diff --git a/src/polygateway/embedding.py b/src/polygateway/embedding.py
index 55e501a..d7e9b70 100644
--- a/src/polygateway/embedding.py
+++ b/src/polygateway/embedding.py
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ from polygateway.errors import (
 )
 from polygateway.middleware.breaker import BreakerGate
 from polygateway.middleware.ratelimit import QuotaGate
-from polygateway.middleware.retry import _failure_reason, backoff_delay
+from polygateway.middleware.retry import StallClock, _failure_reason, backoff_delay
 from polygateway.middleware.telemetry import TelemetryEmitter
 from polygateway.sources import SourceCooldownMemo
 from polygateway.types import (
@@ -179,13 +179,15 @@ class EmbeddingClient:
     ) -> _BatchOutcome:
         fails = 0
         reasons: dict[str, str] = {}
-        entered_at = self._now()
+        # 只计非生产性等待(issue #8): 真实尝试由重试预算治理,不重复烧 stall 预算
+        clock = StallClock(self._now)
         while True:
             picked, gate_rejections = await self._pick_runnable(reasons)
             if picked is None:
-                await self._on_no_runnable(gate_rejections, reasons, entered_at)
+                await self._on_no_runnable(gate_rejections, reasons, clock)
                 continue
-            outcome = await self._attempt(batch, *picked, reasons, session_id, parent_call_id)
+            async with clock.attempting():
+                outcome = await self._attempt(batch, *picked, reasons, session_id, parent_call_id)
             if isinstance(outcome, _BatchOutcome):
                 return outcome
             fails += 1
@@ -228,7 +230,7 @@ class EmbeddingClient:
         return None, gate_rejections
 
     async def _on_no_runnable(
-        self, gate_rejections: int, reasons: dict[str, str], entered_at: float
+        self, gate_rejections: int, reasons: dict[str, str], clock: StallClock
     ) -> None:
         if gate_rejections == len(self._sources):
             names = tuple(s.name for s in self._sources)
@@ -245,7 +247,7 @@ class EmbeddingClient:
                 per_source_reasons=reasons,
             )
         stall = self._bp.stall_window_s
-        if self._now() - entered_at > stall and await self._quota.progress_age_s() > stall:
+        if clock.stalled_s() > stall and await self._quota.progress_age_s() > stall:
             names = tuple(s.name for s in self._sources)
             raise AllSourcesExhausted(
                 scope=self._scope,
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_embedding.py b/tests/unit/test_embedding.py
index a33f5a8..8519583 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_embedding.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_embedding.py
@@ -173,6 +173,8 @@ from polygateway.types import (  # noqa: E402
     GlobalLimits,
     RetryPolicy,
 )
+from tests.contracts.conftest import FakeClock  # noqa: E402
+from tests.unit.test_backpressure import BoundedSleep  # noqa: E402
 
 _BREAKER = BreakerConfig(fail_threshold=3, cooldown_s=60.0, probe_ttl_s=120.0)
 _NO_GLOBAL = GlobalLimits(max_concurrency=0, rpm=0, tpm=0)
@@ -208,6 +210,31 @@ class ScriptedEmbedTransport:
         return action
 
 
+class _ClockAdvancingEmbedTransport:
+    """按脚本 [(推进秒数, 动作), ...] 执行: 在一次尝试内部推进时钟(issue #8)。
+
+    动作语义同 `ScriptedEmbedTransport`。stall 口径要区分"时间花在哪",
+    故必须能让时钟只在 transport 内前进。
+    """
+
+    def __init__(self, script, clock):
+        self.script = list(script)
+        self.clock = clock
+        self.calls = []
+
+    async def embed(self, *, texts, source, call_id):
+        self.calls.append((source.name, list(texts), call_id))
+        advance, action = self.script.pop(0)
+        self.clock.advance(advance)
+        if isinstance(action, Exception):
+            raise action
+        if action == "hang":
+            await asyncio.Event().wait()
+        if action == "ok":
+            return _vec_for(texts)
+        return action
+
+
 class _MemoryRecorder:
     def __init__(self):
         self.rows = []
@@ -338,6 +365,39 @@ class TestEmbedGovernance:
             await task
         assert (await limiter.source_stats("e1")).inflight == 0
 
+    async def test_single_timeout_does_not_exhaust_stall_budget(self):
+        """issue #8: 一次耗满 timeout 的尝试不得吃掉 stall 预算而使重试失效。
+
+        embedding 只有 `_on_no_runnable` 一处 stall 判定, 故失效链条是
+        "先超时一次(墙钟耗尽) → 再遇到无可用源 → 判死"。此处正是这条路径。
+        """
+        clock = FakeClock()
+        limiter = held = None  # 闭包延迟求值: client 建好后才有 limiter
+
+        async def toggle_permit(n):
+            """首次退避占满 permit, 迫使下一轮走 _on_no_runnable; 之后放行。"""
+            nonlocal held
+            if n == 1:
+                held = await limiter.try_acquire("e1", 0)
+            else:
+                await held.release()
+
+        # 第一次尝试耗满 300s 超时失败, 随后被迫走一轮 _on_no_runnable——
+        # stall 判定就在那里, 检验它有没有把这 300s 生产性时间算进 stall 账
+        transport = _ClockAdvancingEmbedTransport(
+            [(300.1, TransientError("timeout", status_code=504)), (0.0, "ok")], clock
+        )
+        client, limiter = _embed_client(
+            [_src(max_concurrency=1)],
+            [],
+            now=clock,
+            transport=transport,
+            sleep=BoundedSleep(toggle_permit),
+        )
+        resp = await client.embed(["a"])
+        assert resp.vectors == [[1.0]]
+        assert len(transport.calls) == 2  # 第二次尝试确实发出了
+
 
 class TestEmbedTelemetry:
     async def test_per_batch_rows_with_digest(self):