diff --git a/crates/openfang-kernel/src/kernel.rs b/crates/openfang-kernel/src/kernel.rs
index 88e0baf44..78ab22498 100644
--- a/crates/openfang-kernel/src/kernel.rs
+++ b/crates/openfang-kernel/src/kernel.rs
@@ -4656,8 +4656,8 @@ fn apply_budget_defaults(
     budget: &openfang_types::config::BudgetConfig,
     resources: &mut ResourceQuota,
 ) {
-    // Only override hourly if agent has the built-in default (1.0) and global is set
-    if budget.max_hourly_usd > 0.0 && resources.max_cost_per_hour_usd == 1.0 {
+    // Only override hourly if agent has unlimited default (0.0) and global is set
+    if budget.max_hourly_usd > 0.0 && resources.max_cost_per_hour_usd == 0.0 {
         resources.max_cost_per_hour_usd = budget.max_hourly_usd;
     }
     // Only override daily/monthly if agent has unlimited (0.0) and global is set
diff --git a/crates/openfang-types/src/agent.rs b/crates/openfang-types/src/agent.rs
index 12f63f16c..5ac9aefa6 100644
--- a/crates/openfang-types/src/agent.rs
+++ b/crates/openfang-types/src/agent.rs
@@ -267,7 +267,7 @@ impl Default for ResourceQuota {
             max_tool_calls_per_minute: 60,
             max_llm_tokens_per_hour: 1_000_000,
             max_network_bytes_per_hour: 100 * 1024 * 1024, // 100 MB
-            max_cost_per_hour_usd: 1.0,
+            max_cost_per_hour_usd: 0.0,   // unlimited
             max_cost_per_day_usd: 0.0,   // unlimited
             max_cost_per_month_usd: 0.0, // unlimited
         }