diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 5b135b2..258a95f 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@ Notable changes to JevGate. Versions follow [Semantic Versioning](https://semver
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+- `--dry-run` plans the files whose purpose the cache already answers, as a run does, so a warm cache's estimate matches the run: on a Rails project it counted 106 of 1,532 requests as new while the run sent none.
+
 ## [0.19.0] - 2026-09-25
 
 - Inline suppressions: a comment `jevgate: allow(RULE) reason` on a finding's line, or in the comments and attributes directly above it, accepts that finding as the baseline does. RULE is a rule ID, key or group, and the reason is required; the report keeps the finding with its reason (`suppressed`, and `gate.suppressed_findings`), and `jevgate baseline` leaves it out.
diff --git a/src/evaluate.rs b/src/evaluate.rs
index ed9b24d..c9d7c6e 100644
--- a/src/evaluate.rs
+++ b/src/evaluate.rs
@@ -123,9 +123,10 @@ fn empty_report(args: &CheckArgs, current: &SnapshotContext<'_>, files: Vec<File
 }
 
 /// Planned first-pass requests, without credentials, network or writes; the
-/// cache is read so answered requests are not counted as cost. Requests that
-/// depend on answers (after file purpose, rechecks, locating blocks) are not
-/// known yet.
+/// cache is read so answered requests are not counted as cost. A file whose
+/// purpose the cache answers is planned as a run plans it; requests that
+/// depend on new answers (an unanswered file purpose, rechecks, locating
+/// blocks) are not known yet.
 fn preview(inputs: &[Input], args: &CheckArgs, root: &std::path::Path, report: &mut Report) {
     let budget = &TokenBudget::load(root);
     let mut planned = Vec::new();
@@ -136,7 +137,21 @@ fn preview(inputs: &[Input], args: &CheckArgs, root: &std::path::Path, report: &
         }
         match schedule(input, args, budget, &mut report.files[owner]) {
             Ok(Scheduled::None) => {}
-            Ok(Scheduled::Purpose(request)) => planned.push(request),
+            Ok(Scheduled::Purpose(request)) => {
+                if let Some(body) = crate::requests::answered(root, args, &request) {
+                    let file = &mut report.files[owner];
+                    let view = crate::file_kind::record_purpose(file, &request, &body)
+                        .and_then(|()| crate::file_kind::decide_after_purpose(input, args, file));
+                    match view {
+                        Ok(Some(view)) => {
+                            views.insert(owner, view);
+                        }
+                        Ok(None) => {}
+                        Err(error) => report.errors.push(error.to_string()),
+                    }
+                }
+                planned.push(request);
+            }
             Ok(Scheduled::Ready(view)) => {
                 views.insert(owner, *view);
             }
@@ -155,7 +170,7 @@ fn preview(inputs: &[Input], args: &CheckArgs, root: &std::path::Path, report: &
             .or_default();
         stage.planned_requests += 1;
         stage.planned_evidence_bytes += crate::requests::evidence_bytes(&request);
-        if crate::requests::answered(root, args, &request) {
+        if crate::requests::answered(root, args, &request).is_some() {
             stage.planned_cached += 1;
         } else {
             stage.planned_tokens += budget.request_tokens(&request) as u64;
diff --git a/src/file_kind.rs b/src/file_kind.rs
index 650aff7..e2fae04 100644
--- a/src/file_kind.rs
+++ b/src/file_kind.rs
@@ -896,6 +896,24 @@ mod tests {
         }
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn a_dry_run_plans_the_units_of_a_file_whose_purpose_the_cache_answers() {
+        let project = Project::new();
+        project.write("tests/support.rs", SUPPORT);
+        let mut options = args();
+        options.rules = vec![crate::catalog::FUNCTION_SIMPLIFICATION.into()];
+        run(&project, &options, &mut PurposeEval::new("mixed"));
+        options.dry_run = true;
+        let stages = crate::tests::snapshot(&project, &options).1.stages;
+        let planned = |stage: &str| (stages[stage].planned_requests, stages[stage].planned_cached);
+        assert_eq!(planned("file-purpose"), (1, 1));
+        assert_eq!(
+            planned("functions"),
+            (1, 1),
+            "the units a run sends are planned"
+        );
+    }
+
     struct PurposeEval {
         mode: &'static str,
         calls: usize,
diff --git a/src/requests.rs b/src/requests.rs
index 099d901..3d6342a 100644
--- a/src/requests.rs
+++ b/src/requests.rs
@@ -92,17 +92,17 @@ fn cached_answer(
     .filter(|(b, _)| response::validate(b, request).is_ok())
 }
 
-/// Whether a dry run's planned request already has a cached answer, read
-/// without opening the store.
+/// A dry run's cached answer to a planned request, read without opening the
+/// store.
 pub(super) fn answered(
     root: &std::path::Path,
     args: &crate::options::CheckArgs,
     request: &Value,
-) -> bool {
+) -> Option<Value> {
     cached_answer(args, request, |key, ttl| {
         crate::storage::peek(root, key, ttl)
     })
-    .is_some()
+    .map(|(body, _)| body)
 }
 
 impl Session<'_> {
diff --git a/src/tests/mod.rs b/src/tests/mod.rs
index 3dd85b1..3f738d4 100644
--- a/src/tests/mod.rs
+++ b/src/tests/mod.rs
@@ -167,7 +167,10 @@ pub(super) fn session<'a>(
 }
 
 /// The selected inputs and the first snapshot of a check, before evaluation.
-fn snapshot(project: &Project, options: &CheckArgs) -> (Vec<inventory::Input>, schema::Report) {
+pub(super) fn snapshot(
+    project: &Project,
+    options: &CheckArgs,
+) -> (Vec<inventory::Input>, schema::Report) {
     let context = project.context();
     let scope = inventory::scope(options, &context).unwrap();
     let inputs = inventory::collect(options, &context, &scope).unwrap();