diff --git a/src/main.py b/src/main.py
index 44fadfa..2f119a4 100644
--- a/src/main.py
+++ b/src/main.py
@@ -1031,19 +1031,10 @@ def _maybe_queue_order_intent(
     price: float,
     source: str,
 ) -> bool:
-    def _coerce_nonnegative_int(value: Any) -> int:
-        try:
-            parsed = int(value)
-        except (TypeError, ValueError):
-            return 0
-        return max(0, parsed)
-
     if not BLACKOUT_ORDER_MANAGER.in_blackout():
         return False
 
-    before_overflow_drops = _coerce_nonnegative_int(
-        getattr(BLACKOUT_ORDER_MANAGER, "overflow_drop_count", 0)
-    )
+    before_overflow_drops = BLACKOUT_ORDER_MANAGER.overflow_drop_count
     queued = BLACKOUT_ORDER_MANAGER.enqueue(
         _build_queued_order_intent(
             market=market,
@@ -1055,9 +1046,7 @@ def _maybe_queue_order_intent(
         )
     )
     if queued:
-        after_overflow_drops = _coerce_nonnegative_int(
-            getattr(BLACKOUT_ORDER_MANAGER, "overflow_drop_count", 0)
-        )
+        after_overflow_drops = BLACKOUT_ORDER_MANAGER.overflow_drop_count
         logger.warning(
             (
                 "Blackout active: queued order intent %s %s (%s) "
diff --git a/tests/test_main.py b/tests/test_main.py
index c24c6c6..5c83d9e 100644
--- a/tests/test_main.py
+++ b/tests/test_main.py
@@ -6502,6 +6502,7 @@ async def test_blackout_queues_order_and_skips_submission() -> None:
     blackout_manager.in_blackout.return_value = True
     blackout_manager.enqueue.return_value = True
     blackout_manager.pending_count = 1
+    blackout_manager.overflow_drop_count = 0
 
     with patch("src.main.BLACKOUT_ORDER_MANAGER", blackout_manager):
         await trading_cycle(