diff --git a/apps/machine/src/stores/atm.ts b/apps/machine/src/stores/atm.ts
index f9af8cb..0ed4719 100644
--- a/apps/machine/src/stores/atm.ts
+++ b/apps/machine/src/stores/atm.ts
@@ -301,7 +301,11 @@ export const useAtmStore = defineStore('atm', () => {
   //   'declined' — presented and refused, or failed after presentation. The
   //                boltcards server bumps the SUN counter on the first GET, so
   //                treat the voucher as spent even when the failure was ours.
-  type BoltCardOutcome = 'skipped' | 'accepted' | 'declined'
+  //   'blocked'  — refused BEFORE anything was presented, because the card
+  //                server withheld that step when the session opened (e.g. the
+  //                card's daily limit is already spent). Nothing was consumed
+  //                and no re-tap can lift it, so the session stays loaded.
+  type BoltCardOutcome = 'skipped' | 'accepted' | 'declined' | 'blocked'
   // Where a Complete gets its voucher: a card tapped right now on the cash
   // screen (raw lnurlw, spent by this call) or the session opened at entry
   // (hit-keyed steps, no p/c).
@@ -715,6 +719,15 @@ export const useAtmStore = defineStore('atm', () => {
     const invoice = context.value?.invoice
     if (!invoice) return 'skipped'
     if (boltCardProcessing.value) return 'skipped' // one pull at a time
+    // The card server withheld the withdraw step when this session opened, so
+    // there is nothing to present. Say why instead of attempting a payment.
+    if ('session' in source && !source.session.withdraw) {
+      nfcStatus.value = {
+        state: 'declined',
+        message: source.session.withdrawBlockedReason ?? 'This card cannot sell right now',
+      }
+      return 'blocked'
+    }
     boltCardProcessing.value = true
     nfcStatus.value = { state: 'processing', message: 'Reading card…' }
     try {
@@ -722,13 +735,12 @@ export const useAtmStore = defineStore('atm', () => {
       const api = window.electronAPI!
       const res =
         'session' in source
-          ? source.session.withdraw
-            ? await api.withdrawWithSession({
-                withdraw: plainWithdrawStep(source.session.withdraw),
-                bolt11: invoice,
-                amountMsat,
-              })
-            : { ok: false, reason: source.session.withdrawBlockedReason ?? 'card cannot pay now' }
+          ? await api.withdrawWithSession({
+              // Non-null: a withheld step is pre-flighted above.
+              withdraw: plainWithdrawStep(source.session.withdraw!),
+              bolt11: invoice,
+              amountMsat,
+            })
           : await api.lnurlWithdraw({ lnurlw: source.lnurlw, bolt11: invoice, amountMsat })
       if (res.ok) {
         nfcStatus.value = { state: 'accepted', message: 'Card accepted — confirming payment…' }
@@ -819,7 +831,10 @@ export const useAtmStore = defineStore('atm', () => {
       console.info(
         `[ATM] Card session ${opened.ok ? 'opened' : 'refused'} in ${Date.now() - t0} ms` +
           (opened.ok
-            ? ` (fiat ${opened.session.fiat === null ? 'not ' : ''}priced by card server)`
+            ? ` (fiat ${opened.session.fiat === null ? 'not ' : ''}priced by card server; sell ` +
+              (opened.session.withdraw
+                ? 'available)'
+                : `BLOCKED: ${opened.session.withdrawBlockedReason ?? 'withdraw step withheld'})`)
             : '')
       )
       if (!opened.ok) {
@@ -878,10 +893,19 @@ export const useAtmStore = defineStore('atm', () => {
   async function completeWithCard() {
     const card = loadedBoltCard.value
     if (!card) return
+    const t0 = Date.now()
     let outcome: BoltCardOutcome = 'skipped'
     if (isCashOut.value) outcome = await handleBoltCardTap({ session: card })
     else if (isCashIn.value) outcome = await handleBoltCardReceive({ session: card })
+    console.info(
+      `[ATM] Complete with card: ${outcome} in ${Date.now() - t0} ms` +
+        (outcome === 'accepted' ? '' : ` — ${nfcStatus.value?.message ?? 'no reason given'}`)
+    )
     if (outcome === 'skipped') return
+    // Blocked is the card server's standing answer for this visit: nothing was
+    // consumed, and re-tapping cannot lift it. Keep the session loaded so the
+    // chip still shows whose card it is, and skip the re-tap advice below.
+    if (outcome === 'blocked') return
     loadedBoltCard.value = null
     if (outcome === 'declined') {
       const reason = nfcStatus.value?.message ?? 'Card declined'
diff --git a/apps/machine/src/views/CashOutView.vue b/apps/machine/src/views/CashOutView.vue
index 50a43a2..896f165 100644
--- a/apps/machine/src/views/CashOutView.vue
+++ b/apps/machine/src/views/CashOutView.vue
@@ -353,7 +353,20 @@ function formatFiat(cents: number): string {
               class="flex w-full max-w-md flex-col items-center gap-2 pt-2"
             >
               <CardChip class="w-full" />
+              <!-- The card server withheld this session's withdraw step (e.g.
+                   the card's daily limit is spent). Nothing the customer does
+                   here can lift it, so say so rather than offering a button
+                   that always fails. The QR remains as the way to get paid. -->
+              <p
+                v-if="!atmStore.loadedBoltCard.withdraw"
+                class="w-full text-center text-sm font-medium text-destructive lg:text-lg"
+              >
+                {{
+                  atmStore.loadedBoltCard.withdrawBlockedReason ?? 'This card cannot sell right now'
+                }}
+              </p>
               <Button
+                v-else
                 class="w-full bg-success text-success-foreground"
                 size="kiosk-lg"
                 :disabled="atmStore.boltCardProcessing"