diff --git a/src/wf_api/runs.py b/src/wf_api/runs.py
index 3d9936ee..f6eb67fc 100644
--- a/src/wf_api/runs.py
+++ b/src/wf_api/runs.py
@@ -439,6 +439,34 @@ class WorkflowRunApi:
                 max_steps=max_steps,
                 steps_executed=0,
             )
+        if (
+            record.status is StoredRunStatus.FAILED
+            and record.latest_checkpoint_id is None
+        ):
+            # Recovery can fail an admitted execution closed before any
+            # stopped checkpoint exists: the outcome is deliberately unknown,
+            # but the durable failure decision and its diagnostics are still
+            # actionable. Do not route this shape through checkpoint loading
+            # or fabricate trace/output/state from the failed decision.
+            try:
+                max_steps = store.get_admission(run_id).max_steps
+            except KeyError:
+                max_steps = None
+            failure_error = (
+                record.diagnostics[-1].message if record.diagnostics else None
+            )
+            return _run_payload(
+                deployment=record.environment.deployment,
+                artifact=record.environment.root_artifact,
+                status=record.status.value,
+                run_id=record.id,
+                resume_readiness=record.resume_readiness.value,
+                error=failure_error,
+                diagnostics=record.diagnostics,
+                max_steps=max_steps,
+                trace_count=0,
+                steps_executed=0,
+            )
         record, run = load_stored_run(store, run_id)
         environment = record.environment
         return _run_payload(
diff --git a/tests/wf_server/test_scheduler_integration.py b/tests/wf_server/test_scheduler_integration.py
index 1a1fc7c5..fc84845c 100644
--- a/tests/wf_server/test_scheduler_integration.py
+++ b/tests/wf_server/test_scheduler_integration.py
@@ -761,6 +761,11 @@ async def test_graceful_shutdown_cancel_leaves_executing_for_recovery(
             and "external effects may already" in item.message
             for item in record.diagnostics
         )
+        inspected = await server_b.api.inspect_run(run_id=run_id)
+        assert inspected["status"] == "failed"
+        assert inspected["resume_readiness"] == "not_applicable"
+        assert inspected["error"] is not None
+        assert "external effects may already" in inspected["error"]
         assert len(_entries(root, "hanging", "failed")) == 1
     finally:
         _gate_open.set()