diff --git a/services/hermes/plugins/auto-router/__init__.py b/services/hermes/plugins/auto-router/__init__.py
index ca5479cbb..4bdbc4608 100644
--- a/services/hermes/plugins/auto-router/__init__.py
+++ b/services/hermes/plugins/auto-router/__init__.py
@@ -377,6 +377,11 @@ def classify_task(
     # safety floor: it can prevent a downgrade or preserve an explicit work
     # shape/provider, but it does not bypass the local classifier.
     effort = max((baseline.effort, local.effort), key=EFFORT_RANK.__getitem__)
+    # Small local models sometimes wobble between low and medium for the same
+    # short prompt. Keep an otherwise trivial task on the low route unless the
+    # Jetson sees a strong enough signal to raise it to high or xhigh.
+    if baseline.effort == "low" and local.effort == "medium":
+        effort = "low"
     shape = baseline.shape
     provider = (
         baseline.provider
@@ -388,7 +393,7 @@ def classify_task(
         effort,
         provider,
         "jetson-context" if used_context else "jetson",
-        "Jetson task/provider/effort classification with deterministic safety floors"
+        "Jetson task/provider/effort classification with deterministic safety and cost bounds"
         + (" and recent assistant context" if used_context else ""),
         local.latency_ms,
     )
diff --git a/testing/tests/test_hermes_auto_router.py b/testing/tests/test_hermes_auto_router.py
index 6954b8ecd..ade3daef0 100644
--- a/testing/tests/test_hermes_auto_router.py
+++ b/testing/tests/test_hermes_auto_router.py
@@ -175,6 +175,41 @@ def test_every_auto_classification_consults_jetson_and_keeps_safety_floors(monke
     )
 
 
+def test_trivial_prompt_ignores_one_step_jetson_effort_wobble(monkeypatch):
+    calls = []
+
+    def classify(text):
+        calls.append(text)
+        return router.Decision("question", "medium", "codex", "jetson", "test", 5)
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(router, "jetson_decision", classify)
+
+    decision = router.classify_task(
+        "Reply with exactly ROUTE_SMOKE_OK. Do not call tools."
+    )
+
+    assert calls == ["Reply with exactly ROUTE_SMOKE_OK. Do not call tools."]
+    assert (decision.effort, decision.provider, decision.classifier) == (
+        "low",
+        "codex",
+        "jetson",
+    )
+
+
+def test_trivial_prompt_can_still_escalate_on_strong_jetson_signal(monkeypatch):
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        router,
+        "jetson_decision",
+        lambda text: router.Decision(
+            "question", "high", "claude", "jetson", "test", 5
+        ),
+    )
+
+    decision = router.classify_task("Check this.")
+
+    assert (decision.effort, decision.provider) == ("high", "claude")
+
+
 def test_architecture_and_review_fail_upward_to_claude(monkeypatch):
     monkeypatch.setattr(
         router,