diff --git a/gittensor/validator/issue_discovery/scan.py b/gittensor/validator/issue_discovery/scan.py
index c30a12e3..5c9c6234 100644
--- a/gittensor/validator/issue_discovery/scan.py
+++ b/gittensor/validator/issue_discovery/scan.py
@@ -463,11 +463,10 @@ async def _score_miner_issues(
             )
             continue
 
-        # Valid-solved gate: solving PR must meet the repo's token threshold.
-        if cached.token_score >= cfg.min_token_score_for_valid_issue:
-            acc.valid_solved += 1
-
-        # Same-account: discoverer == solver gets credibility only, no score
+        # Same-account: discoverer == solver gets credibility only, no score.
+        # Must run before the valid-solved increment so self-loops don't satisfy
+        # the MIN_VALID_SOLVED_ISSUES eligibility gate (see module docstring:
+        # anti-self-issue is an applied anti-gaming gate).
         if issue.author_github_id == solving_pr.author_github_id:
             bt.logging.debug(
                 f'  issue #{issue.issue_number} ({issue.repo_full_name}): same-account '
@@ -475,6 +474,10 @@ async def _score_miner_issues(
             )
             continue
 
+        # Valid-solved gate: solving PR must meet the repo's token threshold.
+        if cached.token_score >= cfg.min_token_score_for_valid_issue:
+            acc.valid_solved += 1
+
         pr_key = (issue.repo_full_name, solving_pr.pr_number)
         own_marker = (issue.created_at or _FAR_FUTURE, issue.issue_number, evaluation.uid)
         if canonical_pr_owners.get(pr_key) != own_marker:
diff --git a/tests/validator/issue_discovery/test_scan.py b/tests/validator/issue_discovery/test_scan.py
index bc994c67..5cecbbdf 100644
--- a/tests/validator/issue_discovery/test_scan.py
+++ b/tests/validator/issue_discovery/test_scan.py
@@ -307,7 +307,11 @@ def test_self_issue_counts_credibility_but_no_score(self):
             )
         )
         assert eval_.total_solved_issues == 1  # credibility counts
-        # But no discovery_earned_score because self-solve
+        # Self-solves must NOT contribute to the valid-solved gate — otherwise
+        # a miner could self-file + self-solve to bypass MIN_VALID_SOLVED_ISSUES
+        # without performing any discovery activity.
+        assert eval_.total_valid_solved_issues == 0
+        # And no discovery_earned_score because self-solve
         assert eval_.issue_discovery_score == 0
 
     def test_not_planned_bumps_closed_count(self):