diff --git a/atlasbot/engine/answerer.py b/atlasbot/engine/answerer.py
index eabdd3e..399cbf8 100644
--- a/atlasbot/engine/answerer.py
+++ b/atlasbot/engine/answerer.py
@@ -279,6 +279,7 @@ class AnswerEngine:
             if "node" in lowered_q:
                 focus_entity = "node"
 
+            hotspot_override = False
             snapshot_context = ""
             if classify.get("needs_snapshot"):
                 if observer:
@@ -305,6 +306,7 @@ class AnswerEngine:
                                     break
                 metric_facts = [line for line in key_facts if re.search(r"\d", line)]
                 hotspot_request = any(term in lowered_q for term in ("hot spot", "hotspot", "hot spots", "hotspots"))
+                hotspot_override = False
                 if focus_entity == "node" and hottest_facts:
                     metric_facts = hottest_facts
                     key_facts = _merge_fact_lines(metric_facts, key_facts)
@@ -612,8 +614,9 @@ class AnswerEngine:
                     reply = f"Current hotspots: {hotspot_line}. {namespace_line}."
                 else:
                     reply = f"Current hotspots: {hotspot_line}."
+                hotspot_override = True
 
-            if classify.get("question_type") in {"metric", "diagnostic"} and metric_facts:
+            if classify.get("question_type") in {"metric", "diagnostic"} and metric_facts and not hotspot_override:
                 reply = _metric_fact_guard(reply, metric_facts, keyword_tokens)
 
             if classify.get("question_type") in {"metric", "diagnostic"}: