diff --git a/crates/ml-alpha/cuda/rl_surfer_scaffold_controller.cu b/crates/ml-alpha/cuda/rl_surfer_scaffold_controller.cu
index 3d0214102..8ac96af80 100644
--- a/crates/ml-alpha/cuda/rl_surfer_scaffold_controller.cu
+++ b/crates/ml-alpha/cuda/rl_surfer_scaffold_controller.cu
@@ -22,12 +22,16 @@
 // Math:
 //   competence = confidence(n_trades) × sigmoid(k_sharp × max(0, wr_ema − break_even))
 //   w_competence = 1 − competence
-//   w_decay      = min(1, 2 × frac_alerted)
+//   w_decay      = max(0, 2 × frac_alerted − 1)   // FIX v5.1: only fires above 50%
 //   w            = clamp(max(w_competence, w_decay), 0, 1)
 //
 // At training start (n_trades=0, wr_ema=0): competence ≈ 0, w_competence ≈ 1 → w=1 (full scaffold)
 // After warmup and wr_ema crossing break-even: competence → 1, w → 0 (pure pnl)
-// If edge-decay PH alerts on >50% of batches: w_decay forces scaffold back up
+// If edge-decay PH alerts on >50% of batches: w_decay re-engages PROPORTIONAL to
+// excess above 50% baseline (alpha-rl-zf6s5 step 5719 verdict 2026-06-02 showed
+// train-time PH inherently alerts on 75-95% of batches, so the v5 original
+// `min(1, 2×frac)` pinned w=1 forever even when wr crossed break-even; the new
+// `max(0, 2×frac − 1)` only fires above 50% and reaches 1.0 only at 100% alert).
 //
 // Per `feedback_no_atomicadd`: single-thread launch (1×1×1), no atomic ops.
 // Per `feedback_cpu_is_read_only`: pure device-side.
@@ -76,8 +80,12 @@ extern "C" __global__ void rl_surfer_scaffold_controller(float* isv) {
     // Inverse: scaffold weight from competence.
     const float w_competence = 1.0f - competence;
 
-    // Edge-decay re-engagement: if >50% of batches are PH-alerted, force w back up.
-    const float w_decay = fminf(1.0f, 2.0f * frac_decay);
+    // Edge-decay re-engagement: only fires ABOVE 50% baseline. Train-time PH
+    // naturally alerts on a steady fraction of batches even during healthy
+    // learning (pearl_edge_decay_detector_phase1_validated_train_also_decays);
+    // re-engagement must measure EXCESS alertedness, not absolute level, or it
+    // pins the scaffold at w=1 forever (alpha-rl-zf6s5 step 5719 failure mode).
+    const float w_decay = fmaxf(0.0f, 2.0f * frac_decay - 1.0f);
 
     const float w_raw = fmaxf(w_competence, w_decay);
     const float w     = fmaxf(0.0f, fminf(1.0f, w_raw));