diff --git a/src/fabledassistant/services/tools/_helpers.py b/src/fabledassistant/services/tools/_helpers.py
index d6bbc2f..2ec5b1b 100644
--- a/src/fabledassistant/services/tools/_helpers.py
+++ b/src/fabledassistant/services/tools/_helpers.py
@@ -54,30 +54,24 @@ def score_project_match(query: str, project) -> float:
 
 
 async def resolve_project(user_id: int, project_name: str):
-    """Exact-then-fuzzy project lookup. Returns the Project or None.
+    """Exact-then-scored project lookup. Returns the Project or None.
 
     Resolution order:
-    1. Exact title match (case-insensitive via DB)
-    2. project_name is a substring of an existing title
-    3. Existing title is a substring of project_name
-    4. SequenceMatcher ratio >= 0.55
+    1. Exact title match (case-insensitive via DB query).
+    2. Highest `score_project_match` across all projects, threshold 0.55.
     """
     from fabledassistant.services.projects import get_project_by_title, list_projects
 
     proj = await get_project_by_title(user_id, project_name)
     if proj is not None:
         return proj
-    needle = project_name.lower().strip()
+
     all_p = await list_projects(user_id)
+    best, best_score = None, 0.0
     for p in all_p:
-        haystack = p.title.lower().strip()
-        if needle in haystack or haystack in needle:
-            return p
-    best, best_r = None, 0.0
-    for p in all_p:
-        r = SequenceMatcher(None, needle, p.title.lower().strip()).ratio()
-        if r >= 0.55 and r > best_r:
-            best, best_r = p, r
+        score = score_project_match(project_name, p)
+        if score >= 0.55 and score > best_score:
+            best, best_score = p, score
     return best
 
 
diff --git a/tests/test_tool_use_fixes.py b/tests/test_tool_use_fixes.py
index ef62872..18b8278 100644
--- a/tests/test_tool_use_fixes.py
+++ b/tests/test_tool_use_fixes.py
@@ -109,3 +109,35 @@ async def test_search_projects_tool_ranks_substring_match_above_others():
     top = result["data"]["projects"][0]
     assert top["id"] == 5, f"expected Famous-Supply to rank first, got {top}"
     assert top["score"] >= 0.85
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_resolve_project_finds_colloquial_match(monkeypatch):
+    """resolve_project must surface 'Famous-Supply Work topics' when the
+    user passes 'famous supply project' — substring match via the shared
+    score helper, score 0.85 ≥ 0.55 threshold."""
+    from fabledassistant.services.tools import _helpers
+
+    fake_projects = [
+        _project(12, "Minstrel", auto_summary="self-hosted music server"),
+        _project(5, "Famous-Supply Work topics", auto_summary="AT&T fiber circuit"),
+    ]
+
+    async def fake_get_project_by_title(uid, name):
+        return None  # force the scored path
+
+    async def fake_list_projects(uid):
+        return fake_projects
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        "fabledassistant.services.projects.get_project_by_title",
+        fake_get_project_by_title,
+    )
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        "fabledassistant.services.projects.list_projects",
+        fake_list_projects,
+    )
+
+    result = await _helpers.resolve_project(user_id=1, project_name="famous supply project")
+    assert result is not None
+    assert result.id == 5