diff --git a/src/app/api/research/route.ts b/src/app/api/research/route.ts
index 967898a..48c7060 100644
--- a/src/app/api/research/route.ts
+++ b/src/app/api/research/route.ts
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import { NextRequest, NextResponse } from 'next/server'
 import { getServerSession } from 'next-auth'
 import { authOptions } from '@/lib/auth'
 import { prisma } from '@/lib/prisma'
-import { getPostsPerHour } from '@/lib/mastodon'
+import { getPostsData } from '@/lib/mastodon'
 import { calcPrice } from '@/lib/pricing'
 import { normalizeTag } from '@/lib/utils'
 import { priceUpdateQueue } from '@/lib/queue'
@@ -49,8 +49,11 @@ export async function POST(req: NextRequest) {
 
   // Query Mastodon
   let postsPerHour = 0
+  let hasAnyPosts = false
   try {
-    postsPerHour = await getPostsPerHour(tag)
+    const data = await getPostsData(tag)
+    postsPerHour = data.postsPerHour
+    hasAnyPosts = data.hasAnyPosts
   } catch (err) {
     console.error('[research] Mastodon fetch failed:', err)
     return NextResponse.json(
@@ -59,18 +62,19 @@ export async function POST(req: NextRequest) {
     )
   }
 
-  if (postsPerHour === 0) {
+  if (!hasAnyPosts) {
     // Deduct point for failed research
     await prisma.user.update({
       where: { id: session.user.id },
       data: { researchPoints: { decrement: 1 } },
     })
     return NextResponse.json(
-      { error: 'No recent posts found for this hashtag. Research point spent.' },
+      { error: 'No posts found for this hashtag anywhere recently. Research point spent.' },
       { status: 404 },
     )
   }
 
+  // Use the last-hour price, or $0.25 minimum if active but currently quiet
   const price = calcPrice(postsPerHour)
   const activeUntil = new Date(Date.now() + parseInt(process.env.HASHTAG_ACTIVE_HOURS ?? '24', 10) * 60 * 60 * 1000)
 
diff --git a/src/lib/mastodon.ts b/src/lib/mastodon.ts
index 10069f3..a25de64 100644
--- a/src/lib/mastodon.ts
+++ b/src/lib/mastodon.ts
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ export async function getPostsPerHour(tag: string): Promise<number> {
  */
 export async function getPostsData(
   tag: string,
-): Promise<{ postsPerHour: number; relatedTags: string[]; displayTag?: string }> {
+): Promise<{ postsPerHour: number; relatedTags: string[]; displayTag?: string; hasAnyPosts: boolean }> {
   const maxPages = parseInt(process.env.MAX_PAGES_PER_HASHTAG ?? '5', 10)
   const postLimit = Math.min(parseInt(process.env.MASTODON_POST_LIMIT ?? '20', 10), 40)
   const ONE_HOUR_MS = 60 * 60 * 1000
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ export async function getPostsData(
     maxId = nextMaxId
   }
 
-  if (allPosts.length === 0) return { postsPerHour: 0, relatedTags: [] }
+  if (allPosts.length === 0) return { postsPerHour: 0, relatedTags: [], hasAnyPosts: false }
 
   const times = allPosts.map((p) => new Date(p.created_at).getTime())
   const newestMs = Math.max(...times)
@@ -165,6 +165,6 @@ export async function getPostsData(
     if (topCount / total >= 0.5) displayTag = topVariant
   }
 
-  return { postsPerHour, relatedTags, displayTag }
+  return { postsPerHour, relatedTags, displayTag, hasAnyPosts: true }
 }