diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 789e4f113..0b2adbfbd 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ The format is based on [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.0.0/)
 - Fixed a bug where all special racial expansions could not run on the first expansion.
 - Lots of fixes to ancient expansion logic improving overall reliability.
 - Fixed bug where ancient attacks didn't take account of ancient strength in retreat calculations.
+- Item expansion now only occurs when the AI naturally wants to expand instead of making the AI expand earlier.
 - (DevTools) Removed use of hardcoded ids in expansion tracking for custom mod support.
 
 ## [3.4.1] - 2024-12-07
diff --git a/Jobs.txt b/Jobs.txt
index a71fe95a6..b56c8df91 100644
--- a/Jobs.txt
+++ b/Jobs.txt
@@ -44,6 +44,5 @@ SEND_HOME	20	SendUnitHomeJob(unit_par, par)	false	0	0
 RESET_WINDWALKER	9	ResetWindWalkerGuardPosition(unit_par)	false	0	0
 BUILD_EXPANSION	10	BuildExpansionJob(unit_par, unit_par2)	false	0	0
 ITEM_EXPANSION	20	ItemExpansionJob()	false	0	0
-ITEM_EXPANSION_CHECK	30	ItemExpansionCheck()	false	0	0
 ITEM_REPEAT_CHECK	160	ItemRepeatCheck()	true	200	220
 RESET_ANCIENT	10	ResetAncient(unit_par)	false	0	0
diff --git a/Jobs/ITEM_EXPANSION.eai b/Jobs/ITEM_EXPANSION.eai
index 6f802617b..590930e7c 100644
--- a/Jobs/ITEM_EXPANSION.eai
+++ b/Jobs/ITEM_EXPANSION.eai
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 #IFDEF GLOBAL
   integer item_exp_state = 0
   unit itemhero = null
-  boolean item_attack_running = false
+  boolean item_expanding = false
+  boolean item_job_running = false
   boolean expitem_buy = false
   location item_exp_guard_loc = null
 #ELSE
@@ -16,7 +17,7 @@ function ItemExpansionJob takes nothing returns nothing
   if (itemhero != null and GetUnitState(itemhero, UNIT_STATE_LIFE) <= 0) or town_threatened or current_expansion == null then
     call RecycleGuardPosition(itemhero)
     call Trace("Expansion cannot or no Expansion")  // no call ChooseExpansion() , this is passive expansion , avoidance buy repeat item
-    set item_attack_running = false
+    set item_job_running = false
     set item_expanding = false
     set expitem_buy = false
     set item_exp_state = 0
@@ -25,6 +26,7 @@ function ItemExpansionJob takes nothing returns nothing
   endif
   set exp_time_count = ai_time
   set u = GetExpFoe(u)
+  set item_job_running = true
   if item_exp_state == 0 then
     call Trace("Expansion Distance: " + Int2Str(R2I(GetExpansionDistance())))
     call Trace("Expansion state 0: Check Expansion Hero and Location")
@@ -35,11 +37,11 @@ function ItemExpansionJob takes nothing returns nothing
       endif
     endif
     if u == null then
-      set item_attack_running = false
       if itemhero == null and expitem_buy == false then
-        if GetGold() < gold_price[race_item_expansion_item_id] + 120 or GetWood() < wood_price[race_item_expansion_item_id] + 80 then
+        if GetGold() < gold_price[race_item_expansion_item_id] or GetWood() < wood_price[race_item_expansion_item_id] then
           call Trace("Expansion no gold or wood")
           set item_expanding = false
+          set item_job_running = false
           set item_exp_state = 0
           set itemhero = null
           return
@@ -84,8 +86,8 @@ function ItemExpansionJob takes nothing returns nothing
     else
       call Trace("Expansion Done")
       call RecycleGuardPosition(itemhero)
-      set item_attack_running = false
       set item_expanding = false
+      set item_job_running = false
       set expitem_buy = false
       set item_exp_state = 0
       set itemhero = null
diff --git a/Jobs/ITEM_EXPANSION_CHECK.eai b/Jobs/ITEM_EXPANSION_CHECK.eai
deleted file mode 100644
index 8c5dc65fc..000000000
--- a/Jobs/ITEM_EXPANSION_CHECK.eai
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,28 +0,0 @@
-#IFDEF GLOBAL
-  boolean item_expanding = false
-#ELSE
-
-// ######################## Item Expansion Check #################
-// #  Created by JZY 20/05/23. Conditions that check that .  reference ANCIENT_EXPANSION
-// #  an item expansion can start.
-// ##################################################################
-
-function ItemExpansionCheck takes nothing returns nothing
-  call DisplayToAllJobDebug("ITEM_EXPANSION_CHECK JOB START")
-  if not item_expanding then
-    if take_exp and current_expansion != null and not CheckExpansionTaken(current_expansion) and GetResourceAmount(current_expansion) > (gold_price[race_item_expansion_item_id] + 300) and not_taken_expansion == null and shop_unit != null and race_item_expansion_item_id != 0 then
-      call Trace("Item expansion check - Could expand if available")  // this is passive expansion , no set not_taken_expansion , but need current_expansion not not_taken_expansion
-      if tier >= race_item_sale_level then
-        call Trace("Item expansion check - Begin Job")
-        set item_expanding = true
-        call TQAddJob(1, ITEM_EXPANSION, 0)
-      endif
-    endif
-  endif
-  if not item_expanding then
-    call Trace("Item expansion check - Not available")
-  endif
-  call TQAddJob(50, ITEM_EXPANSION_CHECK, 0)
-endfunction
-
-#ENDIF
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/common.eai b/common.eai
index 476304b07..2eba4c44e 100644
--- a/common.eai
+++ b/common.eai
@@ -10929,6 +10929,13 @@ function StartExpansionAM takes integer qty, integer hall returns integer
  // call DisplayTextToPlayer(GetLocalPlayer(), 0, 0, "Expansion choosen")
   set gold_cost = GetUnitGoldCost2(hall)
   set wood_cost = GetUnitWoodCost2(hall)
+  if item_expanding then
+    set gold_cost = gold_price[race_item_expansion_item_id]
+    set wood_cost = wood_price[race_item_expansion_item_id]
+  endif
+  if item_expanding and not item_job_running then
+    call TQAddJob(1, ITEM_EXPANSION, 0)
+  endif
 
   set total_gold = total_gold - gold_cost
   set total_wood = total_wood - wood_cost
@@ -10936,8 +10943,8 @@ function StartExpansionAM takes integer qty, integer hall returns integer
   set take_exp = (GetExpFoe(u) != null)
   set u = null
   
-  if ancient_expanding then
-    return BUILT_SOME
+  if ancient_expanding or militia_expanding then
+    return BUILT_SOME // Just safety check to prevent normal expansion running while these are both running
   endif
   
   if take_exp then
@@ -10956,6 +10963,10 @@ function StartExpansionAM takes integer qty, integer hall returns integer
   if total_wood < 0 and wood_cost > 0 then
     return NOT_ENOUGH_RES
   endif
+  
+  if item_expanding then  
+    return BUILT_SOME
+  endif  
 
  // call DisplayTextToPlayer(GetLocalPlayer(), 0, 0, "Expansion rescources sorted")
   if expansion_peon == null or not UnitAlive(expansion_peon) then
@@ -11419,8 +11430,6 @@ if exp_prepared and race_item_expansion_available and not item_expanding and spe
   set specialexpand = false
   if GetRandomInt(1, 100) <= race_item_expansion_probability and shop_unit != null and race_item_expansion_item_id != 0 and tier >= race_item_sale_level then
       set item_expanding = true
-      call TQAddJob(1, ITEM_EXPANSION, 0)
-      return
   endif
 endif
 
@@ -13299,25 +13308,6 @@ function SingleMeleeAttackAM takes boolean needs_exp, boolean has_siege, integer
         return // Don't do new attacks yet as nearly ready to help expansion  
       endif  
     endif
-
-    // item expansion attack
-    //
-    if item_expanding then
-      call Trace("An Item Expansion Attack or Guard")
-      set item_attack_running = true
-      
-      if item_exp_state == 1 then
-        call AttackMoveKillCreep(GetExpFoe(creep), false)
-        set item_attack_running = false
-        set creep = null
-      elseif item_exp_state > 0 then
-        call FromGroupAndGhoulsAM(3)
-        call AttackMoveKillXYAAM(R2I(GetLocationX(item_exp_guard_loc)),R2I(GetLocationY(item_exp_guard_loc)))  //Prevent the army from leaving before using the item , so no set item_attack_running
-      endif
-      return
-    endif
-
-
   
   if rushcreep_target != null and UnitAlive(rushcreep_target) and GetLocationCreepStrength(GetUnitX(rushcreep_target), GetUnitY(rushcreep_target), 510) < own_strength + 5 then // Matches getOwnStrength +5 addition for ancient
     set battle_radius = creep_battle_radius