A missile guidance system is configured to estimate a time to go, the time to go comprising an amount of time until a missile would reach a closest point of approach to a target. The guidance system is also configured to estimate a zero-effort miss distance along a zero-effort miss vector, the zero-effort miss distance comprising a distance by which the missile would miss the target if the missile performs no future maneuvers. The guidance system is also configured to determine a tolerance for the zero-effort miss distance, the tolerance being a function of the time to go. The guidance system is further configured to modify a course of the missile by adjusting an expenditure of propellant such that the estimated zero-effort miss distance in excess of the tolerance is removed from future consideration.