diff --git a/engine/MUNGA/AUDSEQ.cpp b/engine/MUNGA/AUDSEQ.cpp
index f66f4ff..9df6360 100644
--- a/engine/MUNGA/AUDSEQ.cpp
+++ b/engine/MUNGA/AUDSEQ.cpp
@@ -475,7 +475,8 @@ void
 	//
 	// #99 probe: PER-SEQUENCE throttle.  A single shared counter here hid the
 	// alarm sequence entirely -- the busy sequences ate every slot.
-	if (getenv("BT_ATTRBIND_LOG") && isLooped) { if (runProbeCount < 6)
+	static const int s_seqDiag = (getenv("BT_ATTRBIND_LOG") != 0);	// hot path: resolve once
+	if (s_seqDiag && isLooped) { if (runProbeCount < 6)
 	{	++runProbeCount;
 		DEBUG_STREAM << "[seqrun] seq=" << (void *)this
 			<< " isRunning=" << (int)isRunning
@@ -494,7 +495,7 @@ void
 
 	Check(audioControlEventIterator);
 	control_event = audioControlEventIterator->GetCurrent();
-	if (getenv("BT_ATTRBIND_LOG")) { static int s_nr=0;
+	if (s_seqDiag) { static int s_nr=0;
 		if (control_event != NULL && !IsEventReady(control_event) && (s_nr++ % 500)==0)
 		{
 			AudioTime off(startTime);
@@ -539,7 +540,7 @@ void
 		// Send the controller to the connected audio component
 		//
 		Check(control_event);
-		if (getenv("BT_ATTRBIND_LOG")) { static int s_se=0; if (s_se++<60)
+		if (s_seqDiag) { static int s_se=0; if (s_se++<60)
 			DEBUG_STREAM << "[seqsend] seq=" << (void *)this
 				<< " -> comp=" << (void *)audioComponentSocket.GetCurrent()
 				<< " ctl=" << (int)control_event->audioControlID
diff --git a/engine/MUNGA/AUDWTHR.cpp b/engine/MUNGA/AUDWTHR.cpp
index 9deb1eb..ded3eaf 100644
--- a/engine/MUNGA/AUDWTHR.cpp
+++ b/engine/MUNGA/AUDWTHR.cpp
@@ -112,7 +112,8 @@ void
 {
 	Check(this);
 	Check(audioComponentSocket.GetCurrent());
-	if (getenv("BT_ATTRBIND_LOG")) { static int s_iw=0; if ((s_iw++ % 400)==0)
+	static const int s_idleDiag = (getenv("BT_ATTRBIND_LOG") != 0);	// hot path: resolve once
+	if (s_idleDiag) { static int s_iw=0; if ((s_iw++ % 400)==0)
 		DEBUG_STREAM << "[idlewatch] #" << s_iw << " comp="
 			<< (void *)audioComponentSocket.GetCurrent() << std::endl; }
 	audioComponentSocket.GetCurrent()->ReceiveControl(
diff --git a/scratchpad/night8/preship.sh b/scratchpad/night8/preship.sh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e1c73f3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scratchpad/night8/preship.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# Pre-ship smoke: combat, no diagnostics, measure frame time + confirm no crash.
+set -x
+. /c/git/bt411/scratchpad/night6/bench_common.sh
+cd /c/git/bt411/content || exit 1
+taskkill //F //IM btl4.exe > /dev/null 2>&1
+sleep 2
+sed "s/^map=.*/map=grass/; s/^time=.*/time=day/" MP.EGG > SHIP.EGG
+rm -f preship.log
+export BT_SPAWN_ENEMY=2 BT_AUTOFIRE=1 BT_GOTO=enemy BT_GOTO_STOP=40
+bt_launch preship.log SHIP.EGG 0x03
+sleep 120
+taskkill //F //IM btl4.exe > /dev/null 2>&1
+sleep 2