diff --git a/python/scripts/nvbench_compare.py b/python/scripts/nvbench_compare.py
index e75f158..adb9a10 100644
--- a/python/scripts/nvbench_compare.py
+++ b/python/scripts/nvbench_compare.py
@@ -865,9 +865,6 @@ def resolve_binary_filename(json_dir, binary_filename):
     if os.path.exists(parent_relative_filename):
         return parent_relative_filename
 
-    if os.path.exists(binary_filename):
-        return binary_filename
-
     return json_relative_filename
 
 
@@ -1778,6 +1775,15 @@ def has_robust_estimate(summary):
     )
 
 
+def has_robust_interval(summary):
+    return (
+        summary.minimum is not None
+        and summary.first_quartile is not None
+        and summary.median is not None
+        and summary.third_quartile is not None
+    )
+
+
 def has_mean_estimate(summary):
     return summary.mean is not None and (
         summary.stdev_relative is not None or summary.stdev is not None
@@ -1791,7 +1797,12 @@ def select_relative_dispersion(relative_dispersion, absolute_dispersion, center)
 
 
 def compute_common_time_estimates(ref_timing, cmp_timing):
-    if has_robust_estimate(ref_timing) and has_robust_estimate(cmp_timing):
+    if (
+        has_robust_estimate(ref_timing)
+        and has_robust_interval(ref_timing)
+        and has_robust_estimate(cmp_timing)
+        and has_robust_interval(cmp_timing)
+    ):
         return (
             TimeEstimate(
                 center=ref_timing.median,
diff --git a/python/test/test_nvbench_compare.py b/python/test/test_nvbench_compare.py
index 0743544..1269f46 100644
--- a/python/test/test_nvbench_compare.py
+++ b/python/test/test_nvbench_compare.py
@@ -658,6 +658,31 @@ def test_gpu_timing_data_warns_when_lazy_sample_read_fails(tmp_path, nvbench_com
     assert timing.samples is None
 
 
+def test_bulk_file_resolution_does_not_fall_back_to_cwd(
+    monkeypatch, tmp_path, nvbench_compare
+):
+    json_dir = tmp_path / "json"
+    cwd = tmp_path / "cwd"
+    json_dir.mkdir()
+    cwd.mkdir()
+    np.array([123.0], dtype="<f4").tofile(cwd / "samples.bin")
+    monkeypatch.chdir(cwd)
+
+    assert nvbench_compare.resolve_binary_filename(str(json_dir), "samples.bin") == str(
+        json_dir / "samples.bin"
+    )
+
+    timing = nvbench_compare.extract_gpu_timing_data(
+        [
+            make_binary_summary(nvbench_compare, "SAMPLE_TIMES_TAG", "samples.bin", 1),
+        ],
+        str(json_dir),
+    )
+
+    with pytest.warns(RuntimeWarning, match="failed to read"):
+        assert timing.samples is None
+
+
 def test_compare_gpu_timings_classifies_common_cases(tmp_path, nvbench_compare):
     ref_timing = make_gpu_timing_data(nvbench_compare, mean=1.0, stdev_relative=0.05)
 
@@ -674,6 +699,34 @@ def test_compare_gpu_timings_classifies_common_cases(tmp_path, nvbench_compare):
     assert undecided.max_noise == pytest.approx(0.05)
     assert undecided.reason.code == "noise_too_high"
 
+    partial_robust = nvbench_compare.compare_gpu_timings(
+        make_gpu_timing_data(
+            nvbench_compare,
+            minimum=0.8,
+            maximum=1.2,
+            mean=1.0,
+            stdev=0.1,
+            stdev_relative=0.1,
+            median=10.0,
+            interquartile_range_relative=0.01,
+        ),
+        make_gpu_timing_data(
+            nvbench_compare,
+            minimum=0.85,
+            maximum=1.25,
+            mean=1.05,
+            stdev=0.1,
+            stdev_relative=0.1,
+            median=11.0,
+            interquartile_range_relative=0.01,
+        ),
+    )
+    assert partial_robust is not None
+    assert partial_robust.ref_time == pytest.approx(1.0)
+    assert partial_robust.cmp_time == pytest.approx(1.05)
+    assert partial_robust.ref_interval.center == pytest.approx(1.0)
+    assert partial_robust.cmp_interval.center == pytest.approx(1.05)
+
     ref_interval_timing = make_gpu_timing_data(
         nvbench_compare,
         minimum=1.0,