diff --git a/.github/workflows/run-unit-tests.yml b/.github/workflows/run-unit-tests.yml
index e1866f233..4d5e5233d 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/run-unit-tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/run-unit-tests.yml
@@ -815,6 +815,7 @@ jobs:
           python3 -B test/test_rak3401_buffered_radio_hal.py -v
           python3 -B test/test_sx126x_buffered_radio_hal.py -v
           python3 -B test/test_profile_switch_timing.py -v
+          python3 -B test/test_nrf_radio_yield_budget.py -v
           python3 -B test/test_sx126x_nrf_rp_constructors.py -v
           python3 -B test/test_esp32_buffered_radio_targets.py -v
           python3 -B test/test_xiao_battery_safety.py -v
diff --git a/src/helpers/radiolib/Nrf52BufferedRadioHal.h b/src/helpers/radiolib/Nrf52BufferedRadioHal.h
index e564b8f5f..be855c5e8 100644
--- a/src/helpers/radiolib/Nrf52BufferedRadioHal.h
+++ b/src/helpers/radiolib/Nrf52BufferedRadioHal.h
@@ -2,15 +2,44 @@
 
 #include <hal/Arduino/ArduinoHal.h>
 
+#ifndef MC_NRF_RADIO_BUSY_SPIN_POLLS
+#define MC_NRF_RADIO_BUSY_SPIN_POLLS 0
+#endif
+#if MC_NRF_RADIO_BUSY_SPIN_POLLS < 0 || MC_NRF_RADIO_BUSY_SPIN_POLLS > 16
+#error "nRF radio yield experiment requires a bounded 0..16 poll budget"
+#endif
+
 // nRF52840 SPIClass::transfer(uint8_t) starts one SPIM transaction per byte.
 // RadioLib sends whole command buffers; keep its CS, BUSY, and status handling
 // but transfer each buffer in one SPIM transaction. LR1110 supports 16 MHz SPI.
 class Nrf52BufferedRadioHal : public ArduinoHal {
+#if MC_NRF_RADIO_BUSY_SPIN_POLLS > 0
+  uint8_t _busy_spin_polls_remaining = 0;
+#endif
 public:
   explicit Nrf52BufferedRadioHal(SPIClass& bus, uint32_t hz = 16000000)
       : ArduinoHal(bus, SPISettings(hz, MSBFIRST, SPI_MODE0)) {}
 
   void spiTransfer(uint8_t* out, size_t len, uint8_t* in) override {
-    if (len) spi->transfer(out, in, len);
+    if (!len) return;
+    spi->transfer(out, in, len);
+#if MC_NRF_RADIO_BUSY_SPIN_POLLS > 0
+    _busy_spin_polls_remaining = MC_NRF_RADIO_BUSY_SPIN_POLLS;
+#endif
   }
+
+#if MC_NRF_RADIO_BUSY_SPIN_POLLS > 0
+  // Diagnostic only, off by default. RadioLib calls yield() during SPI BUSY
+  // polls and other waits. Spend at most N non-yielding polls after a real
+  // frame, then delegate every call until another frame resets the budget.
+  // An unused budget can reach a later non-BUSY wait; this is not BUSY-only
+  // detection. No GPIO reads, status checks, timeouts or interrupts change.
+  void yield() override {
+    if (_busy_spin_polls_remaining) {
+      --_busy_spin_polls_remaining;
+      return;
+    }
+    ArduinoHal::yield();
+  }
+#endif
 };
diff --git a/src/helpers/radiolib/ProfileSwitchTiming.h b/src/helpers/radiolib/ProfileSwitchTiming.h
index 887af47f2..989000c0a 100644
--- a/src/helpers/radiolib/ProfileSwitchTiming.h
+++ b/src/helpers/radiolib/ProfileSwitchTiming.h
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ enum Stage : uint32_t {
 };
 enum Result : uint32_t { Success = 0, Busy = 1, Failure = 2 };
 static constexpr uint32_t Magic = 0x4d435054; // MCPT
-static constexpr uint32_t Version = 1;
+static constexpr uint32_t Version = 2;
 static constexpr uint32_t HistogramCount = 16;
 static constexpr uint32_t HistogramWidthUs = 64;
 #if defined(NRF52_PLATFORM)
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ struct StageStats {
 struct DirectionStats {
   uint32_t successes, busy, failures, last_result, last_mask;
   uint32_t last_us[StageCount];
+  uint32_t worst_us[StageCount]; // stages from the same worst successful hop
   StageStats stage[StageCount];
 };
 struct Capture {
@@ -58,7 +59,13 @@ extern volatile Capture mesh_hil_profile_timing;
 extern Work mesh_hil_profile_timing_work;
 }
 
-inline void barrier() { __asm__ __volatile__("" ::: "memory"); }
+inline void barrier() {
+#if defined(__arm__) || defined(__thumb__)
+  __asm__ __volatile__("dmb" ::: "memory");
+#else
+  __asm__ __volatile__("" ::: "memory");
+#endif
+}
 
 // Call once during wrapper initialization, outside the measured switch.
 // The nRF core enables trace and CYCCNT only; it does not enable debug/halt.
@@ -113,6 +120,8 @@ inline void finish(Result result, uint32_t now_ticks) {
   ++capture.sequence;
   barrier();
   auto& direction = capture.direction[work.direction];
+  const bool worst = result == Success && (direction.stage[Whole].count == 0
+      || work.duration_us[Whole] > direction.stage[Whole].max_us);
   direction.last_result = result;
   direction.last_mask = work.mask;
   if (result == Success) ++direction.successes;
@@ -121,6 +130,7 @@ inline void finish(Result result, uint32_t now_ticks) {
   for (uint32_t i = 0; i < StageCount; ++i) {
     const uint32_t duration = work.duration_us[i];
     direction.last_us[i] = duration;
+    if (worst) direction.worst_us[i] = duration;
     if (result != Success || !(work.mask & (uint32_t(1) << i))) continue;
     auto& stats = direction.stage[i];
     const uint32_t previous_low = stats.sum_low_us;
@@ -137,7 +147,7 @@ inline void finish(Result result, uint32_t now_ticks) {
   ++capture.sequence;
 }
 
-static_assert(sizeof(Capture) == 40 + 2 * (20 + StageCount * (4 + 88)),
+static_assert(sizeof(Capture) == 40 + 2 * (20 + StageCount * (8 + 88)),
               "Unexpected profile timing ABI");
 
 } // namespace profiletiming
diff --git a/test/test_nrf_radio_yield_budget.py b/test/test_nrf_radio_yield_budget.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..2ba8c1413
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/test_nrf_radio_yield_budget.py
@@ -0,0 +1,110 @@
+"""Execute finite per-frame radio yield budgets and default-off behavior."""
+from pathlib import Path
+import os
+import subprocess
+import tempfile
+import unittest
+
+from test_rak3401_buffered_radio_hal import MOCK_HAL
+
+ROOT = Path(__file__).resolve().parents[1]
+
+MOCK = MOCK_HAL.replace('virtual ~ArduinoHal() = default;', '''
+  unsigned yields = 0;
+  virtual ~ArduinoHal() = default;
+  virtual void yield() { ++yields; }
+''')
+
+FIXTURE = r'''
+#include <helpers/radiolib/Nrf52BufferedRadioHal.h>
+int main() {
+  SPIClass bus;
+  Nrf52BufferedRadioHal concrete(bus,8000000);
+  ArduinoHal& radio=concrete;
+  constexpr unsigned budget=MC_NRF_RADIO_BUSY_SPIN_POLLS;
+#if MC_NRF_RADIO_BUSY_SPIN_POLLS == 0
+  static_assert(sizeof(Nrf52BufferedRadioHal)==sizeof(ArduinoHal),"default RAM growth");
+#endif
+  // The first pre-transfer wait delegates immediately, even in opt-in builds.
+  for(unsigned i=0;i<1000;++i) radio.yield();
+  assert(radio.yields==1000 && bus.bursts==0);
+  radio.spiTransfer(nullptr,0,nullptr);
+  radio.yield();
+  assert(radio.yields==1001 && bus.bursts==0);
+
+  uint8_t tx[]={0x86,0x12,0x34},rx[3]={};
+  for(unsigned frame=0;frame<1000;++frame) {
+    const unsigned before=radio.yields;
+    radio.spiTransfer(tx,sizeof(tx),rx);
+    assert(rx[0]==uint8_t(tx[0]^0xa5) && rx[2]==uint8_t(tx[2]^0xa5));
+    for(unsigned i=0;i<budget;++i) radio.yield();
+    assert(radio.yields==before);
+    radio.yield(); assert(radio.yields==before+1);
+    // A zero-byte call must not replenish an exhausted budget.
+    radio.spiTransfer(nullptr,0,nullptr);
+    radio.yield(); assert(radio.yields==before+2);
+  }
+  assert(bus.bursts==1000 && bus.bytes==0);
+
+  // Neither a zero-size transfer midway through a budget nor later ordinary
+  // waits can turn the finite budget into perpetual spinning.
+  unsigned before=radio.yields;
+  radio.spiTransfer(tx,sizeof(tx),rx);
+  for(unsigned i=0;i<budget/2;++i) radio.yield();
+  radio.spiTransfer(nullptr,0,nullptr);
+  for(unsigned i=budget/2;i<budget;++i) radio.yield();
+  assert(radio.yields==before);
+  for(unsigned i=0;i<100000;++i) radio.yield();
+  assert(radio.yields==before+100000);
+  before=radio.yields;
+  radio.spiTransfer(tx,sizeof(tx),rx);
+  for(unsigned i=0;i<100000;++i) radio.yield();
+  assert(radio.yields==before+100000-budget);
+  assert(bus.bursts==1002 && bus.bytes==0);
+}
+'''
+
+
+class NrfRadioYieldBudgetTest(unittest.TestCase):
+    def test_zero_four_eight_sixteen_preserve_transfer_and_bound_skipped_yields(self):
+        with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as directory:
+            folder=Path(directory)
+            (folder/'hal/Arduino').mkdir(parents=True)
+            (folder/'hal/Arduino/ArduinoHal.h').write_text(MOCK,encoding='ascii')
+            cpp,binary=folder/'test.cpp',folder/'test.exe'
+            cpp.write_text(FIXTURE,encoding='ascii')
+            for budget in (0,4,8,16):
+                with self.subTest(budget=budget):
+                    built=subprocess.run([os.environ.get('CXX','g++'),'-std=c++17',
+                        '-Wall','-Wextra','-Werror',f'-DMC_NRF_RADIO_BUSY_SPIN_POLLS={budget}',
+                        '-I',str(folder),'-I',str(ROOT/'src'),str(cpp),'-o',str(binary)],
+                        capture_output=True,text=True)
+                    self.assertEqual(built.returncode,0,built.stderr)
+                    ran=subprocess.run([str(binary)],capture_output=True,text=True)
+                    self.assertEqual(ran.returncode,0,ran.stderr)
+            for budget in (-1,17):
+                with self.subTest(invalid_budget=budget):
+                    built=subprocess.run([os.environ.get('CXX','g++'),'-std=c++17',
+                        f'-DMC_NRF_RADIO_BUSY_SPIN_POLLS={budget}','-I',str(folder),
+                        '-I',str(ROOT/'src'),str(cpp),'-o',str(binary)],
+                        capture_output=True,text=True)
+                    self.assertNotEqual(built.returncode,0)
+                    self.assertIn('bounded 0..16 poll budget',built.stderr)
+
+    def test_default_preprocessing_omits_budget_and_override(self):
+        with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as directory:
+            folder=Path(directory)
+            (folder/'hal/Arduino').mkdir(parents=True)
+            (folder/'hal/Arduino/ArduinoHal.h').write_text(MOCK,encoding='ascii')
+            result=subprocess.run([os.environ.get('CXX','g++'),'-std=c++17','-E','-P',
+                '-x','c++','-I',str(folder),'-I',str(ROOT/'src'),'-'],
+                input='#include <helpers/radiolib/Nrf52BufferedRadioHal.h>\n',
+                capture_output=True,text=True)
+            self.assertEqual(result.returncode,0,result.stderr)
+            production=result.stdout.split('class Nrf52BufferedRadioHal',1)[1]
+            self.assertNotIn('_busy_spin_polls_remaining',production)
+            self.assertNotIn('void yield()',production)
+
+
+if __name__=='__main__':
+    unittest.main()
diff --git a/test/test_profile_switch_timing.py b/test/test_profile_switch_timing.py
index 91d099ddc..577400adf 100644
--- a/test/test_profile_switch_timing.py
+++ b/test/test_profile_switch_timing.py
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ void dwt_enable() { clockEnabled=true; ++enableCalls; }
 int main() {
   using namespace mesh::profiletiming;
   auto& capture=mesh_hil_profile_timing;
-  assert(capture.magic==Magic && capture.size_bytes==1736);
+  assert(capture.magic==Magic && capture.version==2 && capture.size_bytes==1808);
   assert(capture.clock_hz==64000000 && capture.sequence==0);
   initializeClock();
   assert(enableCalls==1 && capture.clock_state==2);
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@ int main() {
   const auto& forward=capture.direction[0];
   assert(forward.successes==1 && forward.busy==0 && forward.failures==0);
   assert(forward.last_mask==511 && forward.last_us[Whole]==600);
+  assert(forward.worst_us[Whole]==600 && forward.worst_us[Frequency]==50);
   assert(forward.stage[Whole].sum_low_us==600 && forward.stage[Whole].sum_high_us==0);
   assert(forward.stage[Whole].min_us==600 && forward.stage[Whole].max_us==600);
   assert(forward.stage[Whole].histogram[9]==1);
@@ -94,10 +95,13 @@ int main() {
   begin(0,1,0); mark(Frequency,20*64); finish(Success,20*64);
   assert(sum.sum_low_us==9 && sum.sum_high_us==4);
   assert(sum.min_us==20 && sum.max_us==50 && sum.count==2);
+  assert(forward.worst_us[Whole]==600 && forward.worst_us[Frequency]==50);
   begin(1,0,0); mark(Frequency,960*64); finish(Success,960*64);
   assert(capture.direction[1].stage[Frequency].histogram[15]==1);
   begin(1,0,0); mark(Frequency,10000*64); finish(Success,10000*64);
   assert(capture.direction[1].stage[Frequency].histogram[15]==2);
+  assert(capture.direction[1].worst_us[Whole]==10000);
+  assert(capture.direction[1].worst_us[Frequency]==10000);
 }
 '''.replace("@GLOBALS@", self.production_globals()))