diff --git a/docs/public/examples/nlspec-conformance.mdx b/docs/public/examples/nlspec-conformance.mdx
index cfeb30fec..6a1161769 100644
--- a/docs/public/examples/nlspec-conformance.mdx
+++ b/docs/public/examples/nlspec-conformance.mdx
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ Do not rewrite working code. Make targeted fixes to the specific failures.
 
 ### Max visits as a safety valve
 
-`max_visits=5` on the `fix` node prevents infinite loops. If the agent can't pass in 5 iterations, the workflow moves on with the best result so far. Tune this based on spec complexity: a 30-line spec might need 2 iterations, a 2,000-line spec might need 10.
+`max_visits=5` on the `fix` node prevents infinite loops. The node can execute up to 5 times; a sixth visit fails the run rather than looping forever. Tune this based on spec complexity: a 30-line spec might need 2 iterations, a 2,000-line spec might need 10.
 
 ### Goal gate on full conformance
 
diff --git a/lib/foundation/fabro-core/src/executor.rs b/lib/foundation/fabro-core/src/executor.rs
index 3a94eb332..6701e30be 100644
--- a/lib/foundation/fabro-core/src/executor.rs
+++ b/lib/foundation/fabro-core/src/executor.rs
@@ -179,8 +179,11 @@ impl<G: Graph + 'static> Executor<G> {
                 }
             }
 
-            // Check visit limits (>= matches fabro-workflow semantics)
-            let visits = state.increment_visits(node.id());
+            // Check visit limits before entry: a node with a limit of N may
+            // execute N times, matching the documented contract. The count
+            // covers previously admitted entries, so the refused visit is
+            // not reported as one.
+            let visits = state.visits(node.id());
             if let Some(max) = node.max_visits() {
                 if visits >= max {
                     return Err(Error::VisitLimitExceeded {
@@ -201,6 +204,7 @@ impl<G: Graph + 'static> Executor<G> {
                     });
                 }
             }
+            state.increment_visits(node.id());
 
             // before_node lifecycle
             let node_result = match self.lifecycle.before_node(&node, &state).await? {
@@ -807,7 +811,8 @@ mod tests {
 
     #[tokio::test]
     async fn executor_visit_limit_per_node() {
-        // Node with max_visits=2, loops back — fails on 2nd visit (>= semantics)
+        // Node with max_visits=2, loops back — executes exactly twice, then
+        // the third entry is refused. The error reports completed visits.
         let g = TestGraph::new(
             vec![
                 TestNode::new("loop_node").with_max_visits(2),
@@ -821,11 +826,20 @@ mod tests {
             "loop_node",
         );
         let state = ExecutionState::new(&g).unwrap();
+        let handler = Arc::new(CountingHandler::new(vec![]));
         let executor =
-            ExecutorBuilder::new(Arc::new(AlwaysSucceedHandler) as Arc<dyn NodeHandler<TestGraph>>)
-                .build();
+            ExecutorBuilder::new(Arc::clone(&handler) as Arc<dyn NodeHandler<TestGraph>>).build();
         let result = executor.run(&g, state).await;
-        assert!(matches!(result, Err(Error::VisitLimitExceeded { .. })));
+        match result {
+            Err(Error::VisitLimitExceeded { visits, limit, .. }) => {
+                assert_eq!(visits, 2);
+                assert_eq!(limit, 2);
+            }
+            Err(other) => panic!("expected VisitLimitExceeded, got {other:?}"),
+            Ok(_) => panic!("expected VisitLimitExceeded, got success"),
+        }
+        // Two full loop_node -> other iterations ran before the refusal.
+        assert_eq!(handler.calls(), 4);
     }
 
     #[tokio::test]
diff --git a/lib/foundation/fabro-core/src/state.rs b/lib/foundation/fabro-core/src/state.rs
index ca3b8e56b..c44eeeb7d 100644
--- a/lib/foundation/fabro-core/src/state.rs
+++ b/lib/foundation/fabro-core/src/state.rs
@@ -79,6 +79,10 @@ impl<M: OutcomeMeta> ExecutionState<M> {
         graph.get_node(&self.current_node_id)
     }
 
+    pub fn visits(&self, node_id: &str) -> usize {
+        self.node_visits.get(node_id).copied().unwrap_or(0)
+    }
+
     pub fn increment_visits(&mut self, node_id: &str) -> usize {
         let count = self.node_visits.entry(node_id.to_string()).or_insert(0);
         *count += 1;