diff --git a/ui/src/components/session-progress-card.test.ts b/ui/src/components/session-progress-card.test.ts
index fe23844a0cbb..010e9dad950c 100644
--- a/ui/src/components/session-progress-card.test.ts
+++ b/ui/src/components/session-progress-card.test.ts
@@ -194,6 +194,30 @@ describe("renderSessionProgressCard", () => {
     ).not.toBeNull();
   });
 
+  it("presents durable in-progress work as paused without an active run", () => {
+    const container = document.createElement("div");
+    render(
+      renderSessionProgressCard(
+        progressCard,
+        "composer",
+        undefined,
+        undefined,
+        undefined,
+        undefined,
+        false,
+      ),
+      container,
+    );
+
+    expect(container.querySelector(".session-run-spinner")).toBeNull();
+    expect(
+      container.querySelector('.session-progress-card__current-marker[data-status="paused"]'),
+    ).not.toBeNull();
+    const pausedStep = container.querySelector(".session-progress-card__step--paused");
+    expect(pausedStep?.getAttribute("aria-label")).toBe("Wire the checklist, paused");
+    expect(pausedStep?.querySelector("polyline")).not.toBeNull();
+  });
+
   it("keeps a disclosure affordance beside a completed dismissible composer card", () => {
     const container = document.createElement("div");
     const completed = {
@@ -282,7 +306,7 @@ describe("renderSessionProgressCard", () => {
     ).toBe(expected);
   });
 
-  it("uses a terminal circle-x instead of a spinner after the run stops", () => {
+  it("uses a terminal circle-x instead of pausing after the run stops", () => {
     const container = document.createElement("div");
     render(
       renderSessionProgressCard(
@@ -292,6 +316,7 @@ describe("renderSessionProgressCard", () => {
         "killed",
         RUN_STARTED_MS,
         RUN_ENDED_MS,
+        false,
       ),
       container,
     );
diff --git a/ui/src/components/session-progress-card.ts b/ui/src/components/session-progress-card.ts
index 1393fcfd3607..6c044d89c322 100644
--- a/ui/src/components/session-progress-card.ts
+++ b/ui/src/components/session-progress-card.ts
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import { icons } from "./icons.ts";
 import { toSanitizedMarkdownHtml } from "./markdown.ts";
 
 type SessionProgressCardPlacement = "board" | "composer" | "hovercard";
+type PresentedProgressStepStatus = ProgressCardStep["status"] | "paused";
 
 const STATUS_LABEL_KEYS: Record<ProgressCardStep["status"], Parameters<typeof t>[0]> = {
   completed: "sessionProgressCard.status.completed",
@@ -130,7 +131,7 @@ function currentProgressStep(steps: readonly ProgressCardStep[]): ProgressCardSt
   );
 }
 
-function progressStepMarker(status: ProgressCardStep["status"], sessionStatus?: SessionRunStatus) {
+function progressStepMarker(status: PresentedProgressStepStatus, sessionStatus?: SessionRunStatus) {
   if (status === "in_progress" && sessionStatus === "done") {
     return icons.check;
   }
@@ -145,6 +146,7 @@ function progressStepMarker(status: ProgressCardStep["status"], sessionStatus?:
       return icons.check;
     case "in_progress":
       return html`<span class="session-run-spinner"></span>`;
+    case "paused":
     case "pending":
       return icons.clock;
   }
@@ -166,7 +168,7 @@ function renderMarkdown(markdown: string | undefined) {
   </div>`;
 }
 
-function renderSteps(card: ProgressCard, sessionStatus?: SessionRunStatus) {
+function renderSteps(card: ProgressCard, hasActiveRun: boolean, sessionStatus?: SessionRunStatus) {
   const steps = card.steps;
   if (!steps?.length) {
     return nothing;
@@ -177,17 +179,26 @@ function renderSteps(card: ProgressCard, sessionStatus?: SessionRunStatus) {
         step.status === "in_progress" && sessionStatus
           ? TERMINAL_STEP_STATUS_LABEL_KEYS[sessionStatus]
           : undefined;
-      const statusLabel = t(terminalStatusKey ?? STATUS_LABEL_KEYS[step.status]);
+      const presentedStatus =
+        step.status === "in_progress" && !hasActiveRun && !terminalStatusKey
+          ? "paused"
+          : step.status;
+      const statusLabel = t(
+        terminalStatusKey ??
+          (presentedStatus === "paused"
+            ? "sessionProgressCard.status.paused"
+            : STATUS_LABEL_KEYS[presentedStatus]),
+      );
       return html`<li
-        class="session-progress-card__step session-progress-card__step--${step.status}"
+        class="session-progress-card__step session-progress-card__step--${presentedStatus}"
         aria-label=${t("sessionProgressCard.stepLabel", { status: statusLabel, step: step.step })}
       >
         <span
           class="session-progress-card__step-marker"
-          data-status=${step.status}
+          data-status=${presentedStatus}
           data-outcome=${terminalStatusKey ? sessionStatus : nothing}
           aria-hidden="true"
-          >${progressStepMarker(step.status, sessionStatus)}</span
+          >${progressStepMarker(presentedStatus, sessionStatus)}</span
         >
         <span class="session-progress-card__step-text">${step.step}</span>
       </li>`;
@@ -195,9 +206,9 @@ function renderSteps(card: ProgressCard, sessionStatus?: SessionRunStatus) {
   </ol>`;
 }
 
-function renderBody(card: ProgressCard, sessionStatus?: SessionRunStatus) {
+function renderBody(card: ProgressCard, hasActiveRun: boolean, sessionStatus?: SessionRunStatus) {
   return html`<div class="session-progress-card__body">
-    ${renderMarkdown(card.markdown)} ${renderSteps(card, sessionStatus)}
+    ${renderMarkdown(card.markdown)} ${renderSteps(card, hasActiveRun, sessionStatus)}
   </div>`;
 }
 
@@ -208,6 +219,7 @@ export function renderSessionProgressCard(
   sessionStatus?: SessionRunStatus,
   startedAt?: number,
   endedAt?: number,
+  hasActiveRun = true,
 ) {
   if (!card) {
     return nothing;
@@ -282,6 +294,10 @@ export function renderSessionProgressCard(
           total: String(counts.total),
         })
       : nothing;
+    const presentedCurrentStatus =
+      currentStep?.status === "in_progress" && !hasActiveRun && !terminalOutcomeKey
+        ? "paused"
+        : currentStep?.status;
     const summaryIndicator =
       effectiveSessionStatus === "done"
         ? icons.check
@@ -292,7 +308,7 @@ export function renderSessionProgressCard(
           : complete
             ? icons.check
             : currentStep?.status === "in_progress"
-              ? html`<span class="session-run-spinner"></span>`
+              ? progressStepMarker(presentedCurrentStatus ?? "pending")
               : icons.clock;
     return html`<details
       class="session-progress-card session-progress-card--composer"
@@ -306,7 +322,7 @@ export function renderSessionProgressCard(
           effectiveSessionStatus === "done"
             ? " session-progress-card__summary-indicator--complete"
             : ""}"
-          data-status=${currentStep?.status ?? "pending"}
+          data-status=${presentedCurrentStatus ?? "pending"}
           data-outcome=${effectiveSessionStatus ?? nothing}
           aria-hidden="true"
         >
@@ -340,7 +356,7 @@ export function renderSessionProgressCard(
         >
       </summary>
       <div class="session-progress-card__body" role="region" aria-label=${composerCountLabel}>
-        ${renderMarkdown(card.markdown)} ${renderSteps(card, effectiveSessionStatus)}
+        ${renderMarkdown(card.markdown)} ${renderSteps(card, hasActiveRun, effectiveSessionStatus)}
       </div>
     </details>`;
   }
@@ -357,6 +373,6 @@ export function renderSessionProgressCard(
         >${dismiss}
       </span>
     </div>
-    ${renderBody(card, effectiveSessionStatus)}
+    ${renderBody(card, hasActiveRun, effectiveSessionStatus)}
   </section>`;
 }
diff --git a/ui/src/e2e/session-progress-live-placement.e2e.test.ts b/ui/src/e2e/session-progress-live-placement.e2e.test.ts
index 2f7cc2169f9a..75d72612996b 100644
--- a/ui/src/e2e/session-progress-live-placement.e2e.test.ts
+++ b/ui/src/e2e/session-progress-live-placement.e2e.test.ts
@@ -89,6 +89,9 @@ suite.define(() => {
                 key: sessionKey,
                 kind: "direct",
                 label: "Progress placement",
+                hasActiveRun: true,
+                activeRunIds: ["stale-run"],
+                status: "completed",
                 updatedAt,
               },
             ]),
@@ -126,6 +129,11 @@ suite.define(() => {
         await expect
           .poll(() => visiblePane.locator('[data-progress-card-placement="composer"]').count())
           .toBe(1);
+        const pausedStep = visiblePane.locator(".session-progress-card__step--paused");
+        await expect.poll(() => pausedStep.getAttribute("aria-label")).toBe("Implement, paused");
+        await expect
+          .poll(() => visiblePane.locator(".session-progress-card .session-run-spinner").count())
+          .toBe(0);
         await expectVisibleLastActivity("composer");
         await captureProof(page, "composer-attached-wide.png");
 
diff --git a/ui/src/i18n/locales/en.ts b/ui/src/i18n/locales/en.ts
index 2dba87a7adf3..42b24eb841f8 100644
--- a/ui/src/i18n/locales/en.ts
+++ b/ui/src/i18n/locales/en.ts
@@ -258,6 +258,7 @@ export const en: TranslationMap = {
       completed: "completed",
       failed: "failed",
       inProgress: "in progress",
+      paused: "paused",
       pending: "pending",
       stopped: "stopped",
     },
diff --git a/ui/src/pages/chat/chat-pane-render.ts b/ui/src/pages/chat/chat-pane-render.ts
index 7f4ba480e6e0..4abd655a24ce 100644
--- a/ui/src/pages/chat/chat-pane-render.ts
+++ b/ui/src/pages/chat/chat-pane-render.ts
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import {
   resolveChatPaneObserverRunId,
 } from "../../lib/observer-digest.ts";
 import { hasSessionPresenceViewers } from "../../lib/presence-users.ts";
+import { isSessionRunActive } from "../../lib/session-run-state.ts";
 import { buildAgentMainSessionKey } from "../../lib/sessions/session-key.ts";
 import { showToast } from "../../lib/toast.ts";
 import { generateUUID } from "../../lib/uuid.ts";
@@ -315,6 +316,9 @@ export class ChatPane extends ChatPaneLayoutRender {
       compactionStatus: state.compactionStatus,
       fallbackStatus: state.fallbackStatus,
       progressCard: this.progressCard.card,
+      progressCardHasActiveRun: Boolean(
+        state.chatRunId || (selectedSession && isSessionRunActive(selectedSession)),
+      ),
       onDismissProgressCard,
       gatewayQuestionPrompts: catalogKey || sessionParticipationBlocked ? [] : this.questionPrompts,
       onGatewayQuestionChange: () => {
diff --git a/ui/src/pages/chat/chat-view.ts b/ui/src/pages/chat/chat-view.ts
index 0eb76be43a50..c5d332b4858a 100644
--- a/ui/src/pages/chat/chat-view.ts
+++ b/ui/src/pages/chat/chat-view.ts
@@ -109,6 +109,7 @@ export type ChatProps = ChatTaskSuggestionTrayProps &
     compactionStatus?: CompactionStatus | null;
     fallbackStatus?: FallbackStatus | null;
     progressCard?: ProgressCard | null;
+    progressCardHasActiveRun?: boolean;
     onDismissProgressCard?: (card: ProgressCard) => void;
     gatewayQuestionPrompts?: readonly QuestionPrompt[];
     onGatewayQuestionChange?: () => void;
@@ -429,6 +430,7 @@ export function renderChat(props: ChatProps) {
     compactionStatus: props.compactionStatus,
     fallbackStatus: props.fallbackStatus,
     progressCard: props.progressCard,
+    progressCardHasActiveRun: props.progressCardHasActiveRun,
     onDismissProgressCard: props.onDismissProgressCard,
     gatewayQuestionPrompts: props.gatewayQuestionPrompts,
     messages: props.messages,
diff --git a/ui/src/pages/chat/components/chat-composer-types.ts b/ui/src/pages/chat/components/chat-composer-types.ts
index 067c9a88de93..8760473d3f75 100644
--- a/ui/src/pages/chat/components/chat-composer-types.ts
+++ b/ui/src/pages/chat/components/chat-composer-types.ts
@@ -74,6 +74,7 @@ export type ChatComposerProps = ChatAttachmentControlsProps & {
   compactionStatus?: CompactionStatus | null;
   fallbackStatus?: FallbackStatus | null;
   progressCard?: ProgressCard | null;
+  progressCardHasActiveRun?: boolean;
   onDismissProgressCard?: (card: ProgressCard) => void;
   gatewayQuestionPrompts?: readonly QuestionPrompt[];
   messages: unknown[];
diff --git a/ui/src/pages/chat/components/chat-composer-view.ts b/ui/src/pages/chat/components/chat-composer-view.ts
index f9de9a47beda..65fb35c4dd77 100644
--- a/ui/src/pages/chat/components/chat-composer-view.ts
+++ b/ui/src/pages/chat/components/chat-composer-view.ts
@@ -266,6 +266,7 @@ export function renderChatComposerView(context: ChatComposerViewContext) {
           activeSession?.status,
           activeSession?.startedAt,
           activeSession?.endedAt,
+          props.progressCardHasActiveRun,
         )}
       </div>`
     : nothing;
diff --git a/ui/src/styles/chat/progress-card.css b/ui/src/styles/chat/progress-card.css
index 146231f27c2b..01b470086112 100644
--- a/ui/src/styles/chat/progress-card.css
+++ b/ui/src/styles/chat/progress-card.css
@@ -611,7 +611,8 @@
   color: var(--session-progress-neutral);
 }
 
-.session-progress-card__step--pending .session-progress-card__step-marker {
+.session-progress-card__step--pending .session-progress-card__step-marker,
+.session-progress-card__step--paused .session-progress-card__step-marker {
   color: var(--session-progress-neutral);
 }