diff --git a/plantheal.lic b/plantheal.lic
index c092d330d3..cb98030e76 100644
--- a/plantheal.lic
+++ b/plantheal.lic
@@ -568,9 +568,17 @@ class PlantHeal
     m && m[1].downcase
   end
 
+  MAX_HUG_RETRIES = 3
+
   # Hug the plant once. Returns HugResult with count (0 or 1) and reason.
   # Reasons: :ok (hugged), :no_plant, :fully_healed, :stopped_early
-  def hug_plant_once
+  # retries: internal counter for EV recast retries (prevents infinite recursion)
+  def hug_plant_once(retries = MAX_HUG_RETRIES)
+    if retries <= 0
+      DRC.message("**Max hug retries reached** — stopping to prevent infinite loop.")
+      return HugResult.new(0, :stopped_early)
+    end
+
     noun = plant_noun_in_room
 
     unless noun
@@ -609,11 +617,13 @@ class PlantHeal
     when /you have no empathic bond/i
       DRC.message("Lost empathic bond — releasing and recasting EV.")
       release_and_recast_ev
-      HugResult.new(0, :stopped_early)
+      # Fresh EV should restore the bond - retry the hug
+      return hug_plant_once(retries - 1)
     when HUG_APPRECIATES
       DRC.message("Hug returned 'appreciates the sentiment' — **releasing and recasting EV**.")
       release_and_recast_ev
-      HugResult.new(0, :stopped_early)
+      # Fresh plant should have wounds now - retry the hug
+      return hug_plant_once(retries - 1)
     when /Hug what\?/i
       # Fallback: noun was stale despite pre_hug_check (rare race condition).
       recast_ev_if_needed
diff --git a/spec/plantheal_spec.rb b/spec/plantheal_spec.rb
index bd99d84c92..dccbdb03ed 100644
--- a/spec/plantheal_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/plantheal_spec.rb
@@ -557,6 +557,10 @@ def build_instance(**overrides)
       expect(PlantHeal::MAX_BACKFIRE_RETRIES).to eq(2)
     end
 
+    it 'defines MAX_HUG_RETRIES as 3' do
+      expect(PlantHeal::MAX_HUG_RETRIES).to eq(3)
+    end
+
     it 'defines PLANT_NOUNS regex matching plant forms' do
       %w[plant thicket bush briar shrub thornbush].each do |form|
         expect("a vela'tohr #{form}").to match(PlantHeal::PLANT_NOUNS)
@@ -613,4 +617,125 @@ def build_instance(**overrides)
       end
     end
   end
+
+  # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+  # hug_plant_once retry behavior
+  # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+  describe '#hug_plant_once' do
+    # Mock DRRoom for plant_noun_in_room
+    before(:each) do
+      stub_const('DRRoom', Class.new do
+        def self.room_objs
+          $mock_room_objs || []
+        end
+      end)
+    end
+
+    it 'returns stopped_early when retries exhausted' do
+      instance = build_instance(
+        total_hugs: 0,
+        hug_count: 3,
+        threshold: 24,
+        heal_past_ml: false
+      )
+      $mock_room_objs = ["an ethereal vela'tohr thicket"]
+      expect(DRC).to receive(:message).with(/Max hug retries reached/)
+      result = instance.send(:hug_plant_once, 0)
+      expect(result.zero?).to be true
+      expect(result.reason).to eq(:stopped_early)
+    end
+
+    it 'retries after HUG_APPRECIATES response' do
+      instance = build_instance(
+        total_hugs: 0,
+        hug_count: 3,
+        threshold: 24,
+        heal_past_ml: false,
+        waggle_healing: false,
+        manual_ev: false
+      )
+      $mock_room_objs = ["an ethereal vela'tohr thicket"]
+
+      # First call: appreciates, second call: Roundtime
+      call_count = 0
+      allow(DRC).to receive(:bput) do |cmd, *_patterns|
+        if cmd.start_with?('hug')
+          call_count += 1
+          call_count == 1 ? 'appreciates the sentiment' : 'Roundtime: 3 sec.'
+        end
+      end
+
+      # Stub methods that would normally run
+      allow(instance).to receive(:bleeding?).and_return(false)
+      allow(instance).to receive(:pre_hug_check).and_return('thicket')
+      allow(instance).to receive(:release_and_recast_ev)
+      allow(DRSkill).to receive(:getxp).and_return(0)
+      allow(DRC).to receive(:message)
+
+      result = instance.send(:hug_plant_once, 3)
+      expect(result.hugs).to eq(1)
+      expect(result.reason).to eq(:ok)
+      expect(call_count).to eq(2)
+    end
+
+    it 'retries after "no empathic bond" response' do
+      instance = build_instance(
+        total_hugs: 0,
+        hug_count: 3,
+        threshold: 24,
+        heal_past_ml: false,
+        waggle_healing: false,
+        manual_ev: false
+      )
+      $mock_room_objs = ["an ethereal vela'tohr thicket"]
+
+      # First call: no bond, second call: Roundtime
+      call_count = 0
+      allow(DRC).to receive(:bput) do |cmd, *_patterns|
+        if cmd.start_with?('hug')
+          call_count += 1
+          call_count == 1 ? 'you have no empathic bond' : 'Roundtime: 3 sec.'
+        end
+      end
+
+      allow(instance).to receive(:bleeding?).and_return(false)
+      allow(instance).to receive(:pre_hug_check).and_return('thicket')
+      allow(instance).to receive(:release_and_recast_ev)
+      allow(DRSkill).to receive(:getxp).and_return(0)
+      allow(DRC).to receive(:message)
+
+      result = instance.send(:hug_plant_once, 3)
+      expect(result.hugs).to eq(1)
+      expect(result.reason).to eq(:ok)
+      expect(call_count).to eq(2)
+    end
+
+    it 'decrements retry counter on each retry' do
+      instance = build_instance(
+        total_hugs: 0,
+        hug_count: 3,
+        threshold: 24,
+        heal_past_ml: false,
+        waggle_healing: false,
+        manual_ev: false
+      )
+      $mock_room_objs = ["an ethereal vela'tohr thicket"]
+
+      # Always return appreciates to force retry until exhausted
+      allow(DRC).to receive(:bput) do |cmd, *_patterns|
+        cmd.start_with?('hug') ? 'appreciates the sentiment' : nil
+      end
+
+      allow(instance).to receive(:bleeding?).and_return(false)
+      allow(instance).to receive(:pre_hug_check).and_return('thicket')
+      allow(instance).to receive(:release_and_recast_ev)
+      allow(DRSkill).to receive(:getxp).and_return(0)
+      allow(DRC).to receive(:message)
+
+      result = instance.send(:hug_plant_once, 2)
+      expect(result.zero?).to be true
+      expect(result.reason).to eq(:stopped_early)
+    end
+  end
 end