diff --git a/src/game/engine/src/modules/victory/victory_manager.gd b/src/game/engine/src/modules/victory/victory_manager.gd
index a67c5208..223effb7 100644
--- a/src/game/engine/src/modules/victory/victory_manager.gd
+++ b/src/game/engine/src/modules/victory/victory_manager.gd
@@ -12,6 +12,13 @@ extends RefCounted
 const PlayerScript: GDScript = preload("res://engine/src/entities/player.gd")
 const UnitScript: GDScript = preload("res://engine/src/entities/unit.gd")
 
+## Minimum turn before any victory check fires. Without this, the very first
+## skirmish on turn 1 or 2 — when one side founds before the other or one
+## founder dies to a scout rush — would declare premature victory. The grace
+## period gives both players time to stand up an empire before the game can
+## be decided.
+const VICTORY_GRACE_TURNS: int = 10
+
 var _game_over: bool = false
 
 
@@ -20,6 +27,8 @@ var _game_over: bool = false
 func check_all(_game_map: RefCounted) -> void:
 	if _game_over:
 		return
+	if GameState.turn_number < VICTORY_GRACE_TURNS:
+		return
 
 	var winner_index: int = _check_domination()
 	if winner_index >= 0: