diff --git a/litellm/proxy/auth/user_api_key_auth.py b/litellm/proxy/auth/user_api_key_auth.py
index cb490b55352..a26e34f4502 100644
--- a/litellm/proxy/auth/user_api_key_auth.py
+++ b/litellm/proxy/auth/user_api_key_auth.py
@@ -2674,6 +2674,21 @@ async def user_api_key_auth_builder(
                         code=status.HTTP_401_UNAUTHORIZED,
                         param=abbreviate_api_key(api_key=api_key),
                     )
+            # The admin shortcut below returns before Check 5, which is where
+            # non-admin keys enforce their own max_budget. Run that check here so
+            # a budgeted admin key is not usable after its spend limit is reached.
+            if RouteChecks.is_llm_api_route(route=route) and not _should_skip_budget_checks(
+                request_data=request_data,
+                route=route,
+                request=request,
+                llm_router=llm_router,
+                team_id=valid_token.team_id,
+            ):
+                await virtual_key_max_budget_check(
+                    valid_token=valid_token,
+                    proxy_logging_obj=proxy_logging_obj,
+                )
+
             valid_token = update_valid_token_with_end_user_params(
                 valid_token=valid_token, end_user_params=end_user_params
             )
diff --git a/tests/unit/proxy/auth/test_proxy_admin_key_budget.py b/tests/unit/proxy/auth/test_proxy_admin_key_budget.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..58037f5ea8a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit/proxy/auth/test_proxy_admin_key_budget.py
@@ -0,0 +1,95 @@
+from collections.abc import Iterator
+from unittest.mock import AsyncMock, MagicMock, patch
+
+import pytest
+from fastapi import Request
+from starlette.datastructures import URL
+
+import litellm.proxy.proxy_server as ps
+from litellm.proxy._types import LitellmUserRoles, ProxyException, UserAPIKeyAuth
+from litellm.proxy.auth.user_api_key_auth import user_api_key_auth_builder
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def proxy_server_auth_state(monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch) -> Iterator[UserAPIKeyAuth]:
+    api_key = "sk-admin-key-budget-test"
+    token = UserAPIKeyAuth(
+        api_key=api_key,
+        token=api_key,
+        user_id="admin-user",
+        user_role=LitellmUserRoles.PROXY_ADMIN,
+        max_budget=1.0,
+    )
+
+    cache = AsyncMock()
+    cache.async_get_cache = AsyncMock(return_value=None)
+    cache.get_cache = AsyncMock(return_value=None)
+    cache.delete_cache = MagicMock()
+
+    proxy_logging_obj = MagicMock()
+    proxy_logging_obj.internal_usage_cache = MagicMock()
+    proxy_logging_obj.internal_usage_cache.dual_cache = AsyncMock()
+    proxy_logging_obj.post_call_failure_hook = AsyncMock(return_value=None)
+    proxy_logging_obj.budget_alerts = AsyncMock(return_value=None)
+
+    for attr, value in {
+        "prisma_client": MagicMock(),
+        "user_api_key_cache": cache,
+        "proxy_logging_obj": proxy_logging_obj,
+        "master_key": "sk-master-key",
+        "general_settings": {},
+        "llm_model_list": [],
+        "llm_router": None,
+        "open_telemetry_logger": None,
+        "model_max_budget_limiter": MagicMock(),
+        "user_custom_auth": None,
+        "jwt_handler": None,
+        "litellm_proxy_admin_name": "admin",
+    }.items():
+        monkeypatch.setattr(ps, attr, value)
+
+    with patch(
+        "litellm.proxy.auth.resolvers.store.IdentityStore._resolve_key",
+        new_callable=AsyncMock,
+        return_value=token,
+    ):
+        yield token
+
+
+async def _authenticate(api_key: str) -> UserAPIKeyAuth:
+    request = Request(scope={"type": "http"})
+    request._url = URL(url="/chat/completions")
+    return await user_api_key_auth_builder(
+        request=request,
+        api_key=f"Bearer {api_key}",
+        azure_api_key_header="",
+        anthropic_api_key_header=None,
+        google_ai_studio_api_key_header=None,
+        azure_apim_header=None,
+        request_data={},
+    )
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_proxy_admin_key_over_budget_is_rejected(
+    proxy_server_auth_state: UserAPIKeyAuth, monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch
+) -> None:
+    """Admin keys skipped the key max_budget check and stayed usable after spend exceeded it."""
+    monkeypatch.setattr(ps, "get_current_spend", AsyncMock(return_value=2.0))
+
+    with pytest.raises(ProxyException) as exc_info:
+        await _authenticate(proxy_server_auth_state.api_key or "")
+
+    assert "Budget has been exceeded" in str(exc_info.value.message)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_proxy_admin_key_under_budget_is_allowed(
+    proxy_server_auth_state: UserAPIKeyAuth, monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch
+) -> None:
+    """Positive control: the same admin path still authenticates while under budget."""
+    monkeypatch.setattr(ps, "get_current_spend", AsyncMock(return_value=0.5))
+
+    result = await _authenticate(proxy_server_auth_state.api_key or "")
+
+    assert result.user_role == LitellmUserRoles.PROXY_ADMIN