diff --git a/scripts/taler-monitoring/check_goa_ladder.sh b/scripts/taler-monitoring/check_goa_ladder.sh
index bcea26a..8b311ce 100755
--- a/scripts/taler-monitoring/check_goa_ladder.sh
+++ b/scripts/taler-monitoring/check_goa_ladder.sh
@@ -663,12 +663,7 @@ else:
     fi
   }
 
-  # Short bounded select assist (≤8s) — not a hang path; helps attach fresh reserve_pub
-  if command -v perl >/dev/null 2>&1 && [ -f "$CLI_JS" ]; then
-    perl -e 'alarm shift; exec @ARGV' 8 \
-      node "$CLI_JS" --wallet-db="$WDB" --no-throttle run-until-done \
-      >"$SCRATCH/select-$tag.out" 2>&1 || true
-  fi
+  # No run-until-done (hangs / banned). Read transactions only for reserve_pub candidates.
   wcli transactions >"$SCRATCH/tx-$tag.json" 2>&1 || true
 
   t0=$(now_ms)
@@ -965,19 +960,12 @@ except Exception: print("")
       ms_handle=$(elapsed_ms "$t0")
       ok "handle-uri $PAMT ${ms_handle}ms"
 
-      # Short settle polls (bounded — no infinite hang)
+      # Short settle polls: merchant order + wallet tx only — never run-until-done
       t0=$(now_ms)
       settled=0
       r=0
       while [ "$r" -lt "${LADDER_PAY_SETTLE_ROUNDS}" ]; do
         r=$((r + 1))
-        if command -v perl >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-          perl -e 'alarm shift; exec @ARGV' 10 \
-            "$CLI_JS" --wallet-db="$WDB" --no-throttle run-until-done \
-            >"$SCRATCH/pay-run-$ptag.out" 2>&1 || true
-        else
-          wcli run-until-done >"$SCRATCH/pay-run-$ptag.out" 2>&1 || true
-        fi
         wcli transactions >"$SCRATCH/tx-$ptag.out" 2>&1 || true
         curl -skS -m 8 -o "$SCRATCH/ord-paid-$ptag.json" -H "$AUTH" \
           "${MER}/instances/${INST}/private/orders/${OID}" 2>/dev/null || true
@@ -989,6 +977,7 @@ sys.exit(0 if d.get("paid") is True or str(d.get("order_status","")).lower()=="p
           settled=1
           break
         fi
+        sleep 0.5
       done
       ms_psettle=$(elapsed_ms "$t0")
       ms_total=$(elapsed_ms "$t_pay")