diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 9f0e0e6..35211ab 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -4,6 +4,18 @@ All notable changes to blockrun-llm will be documented in this file.
 
 ## Unreleased
 
+### Fixed
+- **A skip marker never hides a real charge.** A response that names a skipped
+  settlement (`X-Settlement-Skipped` / `X-Payment-Waived`) but also proves the
+  payment settled (a `PAYMENT-RESPONSE` that did not fail and names a
+  transaction or a positive `amount` / `extra.chargedAmount`, or an
+  `X-Payment-Receipt` hash) is booked as charged, and the conflict is written
+  to stderr. The gateways never send both today (blockrun.ai's free-fallback
+  receipt has an empty transaction and no amount), so today's skips still book
+  $0. Ports @blockrun/llm 3.24.9 (TS #92).
+- A marker value that says the opposite (`false`, `0`, `no`, `none`) is no
+  longer read as a skip.
+
 ## 1.21.2 — 2026-10-27
 
 ### Fixed
diff --git a/blockrun_llm/tx_log.py b/blockrun_llm/tx_log.py
index f9deff5..4a430c1 100644
--- a/blockrun_llm/tx_log.py
+++ b/blockrun_llm/tx_log.py
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@
 import base64
 import json
 import os
+import sys
 import time
 from datetime import datetime
 from pathlib import Path
@@ -89,6 +90,8 @@ def read_settlement_header(headers: Any) -> str | None:
 # real spend and let a session spend limit be exceeded.
 _SETTLEMENT_SKIPPED_HEADER = "X-Settlement-Skipped"
 _PAYMENT_WAIVED_HEADER = "X-Payment-Waived"
+# Values that say settlement was NOT skipped: never a marker.
+_NOT_A_SKIP = frozenset({"false", "0", "no", "none"})
 
 
 def _header_value(headers: Any, name: str) -> str | None:
@@ -111,16 +114,71 @@ def settlement_skipped(headers: Any) -> bool:
     """True when the gateway served this paid response without settling it.
 
     ``X-Settlement-Skipped`` with any non-empty value, or ``X-Payment-Waived``
-    present at all; lookup is case-insensitive. Never raises: a header object
-    that misbehaves reads as "not skipped", which books the quote (the
+    present at all; lookup is case-insensitive. A value that says the opposite
+    (``false``, ``0``, ``no``, ``none``) is not a marker. Nor is a marker on a
+    response that proves the payment settled anyway (a receipt with a
+    transaction or a positive charge, or an ``X-Payment-Receipt`` hash): that
+    call is booked, and the conflict written to stderr. Never raises: a header
+    object that misbehaves reads as "not skipped", which books the quote (the
     behaviour before this marker existed).
     """
     if headers is None:
         return False
     skipped = _header_value(headers, _SETTLEMENT_SKIPPED_HEADER)
-    if skipped is not None and skipped.strip():
-        return True
-    return _header_value(headers, _PAYMENT_WAIVED_HEADER) is not None
+    waived = _header_value(headers, _PAYMENT_WAIVED_HEADER)
+    reason: str | None = None
+    if skipped is not None and skipped.strip() and skipped.strip().lower() not in _NOT_A_SKIP:
+        reason = skipped.strip()
+    elif waived is not None and waived.strip().lower() not in _NOT_A_SKIP:
+        reason = waived.strip() or "waived"
+    if reason is None:
+        return False
+    # Settlement evidence beats a skip marker: money that moved is booked.
+    evidence = _settlement_evidence(headers)
+    if evidence is not None:
+        sys.stderr.write(
+            f"[blockrun_llm] settlement: the gateway named a skipped settlement ({reason!r}) "
+            f"on a response that also carries {evidence}; booked as charged\n"
+        )
+        return False
+    return True
+
+
+def _positive_atomic(value: Any) -> bool:
+    try:
+        return int(str(value)) > 0
+    except (TypeError, ValueError):
+        return False
+
+
+def _settlement_evidence(headers: Any) -> str | None:
+    """Proof the payment settled anyway, or None.
+
+    A ``PAYMENT-RESPONSE`` that did not fail and names a transaction or a
+    positive charge (``amount`` / ``extra.chargedAmount``), or an
+    ``X-Payment-Receipt`` transaction hash. A free-fallback receipt
+    (``{"success": true, "transaction": ""}``, no amount) is no evidence.
+    """
+    try:
+        header = _header_value(headers, "PAYMENT-RESPONSE") or _header_value(
+            headers, "X-PAYMENT-RESPONSE"
+        )
+        settlement = decode_settlement_header(header)
+        if settlement is not None and settlement.get("success") is not False:
+            if settlement.get("tx_hash"):
+                return "a settlement receipt with a transaction"
+            raw = settlement.get("raw") or {}
+            extra = raw.get("extra") if isinstance(raw.get("extra"), dict) else {}
+            if _positive_atomic(settlement.get("amount_micro_usdc")) or _positive_atomic(
+                extra.get("chargedAmount")
+            ):
+                return "a settlement receipt with a charge"
+        receipt = _header_value(headers, "X-Payment-Receipt")
+        if receipt is not None and receipt.strip():
+            return "an X-Payment-Receipt transaction"
+    except Exception:
+        return None
+    return None
 
 
 def booked_cost_usd(headers: Any, cost_usd: float) -> float:
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_settlement_skipped.py b/tests/unit/test_settlement_skipped.py
index 9985183..9eb0b7c 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_settlement_skipped.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_settlement_skipped.py
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@
 
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+import base64
+import json
 import warnings
 from typing import Any
 from unittest import mock
@@ -36,6 +38,12 @@
 from ..helpers import TEST_PRIVATE_KEY, build_chat_response, build_payment_required_response
 
 MESSAGES = [{"role": "user", "content": "hi"}]
+
+
+def _b64(value: Any) -> str:
+    return base64.b64encode(json.dumps(value).encode()).decode()
+
+
 QUOTE_USD = 1.0  # build_payment_required_response / the Solana fake payload: 1 USDC
 
 # What sol.blockrun.ai sends on an empty pm search (the full marker set).
@@ -95,6 +103,73 @@ def test_never_raises(self) -> None:
         assert settlement_skipped(None) is False
         assert settlement_skipped(object()) is False
 
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize(
+        "headers",
+        [
+            # A value that says it was NOT skipped.
+            {"X-Settlement-Skipped": "false"},
+            {"X-Settlement-Skipped": "0", "X-Payment-Waived": "none"},
+            # Settlement evidence beats the marker.
+            {
+                "X-Settlement-Skipped": "free-fallback",
+                "PAYMENT-RESPONSE": _b64({"success": True, "transaction": "0xpaid"}),
+            },
+            {
+                "X-Payment-Waived": "empty-result",
+                "PAYMENT-RESPONSE": _b64({"success": True, "signature": "5sig"}),
+            },
+            {
+                "X-Payment-Waived": "empty-result",
+                "PAYMENT-RESPONSE": _b64(
+                    {"success": True, "transaction": "", "extra": {"chargedAmount": "4000"}}
+                ),
+            },
+            {
+                "X-Settlement-Skipped": "unexecuted",
+                "PAYMENT-RESPONSE": _b64({"success": True, "transaction": "", "amount": "4000"}),
+            },
+            {"X-Settlement-Skipped": "unexecuted", "X-Payment-Receipt": "0xpaid"},
+        ],
+    )
+    def test_evidence_or_negative_value_books(
+        self, headers: dict[str, str], capsys: pytest.CaptureFixture
+    ) -> None:
+        assert settlement_skipped(headers) is False
+        assert settlement_skipped(httpx.Headers(headers)) is False
+        assert booked_cost_usd(headers, 0.25) == 0.25
+
+    def test_conflict_is_written_to_stderr(self, capsys: pytest.CaptureFixture) -> None:
+        headers = {
+            "X-Settlement-Skipped": "free-fallback",
+            "PAYMENT-RESPONSE": _b64({"success": True, "transaction": "0xpaid"}),
+        }
+        assert settlement_skipped(headers) is False
+        err = capsys.readouterr().err
+        assert "skipped settlement ('free-fallback')" in err
+        assert "booked as charged" in err
+
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize(
+        "headers",
+        [
+            # blockrun.ai's free fallback: a receipt with an empty transaction and no amount.
+            {
+                "X-Settlement-Skipped": "free-fallback",
+                "PAYMENT-RESPONSE": _b64({"success": True, "transaction": ""}),
+            },
+            # A failed receipt is no evidence.
+            {
+                "X-Settlement-Skipped": "unexecuted",
+                "PAYMENT-RESPONSE": _b64({"success": False, "transaction": "0xfailed"}),
+            },
+        ],
+    )
+    def test_receipt_without_evidence_stays_skipped(
+        self, headers: dict[str, str], capsys: pytest.CaptureFixture
+    ) -> None:
+        assert settlement_skipped(headers) is True
+        assert booked_cost_usd(headers, 0.25) == 0.0
+        assert capsys.readouterr().err == ""
+
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Shared plumbing