diff --git a/src/disc/patch.rs b/src/disc/patch.rs
index 018c8a0..c83ca6d 100644
--- a/src/disc/patch.rs
+++ b/src/disc/patch.rs
@@ -1957,6 +1957,14 @@ impl Disc {
             // (below), dropping to the slow recovery speed for the rest of the
             // range and arming the inter-range cooldown.
             reader.set_speed(0xFFFF);
+            tracing::info!(
+                target: "freemkv::disc",
+                phase = "patch_speed",
+                range_lba = *range_pos / 2048,
+                range_sectors,
+                speed = "0xFFFF",
+                "patch: range entering at MAX read speed (drops to slow recovery on first failure)"
+            );
             state.current_batch = initial_batch;
             let mut range_slowed = false;
             loop {
@@ -2082,9 +2090,17 @@ impl Disc {
                         // Idempotent — only the first failure issues SET CD SPEED.
                         if !range_slowed {
                             reader.set_speed(0x0000);
+                            tracing::info!(
+                                target: "freemkv::disc",
+                                phase = "patch_speed",
+                                lba,
+                                speed = "0x0000",
+                                "patch: range dropped to slow recovery speed on first read failure"
+                            );
                             range_slowed = true;
                             cooldown_pending = true;
                         }
+
                         match handle_read_failure(
                             &mut state,
                             &frame,
diff --git a/src/drive/mod.rs b/src/drive/mod.rs
index 8511e93..4bcd92c 100644
--- a/src/drive/mod.rs
+++ b/src/drive/mod.rs
@@ -431,11 +431,14 @@ impl Drive {
             if let Some(vid) = unlocked.vid {
                 self.oem_vid = Some(vid);
             }
-            // Now that the drive is unlocked, raise it to its maximum read speed
-            // with a generic SET CD SPEED. Best-effort: a failure here must NOT
-            // fail the rip — a slow drive still rips.
-            self.set_speed(crate::speed::DriveSpeed::Max.to_kbps());
         }
+        // Raise the drive to its maximum read speed with a generic SET CD SPEED —
+        // UNCONDITIONALLY, whether or not an unlocker matched. A stock-mode BD/UHD
+        // drive (no firmware unlocker) still wants max speed; gating this on an
+        // unlocker match left such drives riplocked. (DVD returns earlier in
+        // stock mode; its sweep sets DVD speed separately.) Best-effort: a
+        // failure here must NOT fail the rip — a slow drive still rips.
+        self.set_speed(crate::speed::DriveSpeed::Max.to_kbps());
         let r: Result<()> = Ok(());
         tracing::info!(
             target: "freemkv::drive",