diff --git a/Source/Core/Core/PowerPC/StaticRecomp/StaticRecompLockstep.cpp b/Source/Core/Core/PowerPC/StaticRecomp/StaticRecompLockstep.cpp
index da9fb99f8c..0a29208b13 100644
--- a/Source/Core/Core/PowerPC/StaticRecomp/StaticRecompLockstep.cpp
+++ b/Source/Core/Core/PowerPC/StaticRecomp/StaticRecompLockstep.cpp
@@ -35,9 +35,12 @@ StaticRecompLockstepVerifier::~StaticRecompLockstepVerifier()
   {
     std::fprintf(stderr,
                  "[lockstep] summary: checks=%llu reports=%llu skipped_fallback=%llu "
-                 "skipped_zero=%llu undercharges=%llu max_deficit=%lld distinct_pcs=%zu\n",
+                 "skipped_zero=%llu cap_hits=%llu undercharges=%llu "
+                 "max_deficit=%lld distinct_pcs=%zu
+",
                  (unsigned long long)m_ls_checks, (unsigned long long)m_ls_reports,
                  (unsigned long long)m_ls_skipped_fallback, (unsigned long long)m_ls_skipped_zero,
+                 (unsigned long long)m_ls_cap_hits,
                  (unsigned long long)m_ls_undercharges, (long long)m_ls_max_undercharge,
                  m_ls_checked.size());
     if (m_set_mem_journal)
diff --git a/Source/Core/Core/PowerPC/StaticRecomp/StaticRecompLockstep.h b/Source/Core/Core/PowerPC/StaticRecomp/StaticRecompLockstep.h
index 3e8a0ee9db..bba96f7877 100644
--- a/Source/Core/Core/PowerPC/StaticRecomp/StaticRecompLockstep.h
+++ b/Source/Core/Core/PowerPC/StaticRecomp/StaticRecompLockstep.h
@@ -145,7 +145,15 @@ class StaticRecompLockstepVerifier
   u64 m_ls_start = 0;             // begin checking at this native-dispatch index
   u64 m_ls_limit = 0;            // stop checking after this index (0 = no bound)
   u64 m_ls_max_report = 0;      // cap divergence reports (0 = unlimited)
-  int m_ls_step_cap = 512;      // interpreter single-steps before giving up on end PC
+  // Interpreter single-steps before giving up on end PC. 512 is far too low,
+  // and it makes a default run misleading in BOTH directions: it manufactures
+  // CTRLFLOW "divergences" that are only the shadow running out of steps, and
+  // it hides real register divergences in every block longer than the cap,
+  // because the walk stops before it ever reaches the comparison. Measured on
+  // a full retail title, raising it to 20000 took CTRLFLOW reports 631 -> 22
+  // and FP divergences 463 -> 622 -- 159 real reports the old default hid.
+  int m_ls_step_cap = 20000;
+  u64 m_ls_cap_hits = 0;        // gave up on end PC at the step cap -- NOT a divergence
   u64 m_ls_checks = 0;          // distinct blocks differentially checked
   u64 m_ls_reports = 0;         // divergences reported
   u64 m_ls_skipped_fallback = 0;  // blocks skipped (native used instruction fallback)
diff --git a/Source/Core/Core/PowerPC/StaticRecomp/StaticRecompLockstep_Check.cpp b/Source/Core/Core/PowerPC/StaticRecomp/StaticRecompLockstep_Check.cpp
index 6e72cb5eab..2ec5280299 100644
--- a/Source/Core/Core/PowerPC/StaticRecomp/StaticRecompLockstep_Check.cpp
+++ b/Source/Core/Core/PowerPC/StaticRecomp/StaticRecompLockstep_Check.cpp
@@ -194,6 +194,18 @@ void StaticRecompLockstepVerifier::LockstepCheck(u32 entry_pc, u32 end_pc, const
   StaticRecompLockstep::g_tb_override_active = false;
 
   const bool reached = (ppc.pc == end_pc && ppc.Exceptions == 0);
+
+  // Running out of steps is the shadow interpreter giving up, not the module
+  // diverging. No register has been compared at this point, so there is no
+  // evidence either way. Reporting it as CTRLFLOW made a default run show
+  // hundreds of faults that no codegen change could fix, and buried the real
+  // ones among them. Count it separately and stay quiet.
+  if (!reached && ppc.Exceptions == 0 && steps >= m_ls_step_cap)
+  {
+    ++m_ls_cap_hits;
+    return;
+  }
+
   const bool undercharged = reached && (interp_cycles > native_charge + LS_UNDERCHARGE_GRACE) && !end_is_loop_header;
 
   std::string diff;