diff --git a/src/expert-claim/expert-claim.service.ts b/src/expert-claim/expert-claim.service.ts
index 22e45b9..4bf2b95 100644
--- a/src/expert-claim/expert-claim.service.ts
+++ b/src/expert-claim/expert-claim.service.ts
@@ -4242,9 +4242,10 @@ export class ExpertClaimService {
         );
       }
 
+      // Manual path — change totalPriceDrop → total to match calculated path
       const manualPayload = {
         manualOverride: true,
-        totalPriceDrop: body.manualPriceDrop,
+        total: body.manualPriceDrop, // ← was totalPriceDrop
         partLines: [],
       };
 
@@ -4269,6 +4270,18 @@ export class ExpertClaimService {
     }
 
     // Calculated path — existing logic unchanged
+    // At the top of the calculated path, after the manualPriceDrop early return:
+    const existingPriceDrop = (claim as any).evaluation?.priceDrop;
+    if (
+      existingPriceDrop?.manualOverride === true &&
+      !body.partSeverities?.length
+    ) {
+      throw new BadRequestException(
+        "This claim has a manual price-drop correction. " +
+          "To recalculate, provide partSeverities explicitly — this will replace the manual correction.",
+      );
+    }
+
     const carType = claim.vehicle?.carType as ClaimVehicleTypeV2 | undefined;
     const selectedNorm = normalizeDamageSelectedParts(
       claim.damage?.selectedParts,