diff --git a/src/motor.cpp b/src/motor.cpp
index 46fed8c..f0f505c 100644
--- a/src/motor.cpp
+++ b/src/motor.cpp
@@ -329,19 +329,19 @@ void MotorController::checkStall() {
     }
     
     unsigned long now = millis();
-    
-    // Skip stall detection during stabilization period after motor start/change
-    if ((now - _motorStartTime) < STALL_STABILIZE_MS) {
-        return;
-    }
-    
     float activeCurrent = getCurrentActive();
     
-    // Initialize or update EMA (exponential moving average)
+    // Initialize EMA on first reading
     if (!_emaInitialized) {
-        _currentEMA = activeCurrent;  // Seed with first reading
+        _currentEMA = activeCurrent;
         _emaInitialized = true;
-        return;  // Need more samples before detecting
+    }
+    
+    // During stabilization: update EMA but don't detect stalls
+    // This lets EMA track normal running current before detection starts
+    if ((now - _motorStartTime) < STALL_STABILIZE_MS) {
+        _currentEMA = (STALL_EMA_ALPHA * activeCurrent) + ((1.0f - STALL_EMA_ALPHA) * _currentEMA);
+        return;
     }
     
     // Calculate delta from average