In one embodiment, a device computes an efficiency metric regarding ingestion of telemetry data from a particular portion of a network by a predictive routing engine used to make predictive routing decisions for that portion of the network. The device makes a comparison between the efficiency metric and one or more control rules. The device determines, based on the comparison, whether ingestion of the telemetry data from the particular portion of the network by the predictive routing engine should be disabled. The device causes the predictive routing engine to stop ingesting telemetry data from the particular portion of the network.