diff --git a/src/orchestrator-loop.ts b/src/orchestrator-loop.ts
index 526ad75f..a399b3bd 100644
--- a/src/orchestrator-loop.ts
+++ b/src/orchestrator-loop.ts
@@ -103,6 +103,9 @@ export class OrchestratorLoop extends EventEmitter {
   /** Phase-level timeout timer */
   private phaseTimeoutTimer: NodeJS.Timeout | null = null;
 
+  /** Post-phase delay timer before verification */
+  private postPhaseTimer: NodeJS.Timeout | null = null;
+
   /** Session completion listener (bound for cleanup) */
   private sessionCompletionListener: ((sessionId: string, phrase: string) => void) | null = null;
 
@@ -559,6 +562,10 @@ export class OrchestratorLoop extends EventEmitter {
       clearTimeout(this.phaseTimeoutTimer);
       this.phaseTimeoutTimer = null;
     }
+    if (this.postPhaseTimer) {
+      clearTimeout(this.postPhaseTimer);
+      this.postPhaseTimer = null;
+    }
   }
 
   private pollPhaseStatus(phase: OrchestratorPhase): void {
@@ -615,8 +622,9 @@ export class OrchestratorLoop extends EventEmitter {
       // Phase has failed tasks
       this.handlePhaseError(phase, 'One or more tasks failed');
     } else {
-      // All tasks completed — run verification
-      setTimeout(() => {
+      // All tasks completed — run verification after brief delay
+      this.postPhaseTimer = setTimeout(() => {
+        this.postPhaseTimer = null;
         this.verifyCurrentPhase().catch((err) => this.handleError(err));
       }, POST_PHASE_DELAY_MS);
     }
@@ -765,10 +773,15 @@ export class OrchestratorLoop extends EventEmitter {
 
     this.persist();
 
+    // Set up handlers so task completion is tracked
+    this.setupTaskHandlers();
+
     // Assign to a session
     const sessions = this.sessionManager.getIdleSessions();
     if (sessions.length === 0) {
-      console.warn('[Orchestrator] No idle sessions for replan — task queued, waiting');
+      console.warn('[Orchestrator] No idle sessions for replan — task queued, will pick up on next poll');
+      // Start polling so the task gets assigned when a session becomes idle
+      this.startPhasePoll(phase);
       return;
     }
 
diff --git a/src/web/routes/orchestrator-routes.ts b/src/web/routes/orchestrator-routes.ts
index b7bfe5ed..019626fb 100644
--- a/src/web/routes/orchestrator-routes.ts
+++ b/src/web/routes/orchestrator-routes.ts
@@ -38,10 +38,10 @@ export function registerOrchestratorRoutes(app: FastifyInstance, ctx: Orchestrat
     return loop;
   }
 
-  let eventForwardingAttached = false;
+  let forwardingLoop: import('../../orchestrator-loop.js').OrchestratorLoop | null = null;
   function setupEventForwarding(loop: import('../../orchestrator-loop.js').OrchestratorLoop) {
-    if (eventForwardingAttached) return;
-    eventForwardingAttached = true;
+    if (forwardingLoop === loop) return; // Already attached to this loop instance
+    forwardingLoop = loop;
     loop.on('stateChanged', (state, prevState) => {
       ctx.broadcast(SseEvent.OrchestratorStateChanged, { state, prevState });
     });
diff --git a/test/orchestrator-loop.test.ts b/test/orchestrator-loop.test.ts
index 7ebe2e80..06479ddc 100644
--- a/test/orchestrator-loop.test.ts
+++ b/test/orchestrator-loop.test.ts
@@ -547,6 +547,32 @@ describe('OrchestratorLoop', () => {
       // After pause, listener should be removed
       expect(mockSessionManager.listenerCount('sessionCompletion')).toBeLessThan(listenerCount);
     });
+
+    it('cancels pending verify timer on pause', async () => {
+      const plan = createTestPlan();
+      plan.phases = [plan.phases[0]]; // No verification criteria
+      mockPlannerInstance.generatePlan.mockResolvedValue(plan);
+
+      // Tasks complete immediately — triggers post-phase delay timer
+      mockTaskQueue.addTask.mockImplementation((options) => {
+        const task = createMockTask(options);
+        task.complete();
+        mockTaskQueue._tasks.set(task.id, task);
+        return task;
+      });
+
+      await loop.start('Goal');
+      await loop.approve();
+
+      // Wait for poll to detect completion (2s) but pause before verify runs (1s delay)
+      await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 2500));
+      loop.pause();
+      expect(loop.state).toBe('paused');
+
+      // Wait past where verify would have fired — state should still be paused
+      await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 2000));
+      expect(loop.state).toBe('paused');
+    });
   });
 
   describe('resume()', () => {