diff --git a/pipeline_service/executor.py b/pipeline_service/executor.py
index df4c7e5..e32b339 100644
--- a/pipeline_service/executor.py
+++ b/pipeline_service/executor.py
@@ -201,6 +201,12 @@ async def _execute_step(task_id: str, step_name: str, step_graph: dict, task_inf
         logger.info(f"Step {step_name} completed for task {task_id}")
 
     except Exception as e:
+        # Special handling for quality gate pause - step already set to WAITING
+        if type(e).__name__ == "QualityGatePausedError":
+            logger.info(f"Step {step_name} paused for quality review: {e}")
+            # Step state already set to WAITING by quality gate, don't override
+            return
+        
         error_msg = str(e)
         logger.error(f"Step {step_name} failed for task {task_id}: {error_msg}")
         await update_step_state(task_id, step_name, STATE_FAILED, error_msg)