diff --git a/crates/console/prometeu-firmware/src/firmware/firmware.rs b/crates/console/prometeu-firmware/src/firmware/firmware.rs
index 6bff5ef8..9f8ad7ba 100644
--- a/crates/console/prometeu-firmware/src/firmware/firmware.rs
+++ b/crates/console/prometeu-firmware/src/firmware/firmware.rs
@@ -788,7 +788,7 @@ mod tests {
     }
 
     #[test]
-    fn host_home_request_pauses_then_suspends_game_before_next_vm_tick() {
+    fn host_home_request_delivers_pause_tick_before_forced_suspension() {
         let mut firmware = Firmware::new(None);
         let mut platform = TestPlatform::new();
         let signals = InputSignals::default();
@@ -826,7 +826,7 @@ mod tests {
             firmware.os.lifecycle().process_state_for_task(task_id),
             Ok(ProcessState::Suspended)
         );
-        assert_eq!(firmware.os.vm().tick_index(), tick_index_before_home);
+        assert_eq!(firmware.os.vm().tick_index(), tick_index_before_home + 1);
         assert!(!platform.input().pad().any());
         assert!(!platform.input().touch().f().down);
 
@@ -839,6 +839,10 @@ mod tests {
             firmware.os.vm().delivered_game_lifecycle_events().last().map(|event| event.kind),
             Some(GameLifecycleEventKind::Pause)
         );
+
+        let tick_index_after_suspension = firmware.os.vm().tick_index();
+        firmware.tick(&signals, &mut platform);
+        assert_eq!(firmware.os.vm().tick_index(), tick_index_after_suspension);
     }
 
     #[test]
diff --git a/crates/console/prometeu-firmware/src/firmware/firmware_step_game_running.rs b/crates/console/prometeu-firmware/src/firmware/firmware_step_game_running.rs
index 0fc5815b..a3c37323 100644
--- a/crates/console/prometeu-firmware/src/firmware/firmware_step_game_running.rs
+++ b/crates/console/prometeu-firmware/src/firmware/firmware_step_game_running.rs
@@ -2,8 +2,8 @@ use crate::firmware::firmware_state::{AppCrashesStep, FirmwareState, HubHomeStep
 use crate::firmware::prometeu_context::PrometeuContext;
 use prometeu_hal::app_mode::AppMode;
 use prometeu_hal::log::{LogLevel, LogSource};
-use prometeu_system::CrashReport;
 use prometeu_system::task::{TaskId, TaskState};
+use prometeu_system::{CrashReport, ResidentGameState};
 
 #[derive(Debug, Clone)]
 pub struct GameRunningStep {
@@ -39,22 +39,10 @@ impl GameRunningStep {
 
         ctx.os.vm().deliver_pending_game_lifecycle_events();
 
-        match ctx.os.lifecycle().advance_game_pause_budget(self.task_id) {
-            Ok(true) => {
-                ctx.os.vm().transition_render_owner(AppMode::Shell, 0);
-                return Some(FirmwareState::HubHome(HubHomeStep));
-            }
-            Ok(false) => {}
-            Err(_) => {
-                let report = CrashReport::VmPanic {
-                    message: "failed to advance game pause budget".to_string(),
-                    pc: None,
-                };
-                let _ = ctx.os.lifecycle().crash_task(self.task_id, Some(&report));
-                return Some(FirmwareState::AppCrashes(AppCrashesStep { report }));
-            }
-        }
-
+        let pause_requested = matches!(
+            ctx.os.lifecycle().resident_game().map(|game| game.state),
+            Some(ResidentGameState::PauseRequested { .. })
+        );
         let result = ctx.os.vm().tick(ctx.vm, ctx.signals, ctx.platform);
 
         if let Some(report) = result {
@@ -62,6 +50,24 @@ impl GameRunningStep {
             return Some(FirmwareState::AppCrashes(AppCrashesStep { report }));
         }
 
+        if pause_requested {
+            match ctx.os.lifecycle().advance_game_pause_budget(self.task_id) {
+                Ok(true) => {
+                    ctx.os.vm().transition_render_owner(AppMode::Shell, 0);
+                    return Some(FirmwareState::HubHome(HubHomeStep));
+                }
+                Ok(false) => {}
+                Err(_) => {
+                    let report = CrashReport::VmPanic {
+                        message: "failed to advance game pause budget".to_string(),
+                        pc: None,
+                    };
+                    let _ = ctx.os.lifecycle().crash_task(self.task_id, Some(&report));
+                    return Some(FirmwareState::AppCrashes(AppCrashesStep { report }));
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
         None
     }
 
diff --git a/crates/console/prometeu-system/src/services/foreground.rs b/crates/console/prometeu-system/src/services/foreground.rs
index 1b2e8bc1..a299bb87 100644
--- a/crates/console/prometeu-system/src/services/foreground.rs
+++ b/crates/console/prometeu-system/src/services/foreground.rs
@@ -263,6 +263,32 @@ mod tests {
         );
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn pause_budget_decrements_before_expiry() {
+        let mut stack = ForegroundStack::new();
+        let game = TaskId(3);
+
+        stack.set_game_foreground(game).expect("game should be foreground");
+        stack.request_home_from_game(game, 2).expect("home request should pause game");
+
+        assert!(!stack.advance_pause_budget(game).expect("budget should advance"));
+        assert_eq!(stack.owner(), ForegroundOwner::Game(game));
+        assert_eq!(
+            stack.resident_game(),
+            Some(ResidentGame {
+                task_id: game,
+                state: ResidentGameState::PauseRequested { remaining_ticks: 1 },
+            })
+        );
+
+        assert!(stack.advance_pause_budget(game).expect("budget should expire"));
+        assert_eq!(stack.owner(), ForegroundOwner::Hub);
+        assert_eq!(
+            stack.resident_game(),
+            Some(ResidentGame { task_id: game, state: ResidentGameState::PausedSuspended })
+        );
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn resume_request_precedes_game_foreground_restore() {
         let mut stack = ForegroundStack::new();
diff --git a/discussion/index.ndjson b/discussion/index.ndjson
index 0c34fdd8..7965fbb5 100644
--- a/discussion/index.ndjson
+++ b/discussion/index.ndjson
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 {"type":"discussion","id":"DSC-0043","status":"open","ticket":"system-os-cartridge-switch-orchestrator","title":"SystemOS Cartridge Switch Orchestrator","created_at":"2026-07-03","updated_at":"2026-07-03","tags":["runtime","os","lifecycle","game","cartridge","architecture"],"agendas":[{"id":"AGD-0044","file":"AGD-0044-systemos-cartridge-switch-orchestrator.md","status":"open","created_at":"2026-07-03","updated_at":"2026-07-03"}],"decisions":[],"plans":[],"lessons":[]}
 {"type":"discussion","id":"DSC-0039","status":"abandoned","ticket":"render-pipeline-family-and-future-3d","title":"Render Pipeline Family and Future 3D","created_at":"2026-06-04","updated_at":"2026-06-04","tags":["gfx","renderer","runtime","architecture","pipeline"],"agendas":[{"id":"AGD-0039","file":"AGD-0039-render-pipeline-family-and-future-3d.md","status":"abandoned","created_at":"2026-06-04","updated_at":"2026-06-04","_override_reason":"User explicitly chose to close this agenda without a new decision because DSC-0038 already established enough architecture for future extension, and 3D is intentionally deferred."}],"decisions":[],"plans":[],"lessons":[],"_override_reason":"User explicitly chose to close this agenda without a new decision because DSC-0038 already established enough architecture for future extension, and 3D is intentionally deferred."}
 {"type":"discussion","id":"DSC-0040","status":"done","ticket":"vm-render-parallel-execution-boundary","title":"VM and Render Parallel Execution Boundary","created_at":"2026-06-04","updated_at":"2026-06-06","tags":["runtime","renderer","vm","concurrency","architecture","perf"],"agendas":[],"decisions":[],"plans":[],"lessons":[{"id":"LSN-0048","file":"discussion/lessons/DSC-0040-vm-render-parallel-execution-boundary/LSN-0048-render-workers-need-a-closed-packet-contract.md","status":"done","created_at":"2026-06-06","updated_at":"2026-06-06"}]}
-{"type":"discussion","id":"DSC-0041","status":"in_progress","ticket":"foreground-stack-game-pause-shell-vm-backed","title":"Foreground Stack, Game Pause, and VM-Backed Shell Coexistence","created_at":"2026-06-05","updated_at":"2026-07-04","tags":["runtime","os","lifecycle","shell","game","vm","foreground","architecture"],"agendas":[{"id":"AGD-0041","file":"AGD-0041-foreground-stack-game-pause-shell-vm-backed.md","status":"accepted","created_at":"2026-06-05","updated_at":"2026-07-03"}],"decisions":[{"id":"DEC-0037","file":"DEC-0037-foreground-stack-and-game-pause-contract.md","status":"accepted","created_at":"2026-07-03","updated_at":"2026-07-03","ref_agenda":"AGD-0041"}],"plans":[{"id":"PLN-0136","file":"PLN-0136-route-desktop-home-key-outside-guest-input.md","status":"done","created_at":"2026-07-03","updated_at":"2026-07-03","ref_decisions":["DEC-0037"]},{"id":"PLN-0137","file":"PLN-0137-implement-systemos-foreground-stack-state.md","status":"done","created_at":"2026-07-03","updated_at":"2026-07-03","ref_decisions":["DEC-0037"]},{"id":"PLN-0138","file":"PLN-0138-specify-foreground-pause-and-home-contract.md","status":"done","created_at":"2026-07-03","updated_at":"2026-07-03","ref_decisions":["DEC-0037"]},{"id":"PLN-0139","file":"PLN-0139-validate-game-home-shell-game-end-to-end.md","status":"done","created_at":"2026-07-03","updated_at":"2026-07-03","ref_decisions":["DEC-0037"]},{"id":"PLN-0140","file":"PLN-0140-deliver-game-pause-resume-and-suspension.md","status":"done","created_at":"2026-07-03","updated_at":"2026-07-03","ref_decisions":["DEC-0037"]},{"id":"PLN-0141","file":"PLN-0141-integrate-render-audio-and-input-pause-boundaries.md","status":"done","created_at":"2026-07-03","updated_at":"2026-07-03","ref_decisions":["DEC-0037"]},{"id":"PLN-0142","file":"PLN-0142-deliver-game-lifecycle-events-to-vm-runtime.md","status":"done","created_at":"2026-07-04","updated_at":"2026-07-04","ref_decisions":["DEC-0037"]},{"id":"PLN-0143","file":"PLN-0143-guarantee-cooperative-pause-budget-tick-before-suspension.md","status":"open","created_at":"2026-07-04","updated_at":"2026-07-04","ref_decisions":["DEC-0037"]},{"id":"PLN-0144","file":"PLN-0144-suspend-resident-game-when-shell-takes-foreground.md","status":"open","created_at":"2026-07-04","updated_at":"2026-07-04","ref_decisions":["DEC-0037"]}],"lessons":[]}
+{"type":"discussion","id":"DSC-0041","status":"in_progress","ticket":"foreground-stack-game-pause-shell-vm-backed","title":"Foreground Stack, Game Pause, and VM-Backed Shell Coexistence","created_at":"2026-06-05","updated_at":"2026-07-04","tags":["runtime","os","lifecycle","shell","game","vm","foreground","architecture"],"agendas":[{"id":"AGD-0041","file":"AGD-0041-foreground-stack-game-pause-shell-vm-backed.md","status":"accepted","created_at":"2026-06-05","updated_at":"2026-07-03"}],"decisions":[{"id":"DEC-0037","file":"DEC-0037-foreground-stack-and-game-pause-contract.md","status":"accepted","created_at":"2026-07-03","updated_at":"2026-07-03","ref_agenda":"AGD-0041"}],"plans":[{"id":"PLN-0136","file":"PLN-0136-route-desktop-home-key-outside-guest-input.md","status":"done","created_at":"2026-07-03","updated_at":"2026-07-03","ref_decisions":["DEC-0037"]},{"id":"PLN-0137","file":"PLN-0137-implement-systemos-foreground-stack-state.md","status":"done","created_at":"2026-07-03","updated_at":"2026-07-03","ref_decisions":["DEC-0037"]},{"id":"PLN-0138","file":"PLN-0138-specify-foreground-pause-and-home-contract.md","status":"done","created_at":"2026-07-03","updated_at":"2026-07-03","ref_decisions":["DEC-0037"]},{"id":"PLN-0139","file":"PLN-0139-validate-game-home-shell-game-end-to-end.md","status":"done","created_at":"2026-07-03","updated_at":"2026-07-03","ref_decisions":["DEC-0037"]},{"id":"PLN-0140","file":"PLN-0140-deliver-game-pause-resume-and-suspension.md","status":"done","created_at":"2026-07-03","updated_at":"2026-07-03","ref_decisions":["DEC-0037"]},{"id":"PLN-0141","file":"PLN-0141-integrate-render-audio-and-input-pause-boundaries.md","status":"done","created_at":"2026-07-03","updated_at":"2026-07-03","ref_decisions":["DEC-0037"]},{"id":"PLN-0142","file":"PLN-0142-deliver-game-lifecycle-events-to-vm-runtime.md","status":"done","created_at":"2026-07-04","updated_at":"2026-07-04","ref_decisions":["DEC-0037"]},{"id":"PLN-0143","file":"PLN-0143-guarantee-cooperative-pause-budget-tick-before-suspension.md","status":"done","created_at":"2026-07-04","updated_at":"2026-07-04","ref_decisions":["DEC-0037"]},{"id":"PLN-0144","file":"PLN-0144-suspend-resident-game-when-shell-takes-foreground.md","status":"open","created_at":"2026-07-04","updated_at":"2026-07-04","ref_decisions":["DEC-0037"]}],"lessons":[]}
 {"type":"discussion","id":"DSC-0042","status":"done","ticket":"real-render-worker-establishment","title":"Real Render Worker Establishment","created_at":"2026-06-06","updated_at":"2026-06-20","tags":["runtime","renderer","worker","concurrency","host","hal","architecture"],"agendas":[],"decisions":[],"plans":[],"lessons":[{"id":"LSN-0049","file":"discussion/lessons/DSC-0042-real-render-worker-establishment/LSN-0049-render-worker-publication-boundary.md","status":"done","created_at":"2026-06-20","updated_at":"2026-06-20"}]}
 {"type":"discussion","id":"DSC-0038","status":"done","ticket":"render-frame-packet-boundary","title":"Logical Render Pipelines and Command Packets","created_at":"2026-05-25","updated_at":"2026-06-04","tags":["gfx","renderer","runtime","frame-composer","architecture","ui","pipeline"],"agendas":[],"decisions":[],"plans":[],"lessons":[{"id":"LSN-0047","file":"discussion/lessons/DSC-0038-render-frame-packet-boundary/LSN-0047-typed-render-submissions-preserve-domain-boundaries.md","status":"done","created_at":"2026-06-04","updated_at":"2026-06-04"}]}
 {"type":"discussion","id":"DSC-0035","status":"done","ticket":"task-owned-shell-windows","title":"Agenda - Task-Owned Shell Windows","created_at":"2026-05-15","updated_at":"2026-05-15","tags":["runtime","os","task","window-manager","shell","lifecycle"],"agendas":[],"decisions":[],"plans":[],"lessons":[{"id":"LSN-0044","file":"discussion/lessons/DSC-0035-task-owned-shell-windows/LSN-0044-task-window-liveness-belongs-to-the-task.md","status":"done","created_at":"2026-05-15","updated_at":"2026-05-15"}]}
diff --git a/discussion/workflow/plans/PLN-0143-guarantee-cooperative-pause-budget-tick-before-suspension.md b/discussion/workflow/plans/PLN-0143-guarantee-cooperative-pause-budget-tick-before-suspension.md
index 0ec8a98b..95252d59 100644
--- a/discussion/workflow/plans/PLN-0143-guarantee-cooperative-pause-budget-tick-before-suspension.md
+++ b/discussion/workflow/plans/PLN-0143-guarantee-cooperative-pause-budget-tick-before-suspension.md
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 id: PLN-0143
 ticket: foreground-stack-game-pause-shell-vm-backed
 title: Guarantee Cooperative Pause Budget Tick Before Suspension
-status: open
+status: done
 created: 2026-07-04
 ref_decisions: [DEC-0037]
 tags: [runtime, os, lifecycle, shell, game, vm, foreground, architecture]