diff --git a/mosfet/bot.py b/mosfet/bot.py
index 9e03cdf..ce56d8f 100644
--- a/mosfet/bot.py
+++ b/mosfet/bot.py
@@ -59,6 +59,23 @@ YAW_ANGLE_REF = vector.Vector3D((0, 1, 0))
 YAW_LOOK_AHEAD = 4
 
 
+def missing_movement_chunks(g):
+    """Return chunks needed for local physics and the next path steps only."""
+    position = g.get('pos')
+    if position is None or position is False:
+        return [(None, None)]
+    points = [position]
+    points.extend(g.path[:2])
+    required = set()
+    for point in points:
+        if hasattr(point, 'x'):
+            x, z = point.x, point.z
+        else:
+            x, z = point[0], point[2]
+        required.add((floor(x / 16), floor(z / 16)))
+    return sorted((x, z) for x, z in required
+                  if g.chunks.get_chunk(x, z) is None)
+
 
 def tick(global_state):
     g = global_state
@@ -66,10 +83,10 @@ def tick(global_state):
 
     target = None
 
-    # make sure current chunks are loaded for physics
-    required_distance = getattr(g, 'physics_render_distance',
-                                g.info.render_distance)
-    if not g.chunks.check_loaded(required_distance):
+    # Require only chunks touched by local physics and the next path steps.
+    # A few unrelated holes in the wider view cache must not stall jobs.
+    missing_chunks = missing_movement_chunks(g)
+    if missing_chunks:
         if g.get('movement_status') != 'waiting_for_chunks':
             print('[movement] status=waiting_for_chunks near {}'.format(
                 utils.pint(p)), flush=True)
@@ -80,22 +97,10 @@ def tick(global_state):
         now = time.time()
         if now - g.get('chunk_wait_report_at', 0) >= 5:
             center = g.chunks.center
-            if center is None:
-                missing = 'cache center not received'
-            else:
-                cx, cz = center
-                missing = [
-                    (x, z)
-                    for x in range(cx - required_distance,
-                                   cx + required_distance + 1)
-                    for z in range(cz - required_distance,
-                                   cz + required_distance + 1)
-                    if (x, z) not in g.chunks.chunks
-                ]
             print('\n[movement] chunk wait: pos={}, center={}, '
-                  'radius={}, loaded={}, missing={}'.format(
-                      utils.pint(p), center, g.chunks.radius,
-                      len(g.chunks.chunks), missing), flush=True)
+                  'loaded={}, missing_required={}'.format(
+                      utils.pint(p), g.chunks.center,
+                      len(g.chunks.chunks), missing_chunks), flush=True)
             g.chunk_wait_report_at = now
         from minecraft.networking.modern import (
             ClientTickEnd, PlayerPositionRotation,
@@ -392,9 +397,8 @@ def start_automation(global_state):
     g.yaw = float(g.get('yaw', 0.0) or 0.0)
     g.pitch = float(g.get('pitch', 0.0) or 0.0)
     g.chunks.loading = False
-    # Local navigation only needs nearby chunks; waiting for the entire view
-    # radius can stall on servers that stream chunks gradually.
-    g.physics_render_distance = 2
+    # Readiness below is based on the bot's own chunk and the next two path
+    # steps, never on unrelated holes elsewhere in the view cache.
     g.movement_paused = False
     g.movement_status = 'idle'
     g.movement_error = None
@@ -420,7 +424,7 @@ def start_automation(global_state):
             started = time.monotonic()
             now = time.monotonic()
             if not initial_world_ready:
-                if g.chunks.check_loaded(g.physics_render_distance):
+                if not bot.missing_movement_chunks(g):
                     if loaded_since is None:
                         loaded_since = now
                     elif now - loaded_since >= 0.5: