active in bot logic)
diff --git a/src/bot.py b/src/bot.py
index a025fa2..99bdab3 100644
--- a/src/bot.py
+++ b/src/bot.py
@@ -587,13 +587,14 @@ class Bot:
                     sell_items = any([item.sell for item in items]) if items else None
                     Logger.debug(f"Needs: {consumables.get_needs()}")
                 else:
-                    reason = "Maintenance failed [step: buy_consumables] — vendor NPC not found after retry"
-                    Logger.error(reason)
+                    # NON-FATAL: buying pots is optional (belt refills from drops), but
+                    # STASHING loot is the whole point of the run. Do NOT end the game
+                    # here — that skips the stash step and strands picked-up runes/items
+                    # in inventory forever. Re-anchor and fall through to stash.
+                    reason = "Buy consumables failed (vendor not found) — continuing to stash without buying"
+                    Logger.warning(reason)
                     self._save_error_screenshot("maintenance", reason)
-                    if not self._game_stats.get_failure_reason():
-                        self._game_stats.set_failure_reason(reason)
-                    self.trigger_or_stop("end_game", failed=True)
-                    return
+                    self._curr_loc = self._verify_town_location(prev_buy_loc)
         elif meters.get_health(img) <= Config().char["take_rejuv_potion_health"] or meters.get_mana(img) <= Config().char["take_rejuv_potion_mana"]:
             Logger.info("Healing at next possible Vendor")
             self._maintenance_step = "heal"