diff --git a/js/data.js b/js/data.js
index a588205..dc44f79 100644
--- a/js/data.js
+++ b/js/data.js
@@ -167,6 +167,7 @@ const G = {
     dismantleStage: 0,
     dismantleResourceIndex: 0,
     dismantleResourceTimer: 0,
+    dismantleDeferUntilAt: 0,
     dismantleComplete: false
 };
 
diff --git a/js/dismantle.js b/js/dismantle.js
index 2550c80..7987dd9 100644
--- a/js/dismantle.js
+++ b/js/dismantle.js
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ const Dismantle = {
     tickTimer: 0,
     active: false,
     triggered: false,
-    deferUntilTick: 0,
+    deferUntilAt: 0,
 
     // Timing: seconds between each dismantle stage
     STAGE_INTERVALS: [0, 3.0, 2.5, 2.5, 2.0, 6.3, 2.0, 2.0, 2.5],
@@ -39,7 +39,8 @@ const Dismantle = {
      */
     checkTrigger() {
         if (this.triggered || G.dismantleTriggered || this.active || G.dismantleActive || G.dismantleComplete) return;
-        if ((G.tick || 0) < (this.deferUntilTick || 0)) return;
+        const deferUntilAt = G.dismantleDeferUntilAt || this.deferUntilAt || 0;
+        if (Date.now() < deferUntilAt) return;
         if (!this.isEligible()) return;
         this.offerChoice();
     },
@@ -55,6 +56,7 @@ const Dismantle = {
         G.dismantleStage = 0;
         G.dismantleResourceIndex = 0;
         G.dismantleResourceTimer = 0;
+        G.dismantleDeferUntilAt = 0;
         G.beaconEnding = false;
         G.running = true;
 
@@ -107,7 +109,8 @@ const Dismantle = {
         this.clearChoice();
         this.triggered = false;
         G.dismantleTriggered = false;
-        this.deferUntilTick = (G.tick || 0) + 50;
+        this.deferUntilAt = Date.now() + 5000;
+        G.dismantleDeferUntilAt = this.deferUntilAt;
         log('The Beacon waits. It will ask again.');
     },
 
@@ -117,12 +120,14 @@ const Dismantle = {
     begin() {
         this.active = true;
         this.triggered = false;
+        this.deferUntilAt = 0;
         this.stage = 1;
         this.tickTimer = 0;
         G.dismantleTriggered = false;
         G.dismantleActive = true;
         G.dismantleStage = 1;
         G.dismantleComplete = false;
+        G.dismantleDeferUntilAt = 0;
         G.beaconEnding = false;
         G.running = true; // keep tick running for dismantle
 
@@ -456,6 +461,7 @@ const Dismantle = {
             this.active = true;
             this.triggered = false;
             this.stage = G.dismantleStage || 1;
+            this.deferUntilAt = G.dismantleDeferUntilAt || 0;
             G.running = true;
             this.resourceSequence = this.getResourceList();
             this.resourceIndex = G.dismantleResourceIndex || 0;
diff --git a/js/render.js b/js/render.js
index 078ba53..77049c8 100644
--- a/js/render.js
+++ b/js/render.js
@@ -232,6 +232,7 @@ function saveGame() {
         dismantleStage: G.dismantleStage || 0,
         dismantleResourceIndex: G.dismantleResourceIndex || 0,
         dismantleResourceTimer: G.dismantleResourceTimer || 0,
+        dismantleDeferUntilAt: G.dismantleDeferUntilAt || 0,
         dismantleComplete: G.dismantleComplete || false,
         savedAt: Date.now()
     };
@@ -266,7 +267,7 @@ function loadGame() {
             'sprintActive', 'sprintTimer', 'sprintCooldown',
             'swarmFlag', 'swarmRate', 'strategicFlag', 'projectsCollapsed',
             'dismantleTriggered', 'dismantleActive', 'dismantleStage',
-            'dismantleResourceIndex', 'dismantleResourceTimer', 'dismantleComplete'
+            'dismantleResourceIndex', 'dismantleResourceTimer', 'dismantleDeferUntilAt', 'dismantleComplete'
         ];
 
         G.isLoading = true;
diff --git a/tests/dismantle.test.cjs b/tests/dismantle.test.cjs
index fe75aaa..3d14436 100644
--- a/tests/dismantle.test.cjs
+++ b/tests/dismantle.test.cjs
@@ -329,7 +329,6 @@ test('deferring the Unbuilding clears the prompt and allows it to return later',
   G.totalCode = 1_000_000_000;
   G.phase = 6;
   G.pactFlag = 1;
-  G.tick = 0;
 
   Dismantle.checkTrigger();
   assert.equal(G.dismantleTriggered, true);
@@ -338,15 +337,44 @@ test('deferring the Unbuilding clears the prompt and allows it to return later',
   assert.equal(G.dismantleTriggered, false);
   assert.equal(document.getElementById('alignment-ui').innerHTML, '');
 
-  G.tick = (Dismantle.deferUntilTick || 0) - 0.1;
+  Dismantle.deferUntilAt = Date.now() + 1000;
+  G.dismantleDeferUntilAt = Dismantle.deferUntilAt;
   Dismantle.checkTrigger();
   assert.equal(G.dismantleTriggered, false);
 
-  G.tick = (Dismantle.deferUntilTick || 0) + 1;
+  Dismantle.deferUntilAt = Date.now() - 1;
+  G.dismantleDeferUntilAt = Dismantle.deferUntilAt;
   Dismantle.checkTrigger();
   assert.equal(G.dismantleTriggered, true);
 });
 
+test('defer cooldown survives save and reload', () => {
+  const { G, Dismantle, saveGame, loadGame } = loadBeacon({ includeRender: true });
+
+  G.startedAt = Date.now();
+  G.totalCode = 1_000_000_000;
+  G.phase = 6;
+  G.pactFlag = 1;
+
+  Dismantle.checkTrigger();
+  Dismantle.defer();
+  assert.ok((Dismantle.deferUntilAt || 0) > Date.now());
+
+  saveGame();
+
+  G.dismantleTriggered = false;
+  G.dismantleActive = false;
+  G.dismantleComplete = false;
+  G.dismantleDeferUntilAt = 0;
+  Dismantle.triggered = false;
+  Dismantle.deferUntilAt = 0;
+
+  assert.equal(loadGame(), true);
+  Dismantle.checkTrigger();
+
+  assert.equal(G.dismantleTriggered, false);
+});
+
 test('save and load preserve dismantle progress', () => {
   const { G, saveGame, loadGame } = loadBeacon({ includeRender: true });