diff --git a/server/Turtle.js b/server/Turtle.js
index e0ee7da..f67acb8 100644
--- a/server/Turtle.js
+++ b/server/Turtle.js
@@ -323,7 +323,17 @@ export class Turtle extends EventEmitter {
         }
       } else {
         console.error(`[Turtle ${this.id}] State error in ${state.name}:`, error.message);
-        this.setState('idle');
+        // Don't transition idle→idle (causes infinite loop)
+        if (state.name !== 'idle') {
+          this.setState('idle');
+        } else {
+          // Already idle and erroring — just wait and retry the idle loop
+          console.log(`[Turtle ${this.id}] Idle loop paused, will retry in 60s`);
+          await new Promise(r => setTimeout(r, 60000));
+          if (this._state === state) {
+            this._runStateLoop(0);
+          }
+        }
       }
     }
   }