diff --git a/evalharness/model/pool.py b/evalharness/model/pool.py
index 6ce27cb..9b95c2a 100644
--- a/evalharness/model/pool.py
+++ b/evalharness/model/pool.py
@@ -166,6 +166,11 @@ class AdaptiveGate:
         self._loop = None         # loop the cond/probe-task are bound to
         self._contended = 0       # acquire() waits this probe interval (demand)
         self._interval_fails = 0  # failed releases this probe interval
+        self._interval_ok = 0     # SUCCESSFUL releases this probe interval:
+                                  # zero completions = zero throughput, and a
+                                  # gate that ramps on demand alone would pile
+                                  # 96 concurrent prefills onto a server whose
+                                  # first 2 requests have not even answered
         self.stats = {'probe': 0, 'ramp': 0, 'hold_queue': 0, 'backoff_fail': 0,
                       'backoff_queue': 0, 'ramp_demand': 0}
 
@@ -209,7 +214,9 @@ class AdaptiveGate:
 
     def release(self, ok: bool) -> None:
         self._inflight = max(0, self._inflight - 1)
-        if not ok:  # multiplicative decrease -- survival first
+        if ok:
+            self._interval_ok += 1
+        else:  # multiplicative decrease -- survival first
             self._interval_fails += 1
             before = self.limit
             self.limit = max(self.LO, self.limit * 0.7)
@@ -238,12 +245,13 @@ class AdaptiveGate:
         ramp while the cap is the binding constraint (callers had to WAIT on
         acquire) and the interval was failure-free. Failures still cut x0.7
         per release, so a drowning backend shrinks the gate immediately."""
-        if self._interval_fails == 0 and self._contended > 0 \
-                and int(self.limit) < self.HI:
+        if self._interval_fails == 0 and self._interval_ok > 0 \
+                and self._contended > 0 and int(self.limit) < self.HI:
             self.limit = min(self.HI, self.limit + 1)
             self.stats['ramp_demand'] += 1
             self._push_limit()
         self._interval_fails = 0
+        self._interval_ok = 0
         self._contended = 0
         self._wake()
 
@@ -278,8 +286,10 @@ class AdaptiveGate:
             self.limit = max(self.LO, self.limit - 1)
             self.stats['backoff_queue'] += 1
             self._push_limit()
-        elif (queue or 0) == 0 and (running is None or running < max(2, int(self.limit))):
+        elif (queue or 0) == 0 and (running is None or running < max(2, int(self.limit))) \
+                and self._interval_ok > 0:
             # underfed: no queue and running below our own cap -> ramp up
+            # (still requires completions this interval: no throughput, no ramp)
             self.limit = min(self.HI, self.limit + 1)
             self.stats['ramp'] += 1
             self._push_limit()