diff --git a/src/globe/surfacePlacement.js b/src/globe/surfacePlacement.js
index eceafaa34..b90d150cc 100644
--- a/src/globe/surfacePlacement.js
+++ b/src/globe/surfacePlacement.js
@@ -219,9 +219,12 @@ export function createSurfacePoints(
             )
           : point.position;
         if (!onScreen(position, size)) continue;
-        // The camera estimate above counts too: leave this point for the
-        // next pass rather than go over the budget.
-        if (samples >= SAMPLES_PER_PASS) {
+        // The camera estimate and the work since the check above count too:
+        // leave this point for the next pass rather than go over the budget.
+        if (
+          samples >= SAMPLES_PER_PASS ||
+          (samples > 0 && performance.now() - started >= SAMPLE_BUDGET_MS)
+        ) {
           point.surfaceRevision = previousRevision;
           yieldPass();
           return;
diff --git a/src/globe/surfacePlacement.test.mjs b/src/globe/surfacePlacement.test.mjs
index 5bcd5c23d..d44adb5fb 100644
--- a/src/globe/surfacePlacement.test.mjs
+++ b/src/globe/surfacePlacement.test.mjs
@@ -263,3 +263,33 @@ test('placement makes progress when preparing a group exhausts the time budget',
   surface.place();
   assert.equal(point.surfaceHeight, 50);
 });
+
+test('no tile sample starts once the pass has used its time', async (t) => {
+  let now = 0;
+  const { engine, surface } = setup(t, 4);
+  t.mock.method(performance, 'now', () => now);
+  await engine.maps.setPhotorealTiles({});
+  engine.fake.script('terrainHeight', 10);
+  // Each sample takes 1.5 ms; projecting the next point another 0.4 ms.
+  engine.fake.script('sampleHeight', () => {
+    now += 1.5;
+    return 50;
+  });
+  const project = engine.projector.worldToWindow;
+  engine.projector.worldToWindow = (position) => {
+    now += 0.4;
+    return project(position);
+  };
+  const starts = [];
+  const sample = engine.surface.sampleHeight;
+  engine.surface.sampleHeight = (...args) => {
+    starts.push(now);
+    return sample(...args);
+  };
+  surface.place();
+  assert.ok(starts.length >= 1);
+  assert.ok(
+    starts.slice(1).every((ms) => ms < 4),
+    `samples started at ${starts.join(', ')} ms`,
+  );
+});