diff --git a/apps/api/internal/httpapi/core_flow_integration_test.go b/apps/api/internal/httpapi/core_flow_integration_test.go
index 351db89..a20d169 100644
--- a/apps/api/internal/httpapi/core_flow_integration_test.go
+++ b/apps/api/internal/httpapi/core_flow_integration_test.go
@@ -1654,6 +1654,17 @@ WHERE m.platform_id = $1::uuid
 		t.Fatal("task progress callback outbox should receive events")
 	}
 
+	restartModel := "worker-restart-" + suffixText
+	createSimulationTextPlatformModel(
+		t,
+		server.URL,
+		loginResponse.AccessToken,
+		"openai-worker-restart-"+suffixText,
+		"OpenAI Worker Restart",
+		restartModel,
+		1,
+		nil,
+	)
 	var restartAsyncTask struct {
 		TaskID string `json:"taskId"`
 		Task   struct {
@@ -1663,7 +1674,7 @@ WHERE m.platform_id = $1::uuid
 		} `json:"task"`
 	}
 	doJSONWithHeaders(t, server.URL, http.MethodPost, "/api/v1/responses", apiKeyResponse.Secret, map[string]any{
-		"model":                defaultTextModel,
+		"model":                restartModel,
 		"runMode":              "simulation",
 		"simulation":           true,
 		"simulationDurationMs": 2000,
diff --git a/apps/api/internal/runner/queue_worker.go b/apps/api/internal/runner/queue_worker.go
index 311821e..6809d7e 100644
--- a/apps/api/internal/runner/queue_worker.go
+++ b/apps/api/internal/runner/queue_worker.go
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ func (s *Service) recoverAsyncRiverJobs(ctx context.Context) error {
 		return err
 	}
 	for _, item := range items {
-		result, err := s.riverClient.Insert(ctx, asyncTaskArgs{TaskID: item.ID}, asyncTaskRecoveryInsertOpts(item))
+		result, err := s.riverClient.Insert(ctx, asyncTaskArgs{TaskID: item.ID}, asyncTaskRecoveryInsertOpts(item, time.Now()))
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
@@ -196,9 +196,11 @@ func asyncTaskInsertOpts(task store.GatewayTask) *river.InsertOpts {
 	}
 }
 
-func asyncTaskRecoveryInsertOpts(item store.AsyncTaskQueueItem) *river.InsertOpts {
+func asyncTaskRecoveryInsertOpts(item store.AsyncTaskQueueItem, now time.Time) *river.InsertOpts {
 	opts := asyncTaskInsertOpts(store.GatewayTask{ID: item.ID})
-	opts.ScheduledAt = item.NextRunAt
+	if item.NextRunAt.After(now) {
+		opts.ScheduledAt = item.NextRunAt
+	}
 	// A replacement process must not be blocked by a River row that the dead
 	// process left in running state. PostgreSQL execution leases still ensure
 	// that only one recovery job can call the upstream provider.
diff --git a/apps/api/internal/runner/queue_worker_test.go b/apps/api/internal/runner/queue_worker_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..64cd2ac
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/api/internal/runner/queue_worker_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+package runner
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/easyai/easyai-ai-gateway/apps/api/internal/store"
+)
+
+func TestAsyncTaskRecoveryInsertOptsMakesDueTaskImmediatelyAvailable(t *testing.T) {
+	now := time.Date(2026, time.July, 21, 3, 30, 0, 0, time.UTC)
+	opts := asyncTaskRecoveryInsertOpts(store.AsyncTaskQueueItem{
+		ID:        "due-task",
+		NextRunAt: now.Add(-time.Second),
+	}, now)
+
+	if !opts.ScheduledAt.IsZero() {
+		t.Fatalf("due recovery task should be immediately available, scheduled at %s", opts.ScheduledAt)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestAsyncTaskRecoveryInsertOptsPreservesFutureDelay(t *testing.T) {
+	now := time.Date(2026, time.July, 21, 3, 30, 0, 0, time.UTC)
+	nextRunAt := now.Add(30 * time.Second)
+	opts := asyncTaskRecoveryInsertOpts(store.AsyncTaskQueueItem{
+		ID:        "delayed-task",
+		NextRunAt: nextRunAt,
+	}, now)
+
+	if !opts.ScheduledAt.Equal(nextRunAt) {
+		t.Fatalf("future recovery task should stay delayed until %s, got %s", nextRunAt, opts.ScheduledAt)
+	}
+}