diff --git a/scripts/idle-draft b/scripts/idle-draft
index 3928531..7ef37b4 100755
--- a/scripts/idle-draft
+++ b/scripts/idle-draft
@@ -1369,23 +1369,26 @@ def run_dispatch(args, config: dict, repo: Path, state_path: Path) -> int:
 
         def try_submit():
             nonlocal dispatched_count
-            if args.once and dispatched_count >= 1:
-                return
             nonlocal queue
-            queue = build_ready_queue(repo, config, state, in_flight)
-            for cand in queue:
-                provider, _ = select_provider(cand["work_type"], config, gates, credential_ok)
-                if provider is None:
-                    continue
-                cand = dict(cand)
-                cand["provider"] = provider
-                cand["before_pct"] = gates.get(provider, {}).get("seven_day_pct")
-                in_flight.add(cand["item_key"])
-                dispatched_count += 1
-                log_event(repo, f"dispatch: {cand['item_key']} work_type={cand['work_type']} provider={provider}")
-                fut = executor.submit(run_task, repo, config, cand, defaults["max_turns"], defaults["task_timeout"])
-                futures[fut] = cand
-                return
+            while len(futures) < max(1, parallel):
+                if args.once and dispatched_count >= 1:
+                    return
+                queue = build_ready_queue(repo, config, state, in_flight)
+                for cand in queue:
+                    provider, _ = select_provider(cand["work_type"], config, gates, credential_ok)
+                    if provider is None:
+                        continue
+                    cand = dict(cand)
+                    cand["provider"] = provider
+                    cand["before_pct"] = gates.get(provider, {}).get("seven_day_pct")
+                    in_flight.add(cand["item_key"])
+                    dispatched_count += 1
+                    log_event(repo, f"dispatch: {cand['item_key']} work_type={cand['work_type']} provider={provider}")
+                    fut = executor.submit(run_task, repo, config, cand, defaults["max_turns"], defaults["task_timeout"])
+                    futures[fut] = cand
+                    break
+                else:
+                    return
 
         try_submit()
 
diff --git a/specs/idle-draft.spec.md b/specs/idle-draft.spec.md
index b212803..ca7e562 100644
--- a/specs/idle-draft.spec.md
+++ b/specs/idle-draft.spec.md
@@ -218,8 +218,10 @@ next cycle); the walk continues to the next candidate.
 Up to `parallel` tasks run concurrently (`concurrent.futures.ThreadPoolExecutor`).
 Each completion is handled **serially** in the main thread (state updates and git
 commits never race). On every completion — and before the very first dispatch — the
-gates (§6) are recomputed from a fresh probe (§5); a task is submitted to fill a free
-worker slot only while an eligible `(item, work_type, provider)` triple remains. The
+gates (§6) are recomputed from a fresh probe (§5); tasks are then submitted until
+**every** free worker slot is filled or no eligible `(item, work_type, provider)`
+triple remains — one completion may therefore trigger multiple submissions, and the
+initial call before the first dispatch fills the whole pool, not one slot. The
 loop exits (dispatch mode, non-dryrun) when no eligible candidate remains. `--once`
 dispatches at most one task total, then exits without waiting for further slots.