diff --git a/core/loadpoint.go b/core/loadpoint.go
index 5b8bebff3..154686ac0 100644
--- a/core/loadpoint.go
+++ b/core/loadpoint.go
@@ -1061,15 +1061,20 @@ func (lp *Loadpoint) charging() bool {
 func (lp *Loadpoint) PvChargeStarting() bool {
 	lp.RLock()
 	enabled := lp.enabled
-	pvTimerRunning := !lp.pvTimer.IsZero()
+	pvTimer := lp.pvTimer
 	lp.RUnlock()
 
 	if lp.GetMode() != api.ModePV || !lp.connected() || lp.chargeGoalReached(enabled) {
 		return false
 	}
 
-	// enable timer running (not yet enabled)
-	return !enabled && pvTimerRunning
+	if enabled || pvTimer.IsZero() {
+		return false
+	}
+
+	// a timer restarting on every surplus dip never starts the loadpoint, hence
+	// only claim surplus once it has survived half of the enable delay (#32778)
+	return lp.clock.Since(pvTimer) >= lp.GetEnableDelay()/2
 }
 
 // chargeGoalReached reports whether the loadpoint will not draw more: enabled
diff --git a/core/site.go b/core/site.go
index 901946704..6f0191616 100644
--- a/core/site.go
+++ b/core/site.go
@@ -1127,7 +1127,9 @@ func (site *Site) reservedPVPower(lp updater) float64 {
 			continue
 		}
 		if other.EffectivePriority() > prio && other.PvChargeStarting() {
-			reserved += other.EffectiveMaxPower()
+			// min power is what the loadpoint needs to start, reserving its max
+			// power would starve this loadpoint beyond that (#32778)
+			reserved += other.EffectiveMinPower()
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/core/site_prioritize_test.go b/core/site_prioritize_test.go
index aeaae88b8..b6d4bcb20 100644
--- a/core/site_prioritize_test.go
+++ b/core/site_prioritize_test.go
@@ -10,8 +10,10 @@ import (
 	"github.com/evcc-io/evcc/util"
 )
 
+const testEnableDelay = time.Minute
+
 func newPVLoadpoint(prio int, mode api.ChargeMode, status api.ChargeStatus, enabled bool, timer time.Time) *Loadpoint {
-	return &Loadpoint{
+	lp := &Loadpoint{
 		log:        util.NewLogger("lp"),
 		clock:      clock.NewMock(),
 		minCurrent: minA,
@@ -23,13 +25,21 @@ func newPVLoadpoint(prio int, mode api.ChargeMode, status api.ChargeStatus, enab
 		pvTimer:    timer,
 		priority:   prio,
 	}
+	lp.Enable.Delay = testEnableDelay
+	return lp
+}
+
+// pvTimerStarted returns a timer start that has been running for the given duration
+func pvTimerStarted(running time.Duration) time.Time {
+	return clock.NewMock().Now().Add(-running)
 }
 
 func TestPvChargeStarting(t *testing.T) {
 	now := clock.NewMock().Now()
+	settled := pvTimerStarted(testEnableDelay / 2)
 
 	// enable timer running but car already full (soc at default 100% limit): not starting up
-	enablePendingFull := newPVLoadpoint(0, api.ModePV, api.StatusB, false, now)
+	enablePendingFull := newPVLoadpoint(0, api.ModePV, api.StatusB, false, settled)
 	enablePendingFull.vehicleSoc = 100
 
 	tc := []struct {
@@ -37,12 +47,13 @@ func TestPvChargeStarting(t *testing.T) {
 		lp       *Loadpoint
 		starting bool
 	}{
-		{"enable timer running", newPVLoadpoint(0, api.ModePV, api.StatusB, false, now), true},
+		{"enable timer running", newPVLoadpoint(0, api.ModePV, api.StatusB, false, settled), true},
+		{"enable timer just restarted", newPVLoadpoint(0, api.ModePV, api.StatusB, false, now), false},
 		{"enabled not charging", newPVLoadpoint(0, api.ModePV, api.StatusB, true, time.Time{}), false},
 		{"enabled and charging", newPVLoadpoint(0, api.ModePV, api.StatusC, true, time.Time{}), false},
 		{"disabled idle", newPVLoadpoint(0, api.ModePV, api.StatusB, false, time.Time{}), false},
-		{"disconnected", newPVLoadpoint(0, api.ModePV, api.StatusA, false, now), false},
-		{"not pv mode", newPVLoadpoint(0, api.ModeNow, api.StatusB, false, now), false},
+		{"disconnected", newPVLoadpoint(0, api.ModePV, api.StatusA, false, settled), false},
+		{"not pv mode", newPVLoadpoint(0, api.ModeNow, api.StatusB, false, settled), false},
 		{"enable pending but car full", enablePendingFull, false},
 	}
 
@@ -57,7 +68,7 @@ func TestReservedPVPower(t *testing.T) {
 	Voltage = 230
 
 	// higher-priority loadpoint (prio 1) starting up
-	high := newPVLoadpoint(1, api.ModePV, api.StatusB, false, clock.NewMock().Now())
+	high := newPVLoadpoint(1, api.ModePV, api.StatusB, false, pvTimerStarted(testEnableDelay/2))
 	// lower-priority loadpoint (prio 0) in PV mode
 	low := newPVLoadpoint(0, api.ModePV, api.StatusB, false, time.Time{})
 
@@ -66,10 +77,20 @@ func TestReservedPVPower(t *testing.T) {
 		loadpoints: []*Loadpoint{high, low},
 	}
 
-	// low reserves high's anticipated max power while high is starting up
-	if got, want := site.reservedPVPower(low), high.EffectiveMaxPower(); got != want {
+	// low reserves the power high needs to start, not its max power (#32778)
+	if got, want := site.reservedPVPower(low), high.EffectiveMinPower(); got != want {
 		t.Errorf("low: want %.0f, got %.0f", want, got)
 	}
+	if high.EffectiveMinPower() == high.EffectiveMaxPower() {
+		t.Fatal("test requires min and max power to differ")
+	}
+
+	// a timer restarting on every surplus dip must not reserve at all (#32778)
+	high.pvTimer = clock.NewMock().Now()
+	if got := site.reservedPVPower(low); got != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("low while high timer restarts: want 0, got %.0f", got)
+	}
+	high.pvTimer = pvTimerStarted(testEnableDelay / 2)
 
 	// high (top priority) reserves nothing
 	if got := site.reservedPVPower(high); got != 0 {