diff --git a/src/routing.rs b/src/routing.rs
index 2a32c72..61342f6 100644
--- a/src/routing.rs
+++ b/src/routing.rs
@@ -97,9 +97,16 @@ impl RoutingTable {
         }
         let d = self.default.clone();
         push(&mut out, &d);
-        let matched = rule
-            .map(|r| !r.any.is_empty() || r.per.values().any(|v| !v.is_empty()))
-            .unwrap_or(false);
+        // "task-rule" must mean "the rule chose the head of this chain" — a
+        // rule that exists but lost to the tier chain (math has a high pick,
+        // the request came in low) must not claim the credit.
+        let matched = match (rule, out.first()) {
+            (Some(r), Some(head)) => {
+                r.per.get(tier).map(|v| v.contains(head)).unwrap_or(false)
+                    || r.any.first() == Some(head)
+            }
+            _ => false,
+        };
         (out, matched)
     }
 
@@ -184,7 +191,9 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(c[0], "cheap-coder");
         // high: tier chain leads, task rule follows as fallback
         let (c, m) = t.candidates_for("code", "high");
-        assert!(m);
+        // escalation put the global high chain first → the rule did not pick
+        // the head, so no task-rule credit
+        assert!(!m);
         // default rides along as the very last fallback
         assert_eq!(c, vec!["big", "cheap-coder", "cheap"]);
     }
@@ -202,8 +211,10 @@ mod tests {
         let (c, m) = t.candidates_for("code", "high");
         assert!(m);
         assert_eq!(c, vec!["best-coder", "big", "generic-coder", "cheap"]);
-        // at low: any-tier task models lead as before
-        let (c, _) = t.candidates_for("code", "low");
+        // at low: any-tier task models lead as before (and the badge is
+        // honest — the head came from the rule)
+        let (c, m) = t.candidates_for("code", "low");
+        assert!(m);
         assert_eq!(c, vec!["generic-coder", "cheap"]);
         // a tier with an explicit pick but no any-models
         let t2 = with_task_tier_models(
@@ -215,6 +226,10 @@ mod tests {
         let (c, m) = t2.candidates_for("legal", "high");
         assert!(m);
         assert_eq!(c, vec!["strong", "big", "cheap"]);
+        // the same rule at LOW did not shape the head → no task-rule credit
+        let (c, m) = t2.candidates_for("legal", "low");
+        assert!(!m);
+        assert_eq!(c, vec!["cheap"]);
     }
 
     #[test]