diff --git a/eve_rock_watcher.py b/eve_rock_watcher.py
index f2405f2..8a229d7 100644
--- a/eve_rock_watcher.py
+++ b/eve_rock_watcher.py
@@ -292,6 +292,7 @@ def main():
     last_alert = {}
     last_status = 0.0
     region = mode = None
+    empty_streak = 0
     while True:
         if not w.bot_mining(cp):                       # only during a mining session
             tracker.h.clear()
@@ -308,10 +309,24 @@ def main():
         try:
             rows = read_rows(cp, region, mode)
             if not rows:
-                # nothing selected at the moment — KEEP the fixed region (positions are
-                # stable; don't burn CPU re-hunting on a 9000px screen), just retry.
+                # The saved region may be stale (you compressed, reselected, or the window
+                # moved), so a fixed box reads empty forever. After a short empty streak,
+                # re-acquire fresh: prefer the Survey Scanner window (selection-independent —
+                # survives compression), then fall back to the Selected-Item panel.
+                empty_streak += 1
+                if empty_streak % 6 == 0:
+                    nm = None
+                    r = detect_survey_region(cp)
+                    if r:
+                        region, mode, nm = r, "survey", "survey"
+                    else:
+                        r = detect_selected_region(cp)
+                        if r:
+                            region, mode, nm = r, "selected", "selected"
+                    print(f"[rock] empty {empty_streak}x — re-detect: {nm or 'still nothing visible'}")
                 time.sleep(poll)
                 continue
+            empty_streak = 0
             now = time.time()
             keyed = tracker.update(rows, now)
             hr = hold_rate()