diff --git a/config/params.ini b/config/params.ini
index 4bd0040..501861a 100644
--- a/config/params.ini
+++ b/config/params.ini
@@ -217,6 +217,10 @@ skill_mistake_chance = 0.015
 ; run_mephisto       (Act 3 Durance of Hate)
 ; run_baal           (Act 5 Throne of Destruction)
 ; run_baal_xp        (Join public Baal games, hide, collect XP, leave — see [baal_xp])
+; The leech is self-contained: it leaves the public game and re-enters its own
+; game inside the cycle, so it must NOT sit between real runs in the rotation.
+; Keep it out of order= (the profile layer may re-arm it between cycles) and
+; enable it with run_baal_xp=1 in the profile's [routes] section.
 order=run_pindle
 
 [char]
diff --git a/src/bot.py b/src/bot.py
index b4cce9c..530263a 100644
--- a/src/bot.py
+++ b/src/bot.py
@@ -481,6 +481,20 @@ class Bot:
                 if self._do_runs[key]:
                     self.trigger_or_stop(key)
                     return
+            # No route is armed. A healthy leech re-arms itself from on_end_run
+            # (_baal_xp_rearm), but a failure path that skipped the rearm (or a
+            # profile [routes] section that does not list run_baal_xp) leaves the
+            # flag down and this branch would end_game - the controller then
+            # restarts D2R into a brand new game that is immediately left again,
+            # burning a game and a cycle for nothing. Re-arm and go again; the
+            # _BAAL_XP_MAX_CONSECUTIVE_FAILS breaker in _baal_xp_rearm still
+            # hands off to end_game after enough real failures in a row.
+            if self._baal_xp_only():
+                Logger.info("baal_xp: no route armed - re-arming the leech for another cycle")
+                self._do_runs["run_baal_xp"] = True
+                Config().routes["run_baal_xp"] = True
+                self.trigger_or_stop("run_baal_xp")
+                return
             self.trigger_or_stop("end_game")
             return
 
@@ -965,7 +979,10 @@ class Bot:
             # for a town that is not there.
             if self._baal_xp_only():
                 self._baal_xp_reenter_own_game()
-            elif not self._curr_loc:
+                set_pause_state(True)
+                self.trigger_or_stop("maintenance")
+                return
+            if not self._curr_loc:
                 self._curr_loc = self._verify_town_location()
             set_pause_state(True)
             self.trigger_or_stop("maintenance")