diff --git a/bot.py b/bot.py
index 9b752bd..e167c77 100644
--- a/bot.py
+++ b/bot.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ from modules.common.boot_notice import post_boot_notice
 
 # Version consists of:
 # Major.Enhancement.Minor.Patch.Test  (Test is alphanumeric; doesn’t trigger auto update)
-VERSION = "0.4.1.0.a2"
+VERSION = "0.4.1.0.a3"
 
 # ---------- Env loading ----------
 
diff --git a/modules/usage/usage_stats.py b/modules/usage/usage_stats.py
index c907cd7..4397310 100644
--- a/modules/usage/usage_stats.py
+++ b/modules/usage/usage_stats.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 from discord.ext import commands
 import discord
+from collections import OrderedDict
 
 COUNTER_KEY_PREFIX = "cmd::"
 
@@ -17,66 +18,96 @@ def _key_from_ctx(ctx: commands.Context) -> str:
     return f"{COUNTER_KEY_PREFIX}{name}"
 
 class UsageStatsCog(commands.Cog):
-    """Lightweight command run/attempt counters persisted in DataManager."""
+    """Lightweight command run counters with de-dup + hybrid guards."""
 
     def __init__(self, bot: commands.Bot):
         self.bot = bot
+        # Simple LRU caches for seen events (avoid double/quad increments)
+        self._seen_interactions: OrderedDict[int, int] = OrderedDict()  # slash
+        self._seen_messages: OrderedDict[int, int] = OrderedDict()      # prefix/hybrid
         print("[usage] UsageStatsCog init")
 
-    # ---- successful completions ----
+    # ----- small LRU helpers -----
+    @staticmethod
+    def _lru_mark_seen(lru: OrderedDict, key, cap: int) -> bool:
+        """Return True if already seen; otherwise record and trim to cap."""
+        if key is None:
+            return False
+        if key in lru:
+            # refresh order
+            lru.move_to_end(key, last=True)
+            return True
+        lru[key] = 1
+        # trim if needed
+        while len(lru) > cap:
+            lru.popitem(last=False)
+        return False
+
+    # ----- successful completions -----
 
     @commands.Cog.listener()
     async def on_app_command_completion(self, interaction: discord.Interaction, command: discord.app_commands.Command):
+        # De-dup by interaction id
+        iid = getattr(interaction, "id", None)
+        if self._lru_mark_seen(self._seen_interactions, iid, cap=2048):
+            print(f"[usage] app ~~ dup ignored (iid={iid})")
+            return
+
         dm = getattr(self.bot, "data_manager", None)
         if not dm:
-            print("[usage] skip app (no data_manager)")
+            print("[usage] app ~~ skip (no data_manager)")
             return
         try:
             key = _key_from_app(command)
             newv = dm.incr_counter(key, 1)
             print(f"[usage] app ++ {key} -> {newv}")
         except Exception as e:
-            print("[usage] incr app failed:", repr(e))
+            print("[usage] app !! incr failed:", repr(e))
 
     @commands.Cog.listener()
     async def on_command_completion(self, ctx: commands.Context):
+        # If a HybridCommand was invoked via slash, some setups can still fire this.
+        # Guard: only count here when NOT an interaction-backed invoke.
+        if isinstance(getattr(ctx, "command", None), commands.HybridCommand) and getattr(ctx, "interaction", None):
+            print("[usage] px  ~~ hybrid-as-slash; ignore here (app listener handled it)")
+            return
+
+        # De-dup by message id
+        msg = getattr(ctx, "message", None)
+        mid = getattr(msg, "id", None)
+        if self._lru_mark_seen(self._seen_messages, mid, cap=4096):
+            print(f"[usage] px  ~~ dup ignored (mid={mid})")
+            return
+
         dm = getattr(self.bot, "data_manager", None)
         if not dm:
-            print("[usage] skip prefix (no data_manager)")
+            print("[usage] px  ~~ skip (no data_manager)")
             return
         try:
             key = _key_from_ctx(ctx)
             newv = dm.incr_counter(key, 1)
             print(f"[usage] px  ++ {key} -> {newv}")
         except Exception as e:
-            print("[usage] incr prefix failed:", repr(e))
+            print("[usage] px  !! incr failed:", repr(e))
 
-    # ---- attempts that error (optional but useful while testing) ----
+    # ----- attempts that error (optional, keep while validating) -----
 
     @commands.Cog.listener()
     async def on_app_command_error(self, interaction: discord.Interaction, error: Exception):
-        # Count attempts (separate key) so you can confirm the listener fires at all.
-        dm = getattr(self.bot, "data_manager", None)
-        cmd = getattr(interaction, "command", None)
-        if dm and isinstance(cmd, discord.app_commands.Command):
-            try:
-                key = _key_from_app(cmd).replace("cmd::", "cmd_attempt::")
-                newv = dm.incr_counter(key, 1)
-                print(f"[usage] app !! {key} -> {newv} ({type(error).__name__})")
-            except Exception as e:
-                print("[usage] app err incr failed:", repr(e))
+        # We won't increment exec counters on error; this is only for debug visibility.
+        iid = getattr(interaction, "id", None)
+        print(f"[usage] app ** error ({type(error).__name__}) iid={iid}")
 
     @commands.Cog.listener()
     async def on_command_error(self, ctx: commands.Context, error: Exception):
-        dm = getattr(self.bot, "data_manager", None)
-        if dm and getattr(ctx, "command", None):
-            try:
-                key = _key_from_ctx(ctx).replace("cmd::", "cmd_attempt::")
-                newv = dm.incr_counter(key, 1)
-                print(f"[usage] px  !! {key} -> {newv} ({type(error).__name__})")
-            except Exception as e:
-                print("[usage] px err incr failed:", repr(e))
+        mid = getattr(getattr(ctx, "message", None), "id", None)
+        print(f"[usage] px  ** error ({type(error).__name__}) mid={mid}")
 
 async def setup(bot: commands.Bot):
+    # Prevent duplicate registration if extensions are reloaded / auto-discovered twice
+    if getattr(bot, "_usage_stats_loaded", False):
+        print("[usage] UsageStatsCog already loaded; skipping duplicate add")
+        return
     await bot.add_cog(UsageStatsCog(bot))
+    bot._usage_stats_loaded = True
     print("[usage] UsageStatsCog loaded")