diff --git a/internal/monitoring/monitor.go b/internal/monitoring/monitor.go
index a0edf1849..a33e16b03 100644
--- a/internal/monitoring/monitor.go
+++ b/internal/monitoring/monitor.go
@@ -6282,12 +6282,14 @@ func (m *Monitor) pollVMsAndContainersEfficient(ctx context.Context, instanceNam
 					networkInBytes = int64(detailedStatus.NetIn)
 					networkOutBytes = int64(detailedStatus.NetOut)
 
-					if detailedStatus.Balloon > 0 && detailedStatus.Balloon < detailedStatus.MaxMem {
-						memTotal = detailedStatus.Balloon
-						guestRaw.DerivedFromBall = true
-					} else if detailedStatus.MaxMem > 0 {
+					// Note: We intentionally do NOT override memTotal with balloon.
+					// The balloon value is tracked separately in memory.balloon for
+					// visualization purposes. Using balloon as total causes user
+					// confusion (showing 1GB/1GB at 100% when VM is configured for 4GB)
+					// and makes the frontend's balloon marker logic ineffective.
+					// Refs: #1070
+					if detailedStatus.MaxMem > 0 {
 						memTotal = detailedStatus.MaxMem
-						guestRaw.DerivedFromBall = false
 					}
 
 					switch {
diff --git a/internal/monitoring/monitor_polling.go b/internal/monitoring/monitor_polling.go
index 7ffb8a1cc..d2ef9b3c0 100644
--- a/internal/monitoring/monitor_polling.go
+++ b/internal/monitoring/monitor_polling.go
@@ -352,10 +352,12 @@ func (m *Monitor) pollVMsWithNodes(ctx context.Context, instanceName string, clu
 								}
 							}
 						}
-						if vmStatus.Balloon > 0 && vmStatus.Balloon < vmStatus.MaxMem {
-							memTotal = vmStatus.Balloon
-							guestRaw.DerivedFromBall = true
-						}
+						// Note: We intentionally do NOT override memTotal with balloon.
+						// The balloon value is tracked separately in memory.balloon for
+						// visualization purposes. Using balloon as total causes user
+						// confusion (showing 1GB/1GB at 100% when VM is configured for 4GB)
+						// and makes the frontend's balloon marker logic ineffective.
+						// Refs: #1070
 						switch {
 						case memAvailable > 0:
 							if memAvailable > memTotal {