diff --git a/hermes_cli/kanban_db.py b/hermes_cli/kanban_db.py
index ec7f16f05e..4a80385b6f 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/kanban_db.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/kanban_db.py
@@ -1366,6 +1366,13 @@ def create_task(
                         "provider_override": provider_override,
                     },
                 )
+                if task_status == "blocked":
+                    _append_event(
+                        conn,
+                        task_id,
+                        "blocked",
+                        {"reason": "initial_status", "status": "blocked", "actor": created_by or "user"},
+                    )
                 # ACK-edge: the originating channel hears a child BLOCK, not just the fan-in.
                 inherit_creator_origin(conn, task_id, creator_task_id, created_at=now)
                 _inherit_notify_subs(conn, task_id, parents, created_at=now)
diff --git a/tests/hermes_cli/test_kanban_blocked_sticky.py b/tests/hermes_cli/test_kanban_blocked_sticky.py
index 85fe183721..9f2e4c027b 100644
--- a/tests/hermes_cli/test_kanban_blocked_sticky.py
+++ b/tests/hermes_cli/test_kanban_blocked_sticky.py
@@ -156,9 +156,22 @@ def test_protocol_violation_loop_is_broken(kanban_home: Path) -> None:
             assert kb.get_task(conn, tid).status == "blocked"
 
 
-# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-# Schema-init recovery on legacy DBs is covered by
-# tests/hermes_cli/test_kanban_db.py::test_connect_migrates_legacy_db_before_optional_column_indexes
-# (landed via #28754 / #28781).  The original PR shipped a duplicate test
-# here; dropped during salvage to avoid two assertions of the same contract.
-# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+def test_created_with_initial_status_blocked_is_not_promoted_by_recompute_ready(kanban_home: Path) -> None:
+    """Verify a task created with initial_status='blocked' remains blocked when parents complete."""
+    with kbc.connect() as conn:
+        parent_id = kb.create_task(conn, title="parent task")
+        child_id = kb.create_task(
+            conn, title="gated child task", parents=[parent_id], initial_status="blocked"
+        )
+        assert kb.get_task(conn, child_id).status == "blocked"
+
+        # Complete parent task
+        kb.claim_task(conn, parent_id)
+        kb.complete_task(conn, parent_id, result="done")
+        assert kb.get_task(conn, parent_id).status == "done"
+
+        # recompute_ready must NOT promote the blocked child task
+        promoted = kb.recompute_ready(conn)
+        assert promoted == 0
+        assert kb.get_task(conn, child_id).status == "blocked"
+