diff --git a/GramAddict/core/navigation/brain.py b/GramAddict/core/navigation/brain.py
index 93da515..ad191b0 100644
--- a/GramAddict/core/navigation/brain.py
+++ b/GramAddict/core/navigation/brain.py
@@ -15,7 +15,11 @@ def ask_brain_for_action(
         return None
 
     cfg = Config()
-    url = getattr(cfg.args, "ai_model_url", "http://localhost:11434/api/generate") if hasattr(cfg, "args") else "http://localhost:11434/api/generate"
+    url = (
+        getattr(cfg.args, "ai_model_url", "http://localhost:11434/api/generate")
+        if hasattr(cfg, "args")
+        else "http://localhost:11434/api/generate"
+    )
     model = getattr(cfg.args, "ai_model", "qwen3.5:latest") if hasattr(cfg, "args") else "qwen3.5:latest"
 
     prompt = (
@@ -40,7 +44,7 @@ def ask_brain_for_action(
 
     try:
         response = query_llm(
-            url=url, model=model, prompt="Choose the next best action.", system=prompt, format_json=False
+            url=url, model=model, prompt="Choose the next best action.", system=prompt, format_json=False, max_tokens=20
         )
         if response:
             result = response if isinstance(response, str) else response.get("response", "")
diff --git a/tests/e2e/test_brain_live.py b/tests/e2e/test_brain_live.py
index 93da266..12e1e0b 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/test_brain_live.py
+++ b/tests/e2e/test_brain_live.py
@@ -34,8 +34,10 @@ def test_brain_recommends_scroll_when_trapped():
 
     logger.info(f"Brain action returned: '{brain_action}'")
 
-    if brain_action is None or brain_action == "":
-        pytest.skip("Brain LLM returned None or empty string. Ollama timeout or hallucination.")
+    assert (
+        brain_action is not None and brain_action != ""
+    ), "Brain LLM returned None or empty string. Ollama timeout or hallucination."
 
-    if brain_action != "scroll down":
-        pytest.skip(f"VLM chose '{brain_action}' instead of 'scroll down'. Small local models can be flaky.")
+    assert (
+        brain_action == "scroll down"
+    ), f"VLM chose '{brain_action}' instead of 'scroll down'. Small local models can be flaky."
diff --git a/tests/e2e/test_goap_loop_prevention.py b/tests/e2e/test_goap_loop_prevention.py
index 5d62c5f..c0e597b 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/test_goap_loop_prevention.py
+++ b/tests/e2e/test_goap_loop_prevention.py
@@ -320,11 +320,10 @@ def test_live_vlm_selects_following_not_followers(make_real_device_with_image):
     selected_id = (selected_node.resource_id or "").lower()
 
     # THE CRITICAL ASSERTION: Must be "following", NOT "followers"
-    if "following" not in selected_id and "following" not in selected_desc and "following" not in selected_text:
-        pytest.skip(
-            f"VLM hallucinated and selected wrong node! Got: desc='{selected_node.content_desc}', text='{selected_node.text}', id='{selected_node.resource_id}'. "
-            f"Skipping because small local VLMs often fail this negative constraint."
-        )
+    assert "following" in selected_id or "following" in selected_desc or "following" in selected_text, (
+        f"VLM hallucinated and selected wrong node! Got: desc='{selected_node.content_desc}', text='{selected_node.text}', id='{selected_node.resource_id}'. "
+        f"This proves the local VLM failed the negative constraint."
+    )
     assert (
         "followers" not in selected_id
     ), f"VLM CONFUSED followers with following! Selected: id='{selected_node.resource_id}'"
diff --git a/tests/e2e/test_nav_home_feed.py b/tests/e2e/test_nav_home_feed.py
index 2a0c01a..d22b6ba 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/test_nav_home_feed.py
+++ b/tests/e2e/test_nav_home_feed.py
@@ -98,8 +98,7 @@ def test_home_feed_comment_button_extraction(make_real_device_with_image):
                 return True
         return False
 
-    if not _node_has_marker(result, "comment"):
-        pytest.skip(
-            f"VLM picked WRONG element for 'tap comment button'!\n"
-            f"  Selected: id='{result.resource_id}', desc='{result.content_desc}'"
-        )
+    assert _node_has_marker(result, "comment"), (
+        f"VLM picked WRONG element for 'tap comment button'!\n"
+        f"  Selected: id='{result.resource_id}', desc='{result.content_desc}'"
+    )
diff --git a/tests/e2e/test_visual_intent_resolver.py b/tests/e2e/test_visual_intent_resolver.py
index f7f732f..f6a980c 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/test_visual_intent_resolver.py
+++ b/tests/e2e/test_visual_intent_resolver.py
@@ -120,10 +120,12 @@ def test_visual_discovery_finds_following_by_seeing(make_real_device_with_image)
     selected_id = (result.resource_id or "").lower()
     selected_desc = (result.content_desc or "").lower()
 
-    if "following" not in selected_id and "following" not in selected_desc:
-        pytest.skip(f"Visual discovery picked wrong node! Got: id='{result.resource_id}', desc='{result.content_desc}'")
-    if "followers" in selected_id:
-        pytest.skip(f"Visual discovery CONFUSED followers with following! Selected: id='{result.resource_id}'")
+    assert (
+        "following" in selected_id or "following" in selected_desc
+    ), f"Visual discovery picked wrong node! Got: id='{result.resource_id}', desc='{result.content_desc}'"
+    assert (
+        "followers" not in selected_id
+    ), f"Visual discovery CONFUSED followers with following! Selected: id='{result.resource_id}'"
 
 
 # ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════