diff --git a/eve_rock_watcher.py b/eve_rock_watcher.py
index e08cce6..728a6f4 100644
--- a/eve_rock_watcher.py
+++ b/eve_rock_watcher.py
@@ -354,11 +354,13 @@ def main():
     poll = max(poll, 8)                                 # full-window OCR is heavy; don't spin
     MAX_DROP_PS = 4000 / 60.0      # units/sec ceiling — a faster "drop" than this is a misread
     print(f"[rock] started; switch<{switch_secs}s, poll {poll}s (waits for !mining on)")
+    idle_secs = cp.getint("rock", "idle_secs", fallback=150) if sec else 150
     hist = deque()                 # accepted (t, units), cleaned of OCR outliers
     pending = None                 # a jumped value awaiting a confirming second read
     last_status = 0.0
     last_alert = 0.0
     last_ore = "rock"
+    last_decrease = 0.0            # last time the rock actually got smaller (= active mining)
     while True:
         if not w.bot_mining(cp):                       # only during a mining session
             hist.clear(); pending = None
@@ -379,6 +381,8 @@ def main():
                 lt, lu = hist[-1]
                 dt = max(1.0, now - lt)
                 if (lu - units) <= MAX_DROP_PS * dt + 400 and units <= lu + 40:
+                    if units < lu - 5:
+                        last_decrease = now                        # rock is actually shrinking
                     hist.append((now, units)); pending = None      # normal depletion / flat
                 elif pending is not None and abs(units - pending) <= max(400, units * 0.03):
                     hist.clear(); hist.append((now, units)); pending = None  # new rock, confirmed
@@ -395,6 +399,12 @@ def main():
                 if 0 < r <= MAX_DROP_PS:               # ignore impossible rates
                     rate = r
             tleft = units / rate if rate > 0 else None
+            # if the rock hasn't shrunk in a while you've stopped mining it (done, or warped
+            # off) — go quiet instead of editing a stale readout / firing switch alerts.
+            active = (now - last_decrease) <= idle_secs
+            if not active:
+                time.sleep(poll)
+                continue
             # live readout (edit-in-place, no spam)
             if post_rock and not w.bot_muted(cp) and now - last_status >= status_secs:
                 if tleft: