diff --git a/scripts/surfer/multistrat_bot.py b/scripts/surfer/multistrat_bot.py
index 320fd0462..065f60cd3 100644
--- a/scripts/surfer/multistrat_bot.py
+++ b/scripts/surfer/multistrat_bot.py
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ C = {
     "maxlev": float(cfg("MULTISTRAT_MAXLEV", "1.0")), "hyst": float(cfg("MULTISTRAT_HYST", "0.03")),
     "rebal_days": int(cfg("MULTISTRAT_REBALANCE_DAYS", "7")), "dd_halt": float(cfg("MULTISTRAT_DD_HALT", "0.20")),
     "max_order": float(cfg("MULTISTRAT_MAX_ORDER", "0.30")),
+    "data_tol": float(cfg("MULTISTRAT_DATA_TOL", "0.25")),   # halt if broker summary vs positions disagree > this
     "execute": cfg("MULTISTRAT_EXECUTE", "false").lower() == "true",
     "live_ok": cfg("MULTISTRAT_ALLOW_LIVE_CONFIRMED", "") == "I_UNDERSTAND_REAL_MONEY",
     "state": cfg("MULTISTRAT_STATE", os.path.join(_REPO, "data/surfer/multistrat_bot_state.json")),
@@ -88,13 +89,15 @@ def target_weights():
     return {TICKER[nm]: float(w[j] * lev) for j, (_, nm) in enumerate(INSTR)}
 
 
-def gates(nlv, acct_is_paper, price_age, tw, state):
+def gates(nlv, acct_is_paper, price_age, tw, state, data_gap=0.0):
     """Pre-trade safety gates. Returns (ok, [reasons])."""
     fail = []
     if not acct_is_paper and not C["live_ok"]:
         fail.append("LIVE account but MULTISTRAT_ALLOW_LIVE_CONFIRMED not set — refusing to trade real money")
     if nlv <= 0:
         fail.append("NLV <= 0")
+    if data_gap > C["data_tol"]:
+        fail.append(f"ACCOUNT DATA INCONSISTENT: NLV vs cash+positions gap {100*data_gap:.0f}% > {100*C['data_tol']:.0f}% — broker data unreliable, refusing to size")
     gross = sum(tw.values())
     if gross > C["maxlev"] + 1e-6:
         fail.append(f"gross exposure {gross:.2f} > maxlev {C['maxlev']}")
@@ -130,18 +133,28 @@ def main():
     try:
         accts = ib.managedAccounts(); acct = accts[0] if accts else "?"
         is_paper = acct.startswith("DU")
-        nlv = next((float(v.value) for v in ib.accountSummary() if v.tag == "NetLiquidation"), 0.0)
+        summ = {v.tag: float(v.value) for v in ib.accountSummary() if v.tag in ("NetLiquidation", "TotalCashValue")}
+        nlv = summ.get("NetLiquidation", 0.0); cash = summ.get("TotalCashValue", 0.0)
+        port_mv = sum(it.marketValue for it in ib.portfolio())
         pos = {p.contract.symbol: p.position for p in ib.positions()}
-        log("INFO", "account", id=acct, paper=is_paper, nlv=round(nlv), positions=pos or None)
+        # IBKR (esp. paper) can report summary fields inconsistent with actual positions. Cross-check
+        # NLV against an independent estimate (cash + actual position market value); size on the
+        # CONSERVATIVE (lower) value so a glitch never inflates positions; gate if they disagree badly.
+        est_portfolio = cash + port_mv
+        data_gap = abs(nlv - est_portfolio) / max(nlv, est_portfolio, 1.0)
+        rel_nlv = min(nlv, est_portfolio) if (nlv > 0 and est_portfolio > 0) else max(nlv, est_portfolio)
+        log("INFO", "account", id=acct, paper=is_paper, nlv=round(nlv), cash=round(cash), port_mv=round(port_mv), reliable_nlv=round(rel_nlv), data_gap=round(data_gap, 3), positions=pos or None)
+        if data_gap > 0.02:
+            log("WARN", "account_data_inconsistent", nlv=round(nlv), cash_plus_positions=round(est_portfolio), gap_pct=round(100 * data_gap, 1), note="broker summary disagrees with actual positions (IBKR paper quirk) — sizing on conservative NLV")
 
-        ok, reasons = gates(nlv, is_paper, max_age, tw, state)
+        ok, reasons = gates(rel_nlv, is_paper, max_age, tw, state, data_gap)
         for r in reasons:
-            log("CRITICAL" if "CIRCUIT" in r or "LIVE" in r else "WARN", "gate_fail", reason=r)
+            log("CRITICAL" if "CIRCUIT" in r or "LIVE" in r or "INCONSISTENT" in r else "WARN", "gate_fail", reason=r)
         if not ok:
             log("ERROR", "aborted", gates_failed=len(reasons)); return 2
 
         # update high-water mark (only after gates pass = healthy NLV)
-        state["hwm_nlv"] = max(state.get("hwm_nlv", 0.0), nlv)
+        state["hwm_nlv"] = max(state.get("hwm_nlv", 0.0), rel_nlv)
 
         # idempotency: skip a `run` if rebalanced within the window
         if mode == "run" and state.get("last_rebalance"):
@@ -153,12 +166,12 @@ def main():
         # compute orders (entry-from-zero floor 0.5% NLV; rebalance uses hysteresis)
         orders = []
         for t, w in tw.items():
-            tgt = nlv * w / prices[t]; cur = pos.get(t, 0.0); delta = tgt - cur
-            thresh = (0.005 if cur == 0 else C["hyst"]) * nlv
+            tgt = rel_nlv * w / prices[t]; cur = pos.get(t, 0.0); delta = tgt - cur
+            thresh = (0.005 if cur == 0 else C["hyst"]) * rel_nlv
             val = abs(delta * prices[t])
             if val <= thresh:
                 continue
-            if val > C["max_order"] * nlv:
+            if val > C["max_order"] * rel_nlv:
                 log("WARN", "order_capped", ticker=t, value=round(val), cap=round(C["max_order"] * nlv))
             qty = int(round(abs(delta)))   # whole shares — IBKR API rejects fractional (error 10243)
             if qty == 0:
diff --git a/scripts/surfer/multistrat_paper.py b/scripts/surfer/multistrat_paper.py
index 665acbafc..470f98d09 100644
--- a/scripts/surfer/multistrat_paper.py
+++ b/scripts/surfer/multistrat_paper.py
@@ -49,6 +49,11 @@ def yhist(sym):
 def build():
     data = {nm: yhist(sym) for sym, nm in INSTR}
     dates = sorted(set.intersection(*[set(d) for d in data.values()]))
+    # drop today's INCOMPLETE intraday bar if present — this is a daily-CLOSE strategy; an in-session
+    # partial bar spikes the vol estimate and corrupts the leverage (e.g. halves it). Use completed closes.
+    today = datetime.datetime.now(datetime.timezone.utc).strftime("%Y-%m-%d")
+    if dates and dates[-1] == today:
+        dates = dates[:-1]
     R = np.zeros((len(dates), len(INSTR)))
     for j, (_, nm) in enumerate(INSTR):
         s = np.array([data[nm][d] for d in dates])