diff --git a/internal/clock/clock.go b/internal/clock/clock.go
index a18cf93e..0955f4ba 100644
--- a/internal/clock/clock.go
+++ b/internal/clock/clock.go
@@ -361,7 +361,7 @@ func (c *Clock) ProcessEventsWhile(ctx context.Context, f func() bool) error {
 
 func (c *Clock) processEventsWhile(ctx context.Context, f func() bool, name string) error {
 	errs := make([]error, 0, 1+c.pendingEvents*2)
-	errs = append(errs, c.RunAll()) // Run microtasks first
+	errs = append(errs, c.runDueTasks()...)
 	c.logger().Debug("Clock.processEventsWhile", "pendingCount", c.pendingEvents, "this", c)
 	for f() {
 		c.logger().Debug("Clock.ProcessEvents: waiting")
@@ -372,7 +372,7 @@ func (c *Clock) processEventsWhile(ctx context.Context, f func() bool, name stri
 			c.logger().
 				Debug("clock.ProcessEvent: processed", "pendingCount", c.pendingEvents, log.ErrAttr(err))
 			errs = append(errs, err)
-			errs = append(errs, c.RunAll())
+			errs = append(errs, c.runDueTasks()...)
 		case <-ctx.Done():
 			return fmt.Errorf("Clock.%s: timeout waiting for event", name)
 		}
@@ -380,6 +380,16 @@ func (c *Clock) processEventsWhile(ctx context.Context, f func() bool, name stri
 	return errors.Join(errs...)
 }
 
+// runDueTasks drains microtasks and any timers whose scheduled time has
+// already passed, but leaves future-scheduled timers alone. This is what
+// ProcessEvents needs: progress real async work without fast-forwarding
+// through unrelated long-delay timeouts.
+func (c *Clock) runDueTasks() []error {
+	return c.runWhile(func() bool {
+		return len(c.tasks) > 0 && !c.tasks[0].time.After(c.Time)
+	})
+}
+
 func (c *Clock) generateHandle() TaskHandle {
 	c.nextHandle++
 	return c.nextHandle
diff --git a/internal/clock/clock_test.go b/internal/clock/clock_test.go
index d67f009a..07d736c2 100644
--- a/internal/clock/clock_test.go
+++ b/internal/clock/clock_test.go
@@ -217,6 +217,34 @@ func (s *ClockTestSuite) TestProcessEvents() {
 	s.Assert().Equal(1, count, "count before processEvents")
 }
 
+// ProcessEvents waits for pending async work (microtasks, fetches, posted
+// events), not unrelated future timers. A long setTimeout armed before the
+// call must not fire — otherwise frameworks like htmx, which arm a defensive
+// abort timer on every request, get their requests cancelled mid-flight.
+func (s *ClockTestSuite) TestProcessEventsDoesNotFireFutureTimers() {
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(s.T().Context(), time.Millisecond)
+	defer cancel()
+
+	c := clock.New(clock.OfIsoString("2025-02-01T12:00:00Z"))
+	var fired bool
+	c.SetTimeout(wrapTask(func() { fired = true }), 60*time.Second)
+
+	var eventCount int
+	e := c.BeginEvent()
+	go func() {
+		e.AddEvent(func() error { eventCount++; return nil })
+	}()
+
+	s.Require().NoError(c.ProcessEvents(ctx))
+	s.Assert().Equal(1, eventCount, "posted event should be processed")
+	s.Assert().False(fired, "future timer must not fire from ProcessEvents")
+	s.Assert().Equal(feb1st2025_noon_milli, c.Time.UnixMilli(), "clock should not advance")
+
+	// The timer is still pending and fires on explicit Advance.
+	s.Require().NoError(c.Advance(60 * time.Second))
+	s.Assert().True(fired, "timer fires when its scheduled time is reached")
+}
+
 func (s *ClockTestSuite) TestProcessEventsUntil() {
 	var count int