diff --git a/artifacts/api-server/src/routes/jobs.ts b/artifacts/api-server/src/routes/jobs.ts
index dde1590..e3622e9 100644
--- a/artifacts/api-server/src/routes/jobs.ts
+++ b/artifacts/api-server/src/routes/jobs.ts
@@ -372,29 +372,17 @@ async function advanceJob(job: Job): Promise<Job | null> {
         reserved: partialGrantReserved,
       });
       if (partialGrantReserved <= 0 && (job.absorbedSats ?? 0) > 0) {
-        // Pool drained between decide() (advisory) and now. We cannot honour the subsidy.
-        // Fail the job with a clear message so the user can retry at full price.
-        // Their payment was for the work portion (chargeSats); Timmy does not absorb
-        // the difference when the pool is empty — free service pauses as designed.
-        logger.warn("partial grant pool drained at payment — aborting job", {
+        // Pool drained between advisory decide() and payment confirmation.
+        // The user already paid their portion; we cannot abandon them without service.
+        // Proceed with work. Timmy absorbs a bounded loss (at most job.absorbedSats sats)
+        // for this edge case. runWorkInBackground will record actualAbsorbed = 0 since
+        // partialGrantReserved = 0, so no pool accounting error occurs; the debit is
+        // simply unrecorded (pool was already empty).
+        logger.warn("partial grant pool drained after payment — work proceeds, no pool debit", {
           jobId: job.id,
           pubkey: job.nostrPubkey.slice(0, 8),
           requestedAbsorb: job.absorbedSats,
         });
-        await db
-          .update(jobs)
-          .set({
-            state: "failed",
-            errorMessage: "Generosity pool exhausted — please retry at full price.",
-            updatedAt: new Date(),
-          })
-          .where(eq(jobs.id, job.id));
-        eventBus.publish({
-          type: "job:failed",
-          jobId: job.id,
-          reason: "Generosity pool exhausted — please retry at full price.",
-        });
-        return getJobById(job.id);
       }
     }