diff --git a/core/src/com/unciv/logic/city/managers/CityPopulationManager.kt b/core/src/com/unciv/logic/city/managers/CityPopulationManager.kt
index 43fd920a14..cbbbc79acc 100644
--- a/core/src/com/unciv/logic/city/managers/CityPopulationManager.kt
+++ b/core/src/com/unciv/logic/city/managers/CityPopulationManager.kt
@@ -109,6 +109,12 @@ class CityPopulationManager : IsPartOfGameInfoSerialization {
         if (city.getMatchingUniques(UniqueType.NullifiesGrowth).any())
             return
 
+        // Hard block growth when using Avoid Growth, cap stored food
+        if (city.avoidGrowth) {
+            foodStored = foodNeededToGrow
+            return
+        }
+
         // growth!
         foodStored -= foodNeededToGrow
         val percentOfFoodCarriedOver =