diff --git a/src/simulator/crates/mc-comms/src/config.rs b/src/simulator/crates/mc-comms/src/config.rs
index a3f0269e..89315714 100644
--- a/src/simulator/crates/mc-comms/src/config.rs
+++ b/src/simulator/crates/mc-comms/src/config.rs
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ mod tests {
     #[test]
     fn phase3_cfg_loads_capital_blackout_block() {
         let cfg = phase3_cfg();
-        assert_eq!(cfg.capital_blackout.auto_promote_after_turns, 5);
+        assert_eq!(cfg.capital_blackout.auto_promote_after_turns, 1);
         assert_eq!(cfg.capital_blackout.comm_tier_penalty, 1);
         assert!((cfg.capital_blackout.decay_multiplier - 0.5).abs() < 1e-6);
     }
diff --git a/src/simulator/crates/mc-comms/tests/capital_blackout.rs b/src/simulator/crates/mc-comms/tests/capital_blackout.rs
index 7e6cbc30..e39f08f4 100644
--- a/src/simulator/crates/mc-comms/tests/capital_blackout.rs
+++ b/src/simulator/crates/mc-comms/tests/capital_blackout.rs
@@ -184,10 +184,11 @@ fn name_seat_of_power_ends_blackout() {
 fn auto_promote_after_n_turns_ends_blackout() {
     let mut comms = CommsState::default();
     begin_blackout(&mut comms, 1, 10);
-    // Default auto_promote_after_turns = 5.
+    // Default auto_promote_after_turns = 1 (1-turn forced choice; the
+    // auto-promote acts only as a stall guard once the next turn ends
+    // without `NameSeatOfPower`). See `project_capital_blackout_design`.
     assert!(!should_auto_promote(&comms, 1, 10));
-    assert!(!should_auto_promote(&comms, 1, 14));
-    assert!(should_auto_promote(&comms, 1, 15));
+    assert!(should_auto_promote(&comms, 1, 11));
     assert!(should_auto_promote(&comms, 1, 16));
 }
 
@@ -230,5 +231,5 @@ fn capital_blackout_event_round_trip() {
     assert!(is_in_blackout(&back, 1));
     let bs = back.per_player[&1].blackout.expect("blackout present");
     assert_eq!(bs.began_turn, 10);
-    assert_eq!(bs.auto_promote_at_turn, 15);
+    assert_eq!(bs.auto_promote_at_turn, 11);
 }