diff --git a/src/domain/work-orders/utils/wo-lifecycle-transitions.ts b/src/domain/work-orders/utils/wo-lifecycle-transitions.ts
index 43a746d3..2a2ba7f5 100644
--- a/src/domain/work-orders/utils/wo-lifecycle-transitions.ts
+++ b/src/domain/work-orders/utils/wo-lifecycle-transitions.ts
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ export function withAutoScheduleStatus<T extends ScheduleDateInput & { status?:
   schedulePatch: Partial<T> & ScheduleDateInput,
 ): Partial<T> {
   const next = {
-    status: current.status ?? "",
+    status: schedulePatch.status ?? current.status ?? "",
     scheduledOn:
       schedulePatch.scheduledOn !== undefined ? schedulePatch.scheduledOn : current.scheduledOn,
     scheduleWeekOnly:
@@ -181,6 +181,9 @@ export function withAutoScheduleStatus<T extends ScheduleDateInput & { status?:
         ? schedulePatch.scheduleWeekOnly
         : current.scheduleWeekOnly,
   };
+  if (!patchTouchesSchedule(schedulePatch as WorkOrderTablePatch)) {
+    return { ...schedulePatch };
+  }
   return { ...schedulePatch, ...maybeAutoSchedulePatch(next) };
 }
 
diff --git a/src/test/app/(protected)/workorders/wizard-step-vendor-time-closability.test.tsx b/src/test/app/(protected)/workorders/wizard-step-vendor-time-closability.test.tsx
index 2d0654e7..6210a3b2 100644
--- a/src/test/app/(protected)/workorders/wizard-step-vendor-time-closability.test.tsx
+++ b/src/test/app/(protected)/workorders/wizard-step-vendor-time-closability.test.tsx
@@ -60,13 +60,13 @@ describe("WizardStepVendorTime creation statuses (AAP)", () => {
   });
 
   it("allows selecting a non-Completed status", () => {
-    const onUpdate = vi.fn();
+    const onPatch = vi.fn();
     render(
       <WizardStepVendorTime
         draft={{ ...EMPTY_WIZARD_DRAFT, type: "PM", status: "Incomplete" }}
         vendors={[]}
-        onUpdate={onUpdate}
-        onPatch={vi.fn()}
+        onUpdate={vi.fn()}
+        onPatch={onPatch}
       />,
     );
 
@@ -74,6 +74,28 @@ describe("WizardStepVendorTime creation statuses (AAP)", () => {
     const menu = screen.getByRole("button", { name: /^pending$/i }).closest("div");
     expect(menu).not.toBeNull();
     fireEvent.click(within(menu!.parentElement!).getByRole("button", { name: /^pending$/i }));
-    expect(onUpdate).toHaveBeenCalledWith("status", "Pending");
+    expect(onPatch).toHaveBeenCalledWith({ status: "Pending" });
+  });
+
+  it("keeps Pending when picked on a dated draft", () => {
+    const onPatch = vi.fn();
+    render(
+      <WizardStepVendorTime
+        draft={{
+          ...EMPTY_WIZARD_DRAFT,
+          type: "PM",
+          status: "Scheduled",
+          scheduledOn: "2026-06-01",
+          scheduleWeekOnly: false,
+        }}
+        vendors={[]}
+        onUpdate={vi.fn()}
+        onPatch={onPatch}
+      />,
+    );
+
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /scheduled/i }));
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /^pending$/i }));
+    expect(onPatch).toHaveBeenCalledWith({ status: "Pending" });
   });
 });
diff --git a/src/test/domain/work-orders/utils/wo-lifecycle-transitions.test.ts b/src/test/domain/work-orders/utils/wo-lifecycle-transitions.test.ts
index bc2ce2ec..4a31e4e7 100644
--- a/src/test/domain/work-orders/utils/wo-lifecycle-transitions.test.ts
+++ b/src/test/domain/work-orders/utils/wo-lifecycle-transitions.test.ts
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import {
   hasConcreteScheduleDate,
   maybeAutoSchedulePatch,
   mergeAutoSchedulePatch,
+  withAutoScheduleStatus,
 } from "@/domain/work-orders/utils/wo-lifecycle-transitions";
 import type { WorkOrderTableRow } from "@/domain/work-orders/types/work-order-table-row";
 
@@ -103,6 +104,33 @@ describe("wo-lifecycle-transitions", () => {
     expect(mergeAutoSchedulePatch(row, { vendorId: "9" })).toEqual({ vendorId: "9" });
   });
 
+  it("keeps an explicit wizard status pick on a dated draft", () => {
+    const draft = {
+      status: "Scheduled",
+      scheduledOn: "2026-06-01",
+      scheduleWeekOnly: false,
+    };
+    expect(withAutoScheduleStatus(draft, { status: "Pending" })).toEqual({ status: "Pending" });
+    expect(withAutoScheduleStatus(draft, { status: "Incomplete" })).toEqual({
+      status: "Incomplete",
+    });
+  });
+
+  it("still derives Scheduled when a concrete date is set on a draft", () => {
+    const draft = {
+      status: "Pending",
+      scheduledOn: "",
+      scheduleWeekOnly: false,
+    };
+    expect(
+      withAutoScheduleStatus(draft, { scheduledOn: "2026-06-02", scheduleWeekOnly: false }),
+    ).toEqual({
+      scheduledOn: "2026-06-02",
+      scheduleWeekOnly: false,
+      status: "Scheduled",
+    });
+  });
+
   it("keeps explicit status picks on dated rows", () => {
     const row = {
       status: "Scheduled",