diff --git a/src/db/repositories.ts b/src/db/repositories.ts
index f8d888e362..bc284e3d68 100644
--- a/src/db/repositories.ts
+++ b/src/db/repositories.ts
@@ -4468,21 +4468,29 @@ export async function getLatestPublishedAiReview(
   };
 }
 
-/** Count distinct prior PR head SHAs that already received a published AI review — used by `review.auto_review.auto_pause_after_reviewed_commits`. (#2042) */
+/** Count distinct PR head SHAs that already received a published AI review — used by
+ *  `review.auto_review.auto_pause_after_reviewed_commits`. (#2042)
+ *
+ *  #selfhost-token-burn: previously excluded the PR's OWN current head SHA from this count (#3719), so a PR
+ *  swept repeatedly with NO new commits could never reach the pause threshold — the one head it had ever
+ *  been reviewed on was always the "current" one, so it was always subtracted back out, and the count stayed
+ *  at 0 forever regardless of how many times that same head was actually reviewed. This is what #3719 was
+ *  actually protecting against: `resolveAutoReviewSkipForPullRequest`'s caller used to drop the AI review's
+ *  cached findings entirely once paused, so counting the current head would have silently removed an
+ *  already-published blocker from later gate evaluations. That reuse gap is now fixed at the call site
+ *  (`maybeReuseAiReviewOnAutoPause` in processors.ts reapplies the cached findings whenever the pause reason
+ *  fires), so the count no longer needs to avoid the current head to keep blockers from vanishing — it can
+ *  (and must) count it, matching this function's own always-documented "published AI review count" contract. */
 export async function countPublishedAiReviewHeads(
   env: Env,
   repoFullName: string,
   pullNumber: number,
-  currentHeadSha?: string | null | undefined,
 ): Promise<number> {
-  const currentHeadClause = currentHeadSha ? " AND head_sha != ?" : "";
   const row = await env.DB
     .prepare(
-      `SELECT COUNT(DISTINCT head_sha) AS cnt FROM ai_review_cache WHERE repo_full_name = ? AND pull_number = ? AND published_at IS NOT NULL${currentHeadClause}`,
-    )
-    .bind(
-      ...(currentHeadSha ? [repoFullName, pullNumber, currentHeadSha] : [repoFullName, pullNumber]),
+      "SELECT COUNT(DISTINCT head_sha) AS cnt FROM ai_review_cache WHERE repo_full_name = ? AND pull_number = ? AND published_at IS NOT NULL",
     )
+    .bind(repoFullName, pullNumber)
     .first<{ cnt: number }>();
   /* v8 ignore next -- SQL aggregate count always returns one row; fallback protects D1 driver anomalies. */
   return row?.cnt ?? 0;
diff --git a/src/queue/processors.ts b/src/queue/processors.ts
index a3065e0502..c837e4dea2 100644
--- a/src/queue/processors.ts
+++ b/src/queue/processors.ts
@@ -6922,7 +6922,7 @@ export async function resolveAutoReviewSkipForPullRequest(
   if (args.authorBlacklisted || args.isFrozenForManualReview) {
     return { skipReason: null, reviewManifest };
   }
-  const reviewedCommitCount = await countPublishedAiReviewHeads(env, args.repoFullName, args.pr.number, args.headSha).catch(() => 0);
+  const reviewedCommitCount = await countPublishedAiReviewHeads(env, args.repoFullName, args.pr.number).catch(() => 0);
   const skipReason = resolvePullRequestAutoReviewSkipReason({
     forceAiReview: args.forceAiReview,
     manifest: reviewManifest,
@@ -9327,6 +9327,28 @@ async function maybePublishPrPublicSurface(
           metadata: { deliveryId: webhook.deliveryId, repoFullName, headSha: advisory.headSha ?? null },
         }).catch(() => undefined);
       }
+    } else if (autoReviewSkipReason === "review paused (commit threshold)") {
+      // #selfhost-token-burn: countPublishedAiReviewHeads now counts the PR's OWN current head (see that
+      // function's own doc comment), so this reason can fire repeatedly for the SAME unchanged head across
+      // every scheduled sweep pass, not just once when a truly new commit lands. Without reusing the cached
+      // findings here, an already-published blocker would silently vanish from every later gate evaluation
+      // the instant the pause engaged (#3719's original regression) — reapply them the SAME way a
+      // frozen-for-manual-review PR does, just under this reason's own distinct audit event.
+      const pausedReview = await getLatestPublishedAiReview(env, repoFullName, pr.number, settings.aiReviewMode).catch(() => null);
+      if (pausedReview && hasPublicReviewAssessment(pausedReview.notes)) {
+        advisory.findings.push(...pausedReview.findings);
+        aiReview = pausedReview;
+        aiReviewWasReused = true;
+        incr("gittensory_ai_review_paused_reuse_total");
+        await recordAuditEvent(env, {
+          eventType: "github_app.ai_review_paused_reuse",
+          actor: author,
+          targetKey: `${repoFullName}#${pr.number}`,
+          outcome: "completed",
+          detail: "Auto-review is paused (commit threshold); reused the last published AI review instead of spending a fresh call",
+          metadata: { deliveryId: webhook.deliveryId, repoFullName, headSha: advisory.headSha ?? null },
+        }).catch(() => undefined);
+      }
     }
     // Review-evasion protection (#review-evasion-protection): durably record that a review pass is starting
     // for this EXACT head BEFORE any cost-bearing AI-review work begins (including the reviewing placeholder
diff --git a/test/unit/ai-review-cache.test.ts b/test/unit/ai-review-cache.test.ts
index 4bc19981cf..51445bb084 100644
--- a/test/unit/ai-review-cache.test.ts
+++ b/test/unit/ai-review-cache.test.ts
@@ -487,15 +487,20 @@ describe("AI review cache (#1)", () => {
       expect(await countPublishedAiReviewHeads(env, "o/r", 61)).toBe(2);
     });
 
-    it("excludes the current published head from the pause threshold (regression for cached blocker suppression)", async () => {
+    it("regression (#selfhost-token-burn): COUNTS the PR's own current head too, not just prior ones — a repeated sweep of an unchanged PR must actually reach the pause threshold", async () => {
+      // #3719 previously excluded the current head from this count specifically so a PR swept repeatedly with
+      // NO new commits would never reach the threshold — which meant it never paused at all for that (the
+      // overwhelmingly common) case. The findings-reuse-on-pause branch in processors.ts is what actually
+      // prevents #3719's real concern (a published blocker silently vanishing once paused) now, so this
+      // count is free to reflect its own documented contract: the total published-review count, full stop.
       const env = createTestEnv();
-      await putCachedAiReview(env, "o/r", 63, "sha1", "block", { notes: "first", reviewerCount: 1 });
+      await putCachedAiReview(env, "o/r", 63, "sha1", "block", { notes: "only", reviewerCount: 1 });
       await markAiReviewPublished(env, "o/r", 63, "sha1");
-      await putCachedAiReview(env, "o/r", 63, "sha2", "block", { notes: "current", reviewerCount: 1 });
-      await markAiReviewPublished(env, "o/r", 63, "sha2");
+      expect(await countPublishedAiReviewHeads(env, "o/r", 63)).toBe(1);
 
-      expect(await countPublishedAiReviewHeads(env, "o/r", 63, "sha2")).toBe(1);
-      expect(await countPublishedAiReviewHeads(env, "o/r", 63, null)).toBe(2);
+      await putCachedAiReview(env, "o/r", 63, "sha2", "block", { notes: "second", reviewerCount: 1 });
+      await markAiReviewPublished(env, "o/r", 63, "sha2");
+      expect(await countPublishedAiReviewHeads(env, "o/r", 63)).toBe(2);
     });
 
     it("returns 0 when the count query yields no row (fail-safe)", async () => {
diff --git a/test/unit/auto-review-wiring.test.ts b/test/unit/auto-review-wiring.test.ts
index 0d0d2c1ea7..42c9f4aba5 100644
--- a/test/unit/auto-review-wiring.test.ts
+++ b/test/unit/auto-review-wiring.test.ts
@@ -353,7 +353,7 @@ describe("review.auto_review wiring (#1954)", () => {
         headSha: "sha5",
       }),
     ).resolves.toEqual({ skipReason: "review paused (commit threshold)", reviewManifest: manifest });
-    expect(countSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith(expect.anything(), "acme/widgets", 5, "sha5");
+    expect(countSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith(expect.anything(), "acme/widgets", 5);
     expect(auditSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
       expect.anything(),
       expect.objectContaining({ detail: "review paused (commit threshold)" }),
diff --git a/test/unit/queue.test.ts b/test/unit/queue.test.ts
index 05513c39d8..c2391eac62 100644
--- a/test/unit/queue.test.ts
+++ b/test/unit/queue.test.ts
@@ -4565,6 +4565,76 @@ describe("queue processors", () => {
       expect(audit?.detail).toBe("review paused (commit threshold)");
     });
 
+    // #selfhost-token-burn: the PREVIOUS test only ever presents a NEW, never-before-reviewed head to the
+    // threshold check (a77-v3 has no cache row of its own) -- countPublishedAiReviewHeads correctly counted
+    // the two PRIOR distinct heads even before this fix, so that test alone can't prove the actual bug: a PR
+    // repeatedly swept with NO new commits (the same head, over and over) never reached its OWN threshold,
+    // because the count used to exclude "the current head" -- which, on every single one of those repeat
+    // sweeps, IS the one and only head this PR has ever had. Confirmed live: one real PR took 63 fresh AI
+    // calls across 12 hours of scheduled sweeps with zero new commits.
+    it("regression (#selfhost-token-burn): pauses AND reuses the cached blocker when the SAME unchanged head is swept repeatedly", async () => {
+      let aiCalls = 0;
+      const env = createTestEnv({
+        GITHUB_APP_PRIVATE_KEY: await generatePrivateKeyPem(),
+        AI: { run: async () => { aiCalls += 1; return { response: JSON.stringify({ assessment: "Looks fine.", blockers: [], nits: [], suggestions: [] }) }; } } as unknown as Ai,
+        AI_SUMMARIES_ENABLED: "true",
+        AI_PUBLIC_COMMENTS_ENABLED: "true",
+        AI_DAILY_NEURON_BUDGET: "100000",
+      });
+      await seedRegateChurnRepo(env, { publicSurface: "comment_and_label" });
+      await upsertRepoFocusManifest(env, "JSONbored/gittensory", { review: { auto_review: { auto_pause_after_reviewed_commits: 1 } } });
+      await upsertPullRequestFromGitHub(env, "JSONbored/gittensory", {
+        number: 78,
+        title: "Stuck-open feature",
+        state: "open",
+        draft: false,
+        user: { login: "contributor" },
+        head: { sha: "a78-only" },
+        labels: [],
+        body: "Closes #1",
+      } as never);
+      await upsertPullRequestDetailSyncState(env, { repoFullName: "JSONbored/gittensory", pullNumber: 78, status: "complete", reviewsSyncedAt: new Date().toISOString() });
+      // The ONLY review this PR has ever had -- for its OWN current (unchanged) head -- carrying a real blocker.
+      await putCachedAiReview(env, "JSONbored/gittensory", 78, "a78-only", "block", {
+        notes: "Prior published review with a real defect.",
+        reviewerCount: 1,
+        findings: [{ code: "ai_consensus_defect", title: "Null pointer on empty input", severity: "critical", detail: "The reviewer flagged a real defect that will break on an empty array." }],
+      });
+      await markAiReviewPublished(env, "JSONbored/gittensory", 78, "a78-only");
+      let publicCommentBody = "";
+      vi.stubGlobal("fetch", async (input: RequestInfo | URL, init?: RequestInit) => {
+        const url = input.toString();
+        const method = init?.method ?? "GET";
+        if (url.includes("/access_tokens")) return Response.json({ token: "fake-installation-token" });
+        if (url.includes("/pulls/78/files")) return Response.json([{ filename: "src/a.ts", status: "modified", additions: 1, deletions: 0, changes: 1, patch: "@@\n+export const ok = true;" }]);
+        if (url.endsWith("/pulls/78")) return Response.json({ number: 78, title: "Stuck-open feature", state: "open", draft: false, user: { login: "contributor" }, head: { sha: "a78-only" }, labels: [], body: "Closes #1", mergeable_state: "clean" });
+        if (url.includes("/commits/a78-only/check-runs")) return Response.json({ total_count: 0, check_runs: [] });
+        if (url.includes("/commits/a78-only/status")) return Response.json({ state: "success", statuses: [] });
+        if (url.includes("/issues/78/comments") && method === "GET") return Response.json([]);
+        if (url.includes("/issues/78/comments")) { publicCommentBody = String((JSON.parse(String(init?.body ?? "{}")) as { body?: string }).body ?? publicCommentBody); return Response.json({ id: 78 }, { status: 201 }); }
+        if (url.includes("/issues/1")) return Response.json({ number: 1, title: "Issue", state: "open", labels: [], user: { login: "reporter" } });
+        if (url.includes("/branches/")) return Response.json({ protected: false, protection: { required_status_checks: { contexts: [] } } });
+        return Response.json({});
+      });
+
+      // Simulate THREE consecutive scheduled sweeps of the exact same unchanged PR -- exactly the real-world
+      // pattern (no new commits, just the periodic sweep firing over and over).
+      for (const deliveryId of ["sweep-1", "sweep-2", "sweep-3"]) {
+        await expect(
+          processJob(env, { type: "agent-regate-pr", deliveryId, repoFullName: "JSONbored/gittensory", prNumber: 78, installationId: 123 }),
+        ).resolves.toBeUndefined();
+      }
+
+      expect(aiCalls).toBe(0); // never spent a fresh AI call -- paused from the very first repeat sweep
+      const pausedReuseCount = await env.DB.prepare("select count(*) as n from audit_events where event_type = ? and target_key = ?")
+        .bind("github_app.ai_review_paused_reuse", "JSONbored/gittensory#78")
+        .first<{ n: number }>();
+      expect(pausedReuseCount?.n).toBe(3); // every one of the 3 sweeps reused the cached review, none skipped it silently
+      // The blocker from the ONE real review is still visible in the public comment on every pass -- it never
+      // silently vanished once the pause engaged (the exact regression #3719 was originally guarding against).
+      expect(publicCommentBody).toContain("Null pointer on empty input");
+    });
+
     it("#9: the public surface is not republished when already current at the head (check-run-only repo, req 6)", async () => {
       const env = createTestEnv({
         GITHUB_APP_PRIVATE_KEY: await generatePrivateKeyPem(),