A variable cam-timing phaser, including a stator having a plurality of inwardly-extending stator lobes and a rotor having a plurality of outwardly-extending rotor lobes. The rotor is rotatably disposed within the stator so that the rotor lobes interleave with the stator lobes to form a first timing chamber and a second timing chamber between each of the stator lobes. The phaser further includes a hydraulic valve, where the phaser is configured so that, upon operation of the valve to selectively couple the second timing chambers to a hydraulic fluid supply and the first timing chambers to a hydraulic fluid sink, the rotor is caused to rotate toward a terminal position, in which at least one of the first timing chambers is at least partially sealed off from the hydraulic fluid sink, thereby producing a tendency toward pressure equalization between the first timing chambers and the second timing chambers.