diff --git a/src/paired-execution-context.test.ts b/src/paired-execution-context.test.ts
index 4a7b77b..c441299 100644
--- a/src/paired-execution-context.test.ts
+++ b/src/paired-execution-context.test.ts
@@ -583,4 +583,73 @@ describe('paired execution context', () => {
       }),
     );
   });
+
+  it('keeps reviewer tasks review_ready when reviewer execution fails without a terminal verdict', () => {
+    vi.mocked(db.getPairedTaskById).mockReturnValue(
+      buildPairedTask({
+        status: 'in_review',
+      }),
+    );
+
+    completePairedExecutionContext({
+      taskId: 'task-1',
+      role: 'reviewer',
+      status: 'failed',
+      summary: 'runtime exploded before verdict',
+    });
+
+    expect(db.updatePairedTask).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      'task-1',
+      expect.objectContaining({
+        status: 'review_ready',
+        updated_at: expect.any(String),
+      }),
+    );
+  });
+
+  it('keeps arbiter tasks arbiter_requested when arbiter execution fails without a terminal verdict', () => {
+    vi.mocked(db.getPairedTaskById).mockReturnValue(
+      buildPairedTask({
+        status: 'in_arbitration',
+      }),
+    );
+
+    completePairedExecutionContext({
+      taskId: 'task-1',
+      role: 'arbiter',
+      status: 'failed',
+      summary: 'runtime exploded before verdict',
+    });
+
+    expect(db.updatePairedTask).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      'task-1',
+      expect.objectContaining({
+        status: 'arbiter_requested',
+        updated_at: expect.any(String),
+      }),
+    );
+  });
+
+  it('still resets owner tasks to active after failed execution', () => {
+    vi.mocked(db.getPairedTaskById).mockReturnValue(
+      buildPairedTask({
+        status: 'merge_ready',
+      }),
+    );
+
+    completePairedExecutionContext({
+      taskId: 'task-1',
+      role: 'owner',
+      status: 'failed',
+      summary: 'push failed',
+    });
+
+    expect(db.updatePairedTask).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      'task-1',
+      expect.objectContaining({
+        status: 'active',
+        updated_at: expect.any(String),
+      }),
+    );
+  });
 });
diff --git a/src/paired-execution-context.ts b/src/paired-execution-context.ts
index 251b2cf..86dd418 100644
--- a/src/paired-execution-context.ts
+++ b/src/paired-execution-context.ts
@@ -466,8 +466,46 @@ export function completePairedExecutionContext(args: {
         return;
       }
     }
+    const now = new Date().toISOString();
+    if (role === 'reviewer') {
+      const fallbackStatus =
+        task.status === 'in_review' || task.status === 'review_ready'
+          ? 'review_ready'
+          : task.status;
+      if (fallbackStatus !== task.status) {
+        updatePairedTask(taskId, { status: fallbackStatus, updated_at: now });
+        logger.warn(
+          {
+            taskId,
+            role,
+            previousStatus: task.status,
+            nextStatus: fallbackStatus,
+          },
+          'Preserved reviewer task in review-ready state after failed execution',
+        );
+      }
+      return;
+    }
+    if (role === 'arbiter') {
+      const fallbackStatus =
+        task.status === 'in_arbitration' || task.status === 'arbiter_requested'
+          ? 'arbiter_requested'
+          : task.status;
+      if (fallbackStatus !== task.status) {
+        updatePairedTask(taskId, { status: fallbackStatus, updated_at: now });
+        logger.warn(
+          {
+            taskId,
+            role,
+            previousStatus: task.status,
+            nextStatus: fallbackStatus,
+          },
+          'Preserved arbiter task in arbitration-requested state after failed execution',
+        );
+      }
+      return;
+    }
     if (task.status !== 'active') {
-      const now = new Date().toISOString();
       updatePairedTask(taskId, { status: 'active', updated_at: now });
       logger.info(
         { taskId, role, previousStatus: task.status },