diff --git a/cmd/sdrd/decision_budget_test.go b/cmd/sdrd/decision_budget_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0827efd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/sdrd/decision_budget_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+
+	"sdr-wideband-suite/internal/pipeline"
+)
+
+func TestEnforceDecisionBudgets(t *testing.T) {
+	decisions := []pipeline.SignalDecision{
+		{ShouldRecord: true, ShouldAutoDecode: true},
+		{ShouldRecord: true, ShouldAutoDecode: true},
+		{ShouldRecord: true, ShouldAutoDecode: false},
+	}
+	recorded, decoded := enforceDecisionBudgets(decisions, 1, 1)
+	if recorded != 1 || decoded != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected counts: record=%d decode=%d", recorded, decoded)
+	}
+	if decisions[0].ShouldRecord != true || decisions[0].ShouldAutoDecode != true {
+		t.Fatalf("expected first decision to remain allowed")
+	}
+	if decisions[1].ShouldRecord || decisions[1].ShouldAutoDecode {
+		t.Fatalf("expected second decision to be budgeted off")
+	}
+	if decisions[2].ShouldRecord {
+		t.Fatalf("expected third decision to be budgeted off")
+	}
+}