diff --git a/crates/spt-daemon/tests/inject_control_wedge.rs b/crates/spt-daemon/tests/inject_control_wedge.rs
index cfd6d2c..2e69161 100644
--- a/crates/spt-daemon/tests/inject_control_wedge.rs
+++ b/crates/spt-daemon/tests/inject_control_wedge.rs
@@ -543,11 +543,15 @@ fn a_journaled_input_wedge_does_not_starve_a_concurrent_rc_attach() {
         // flood, just via the seam the real operator actually uses.
         // [int->REQ-HAZARD-INPUT-ACK-BACKPRESSURE]
         while !driver_stop.load(std::sync::atomic::Ordering::Relaxed) {
-            if w.send_effect_no_ack(op, &chunk).is_err() {
-                break;
+            if op <= 5000 {
+                // EXPERIMENT (doyle): bound the flood to fill-and-park (forkpty buf +
+                // FIFO), then idle — NOT an unbounded 42k-op CPU storm.
+                if w.send_effect_no_ack(op, &chunk).is_err() {
+                    break;
+                }
+                driver_pumped.fetch_add(1, std::sync::atomic::Ordering::Relaxed);
+                op += 1;
             }
-            driver_pumped.fetch_add(1, std::sync::atomic::Ordering::Relaxed);
-            op += 1;
             // Keep the carrier healthy by draining session output; with no_ack there
             // is no ACK frame to read and none to self-contend on the SendHalf.
             let _ = w.read_event_until(Some(std::time::Instant::now() + Duration::from_millis(20)));