diff --git a/gittensor/validator/issue_discovery/scan.py b/gittensor/validator/issue_discovery/scan.py
index c30a12e3..f7072755 100644
--- a/gittensor/validator/issue_discovery/scan.py
+++ b/gittensor/validator/issue_discovery/scan.py
@@ -463,10 +463,6 @@ 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
         if issue.author_github_id == solving_pr.author_github_id:
             bt.logging.debug(
@@ -484,6 +480,12 @@ async def _score_miner_issues(
             )
             continue
 
+        # Valid-solved gate: solving PR must meet the repo's token threshold.
+        # Placed after exclusion guards so same-account and non-canonical issues
+        # do not inflate the counter and bypass the eligibility check.
+        if cached.token_score >= cfg.min_token_score_for_valid_issue:
+            acc.valid_solved += 1
+
         # Quality gate: below-threshold solving PRs add credibility only, no
         # discovery score.
         if cached.token_score < cfg.min_token_score_for_valid_issue: