diff --git a/server/src/services/recovery/issue-state-read.test.ts b/server/src/services/recovery/issue-state-read.test.ts
index f032c77f2eb..5a8ad5acf28 100644
--- a/server/src/services/recovery/issue-state-read.test.ts
+++ b/server/src/services/recovery/issue-state-read.test.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { randomBytes, randomUUID } from "node:crypto";
-import { companies, createDb, issueRecoveryActions, issues } from "@paperclipai/db";
+import { agents, companies, createDb, issueRecoveryActions, issues } from "@paperclipai/db";
 import { createDatabaseResponseCapture, installDatabaseResponseCapture } from "@paperclipai/db/response-capture";
 import { eq } from "drizzle-orm";
 import { afterAll, beforeAll, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
@@ -76,4 +76,42 @@ describe.skipIf(!support.supported)("recovery issue state reads", () => {
     }
     expect((await db.select().from(issueRecoveryActions).where(eq(issueRecoveryActions.id, action.id)))[0]).toEqual(action);
   });
+
+  it("keeps a candidate waiting for agent setup without reading its description", async () => {
+    const [company] = await db.insert(companies).values({
+      name: "Recovery candidate read",
+      issuePrefix: `R${randomUUID().slice(0, 7).toUpperCase()}`,
+    }).returning();
+    const [agent] = await db.insert(agents).values({
+      companyId: company.id,
+      name: "Preparing agent",
+      lifecycleState: "preparing",
+    }).returning();
+    const [issue] = await db.insert(issues).values({
+      companyId: company.id,
+      title: "Wait for agent setup",
+      description: randomBytes(128 * 1024).toString("base64"),
+      status: "todo",
+      assigneeAgentId: agent.id,
+    }).returning();
+    const enqueueWakeup = vi.fn(async () => {
+      throw new Error("Setup still owns this task");
+    });
+    const service = recoveryService(db, { enqueueWakeup });
+    const events: Array<Record<string, unknown>> = [];
+    const now = Date.now();
+    const capture = createDatabaseResponseCapture({ start: now - 100, end: now + 59_000 }, event => events.push(event));
+    installDatabaseResponseCapture(db, { agents, issues, issueRecoveryActions }, capture);
+    try {
+      expect(await service.reconcileStrandedAssignedIssues()).toMatchObject({ skipped: 1 });
+    } finally {
+      capture.flush();
+    }
+    expect(Number(events.at(-1)?.completedQueries)).toBeGreaterThan(5);
+    expect(Number(events.at(-1)?.responseValueBytes)).toBeLessThan(16_384);
+    expect(enqueueWakeup).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect((await db.select().from(issues).where(eq(issues.id, issue.id)))[0]).toEqual(issue);
+    expect((await db.select().from(agents).where(eq(agents.id, agent.id)))[0]).toEqual(agent);
+    expect(await db.select().from(issueRecoveryActions).where(eq(issueRecoveryActions.companyId, company.id))).toEqual([]);
+  });
 });
diff --git a/server/src/services/recovery/service.ts b/server/src/services/recovery/service.ts
index 5a4ce412cd3..4b21e406c4e 100644
--- a/server/src/services/recovery/service.ts
+++ b/server/src/services/recovery/service.ts
@@ -864,7 +864,7 @@ function formatIssueLinksForComment(
 }
 
 function isStrandedIssueRecoveryIssue(
-  issue: Pick<typeof issues.$inferSelect, "originKind">,
+  issue: Pick<RecoveryIssue, "originKind">,
 ) {
   return isStrandedIssueRecoveryOriginKind(issue.originKind);
 }
@@ -936,6 +936,10 @@ function isRepeatedProductiveContinuationRecovery(
   );
 }
 
+type RecoveryIssue = Omit<typeof issues.$inferSelect, "description">;
+
+const { description: _unusedIssueDescription, ...recoveryIssueFields } = getTableColumns(issues);
+
 export function recoveryService(
   db: Db,
   deps: {
@@ -1251,7 +1255,7 @@ export function recoveryService(
    * Keep it separate from the broader monitor/delegated/legacy wait predicate.
    */
   async function hasCurrentNativePassiveWait(
-    issue: typeof issues.$inferSelect,
+    issue: RecoveryIssue,
     latestRun: LatestIssueRun,
   ): Promise<boolean> {
     if (
@@ -1461,7 +1465,7 @@ export function recoveryService(
   }
 
   async function hasPersistedDurableWaitPath(
-    issue: typeof issues.$inferSelect,
+    issue: RecoveryIssue,
     latestRun: LatestIssueRun,
   ) {
     if (issue.monitorNextCheckAt) return true;
@@ -1526,7 +1530,7 @@ export function recoveryService(
   }
 
   async function nativeBlockedUnblockAction(
-    issue: typeof issues.$inferSelect,
+    issue: RecoveryIssue,
     latestRun: LatestIssueRun,
     database: Db = db,
   ) {
@@ -1597,7 +1601,7 @@ export function recoveryService(
   }
 
   async function repairNativeBlockedWait(
-    issue: typeof issues.$inferSelect,
+    issue: RecoveryIssue,
     latestRun: NonNullable<LatestIssueRun>,
     candidate: NonNullable<
       Awaited<ReturnType<typeof nativeBlockedUnblockAction>>
@@ -1801,7 +1805,7 @@ export function recoveryService(
   }
 
   async function wasTodoHandedBackDuringOrAfterLatestRun(
-    issue: typeof issues.$inferSelect,
+    issue: RecoveryIssue,
     latestRun: LatestIssueRun,
   ) {
     if (issue.status !== "todo" || latestRun?.status !== "succeeded")
@@ -2133,7 +2137,7 @@ export function recoveryService(
   }
 
   async function enqueueInitialAssignedTodoDispatch(
-    issue: typeof issues.$inferSelect,
+    issue: RecoveryIssue,
     agentId: string,
   ) {
     return deps.enqueueWakeup(agentId, {
@@ -2166,7 +2170,7 @@ export function recoveryService(
   // contract is that nothing runs until the user types. Until a user-authored
   // comment exists on it, the issue is intentionally idle rather than stranded.
   async function isOnboardingFirstTaskAwaitingUser(
-    issue: typeof issues.$inferSelect,
+    issue: RecoveryIssue,
   ) {
     if (issue.originKind !== ONBOARDING_FIRST_TASK_ORIGIN_KIND) return false;
     const [result] = await db.execute<{ awaiting: boolean }>(sql`SELECT
@@ -2175,7 +2179,7 @@ export function recoveryService(
   }
 
   async function isInvocationBudgetBlocked(
-    issue: typeof issues.$inferSelect,
+    issue: RecoveryIssue,
     agentId: string,
   ) {
     const budgetBlock = await budgets.getInvocationBlock(
@@ -2409,12 +2413,12 @@ export function recoveryService(
     }
   }
 
-  function isStrandedIssueRecoveryIssue(issue: typeof issues.$inferSelect) {
+  function isStrandedIssueRecoveryIssue(issue: RecoveryIssue) {
     return issue.originKind === STRANDED_ISSUE_RECOVERY_ORIGIN_KIND;
   }
 
   async function buildNestedStrandedRecoveryLine(
-    issue: typeof issues.$inferSelect,
+    issue: RecoveryIssue,
     prefix: string,
   ) {
     const sourceIssueId = readNonEmptyString(issue.originId);
@@ -2445,7 +2449,7 @@ export function recoveryService(
   }
 
   function resolveStrandedRecoveryRouting(input: {
-    issue: typeof issues.$inferSelect;
+    issue: RecoveryIssue;
     latestRun: LatestIssueRun;
   }) {
     const originalAgentId =
@@ -2468,7 +2472,7 @@ export function recoveryService(
   }
 
   function strandedRecoveryActionFingerprint(input: {
-    issue: typeof issues.$inferSelect;
+    issue: RecoveryIssue;
     recoveryCause: StrandedRecoveryCause;
     latestRun: LatestIssueRun;
   }) {
@@ -2514,7 +2518,7 @@ export function recoveryService(
   }
 
   function buildStrandedRecoveryActionEvidence(input: {
-    issue: typeof issues.$inferSelect;
+    issue: RecoveryIssue;
     latestRun: LatestIssueRun;
     previousStatus: StrandedPreviousStatus;
     recoveryCause: StrandedRecoveryCause;
@@ -2549,7 +2553,7 @@ export function recoveryService(
   }
 
   async function ensureSourceScopedStrandedRecoveryAction(input: {
-    issue: typeof issues.$inferSelect;
+    issue: RecoveryIssue;
     latestRun: LatestIssueRun;
     previousStatus: StrandedPreviousStatus;
     recoveryCause?: StrandedRecoveryCause;
@@ -2680,7 +2684,7 @@ export function recoveryService(
   }
 
   async function ensureProviderQuotaWaitRecoveryMonitor(input: {
-    issue: typeof issues.$inferSelect;
+    issue: RecoveryIssue;
     latestRun: LatestIssueRun;
     actionId: string;
     agentId: string;
@@ -2780,7 +2784,7 @@ export function recoveryService(
   }
 
   function buildRecoveryIssueInPlaceEscalationComment(input: {
-    issue: typeof issues.$inferSelect;
+    issue: RecoveryIssue;
     previousStatus: StrandedPreviousStatus;
     latestRun: LatestIssueRun;
     prefix: string;
@@ -2815,7 +2819,7 @@ export function recoveryService(
   }
 
   async function escalateStrandedRecoveryIssueInPlace(input: {
-    issue: typeof issues.$inferSelect;
+    issue: RecoveryIssue;
     previousStatus: StrandedPreviousStatus;
     latestRun: LatestIssueRun;
   }, transaction?: {
@@ -2954,7 +2958,7 @@ export function recoveryService(
     );
   }
 
-  async function openChildIssues(issue: typeof issues.$inferSelect) {
+  async function openChildIssues(issue: RecoveryIssue) {
     return db
       .select({ id: issues.id, identifier: issues.identifier })
       .from(issues)
@@ -2969,7 +2973,7 @@ export function recoveryService(
   }
 
   async function healthyOpenChildIssues(
-    issue: Pick<typeof issues.$inferSelect, "id" | "companyId" | "projectWorkspaceId">,
+    issue: Pick<RecoveryIssue, "id" | "companyId" | "projectWorkspaceId">,
     sameWorkspaceOnly = false,
   ) {
     if (sameWorkspaceOnly && !issue.projectWorkspaceId) return [];
@@ -3001,7 +3005,7 @@ export function recoveryService(
   }
 
   async function resolveContinuationWaitingOnReview(
-    issue: typeof issues.$inferSelect,
+    issue: RecoveryIssue,
   ) {
     const [existingBlockers, openChildren] = await Promise.all([
       existingUnresolvedBlockerIssues(issue.companyId, issue.id),
@@ -3102,7 +3106,7 @@ export function recoveryService(
   }
 
   async function resolveDispositionRepairActionAsCovered(
-    issue: typeof issues.$inferSelect,
+    issue: RecoveryIssue,
     reason: string,
   ) {
     const active = await recoveryActionsSvc.getActiveForIssue(
@@ -3136,7 +3140,7 @@ export function recoveryService(
   }
 
   async function ensureDispositionRepairAction(input: {
-    issue: typeof issues.$inferSelect;
+    issue: RecoveryIssue;
     latestRun: LatestIssueRun;
     fingerprint: string;
     attemptCount: number;
@@ -3214,7 +3218,7 @@ export function recoveryService(
   }
 
   async function scheduleDispositionRepairAttempt(input: {
-    issue: typeof issues.$inferSelect;
+    issue: RecoveryIssue;
     latestRun: LatestIssueRun;
     action: Awaited<ReturnType<typeof ensureDispositionRepairAction>>;
     fingerprint: string;
@@ -3651,7 +3655,7 @@ export function recoveryService(
   }
 
   async function escalateDispositionRepair(input: {
-    issue: typeof issues.$inferSelect;
+    issue: RecoveryIssue;
     latestRun: LatestIssueRun;
     fingerprint: string;
     attemptCount: number;
@@ -3796,7 +3800,7 @@ export function recoveryService(
   }
 
   async function decidePersistedLegacyContinuation(
-    issue: typeof issues.$inferSelect,
+    issue: RecoveryIssue,
     runId: string,
     state: Awaited<ReturnType<typeof collectDispositionRepairSourceState>>,
     episode: LegacyDispositionEpisode,
@@ -3876,7 +3880,7 @@ export function recoveryService(
   }
 
   async function reconcileDispositionRepair(
-    issue: Pick<typeof issues.$inferSelect, "id" | "companyId">,
+    issue: Pick<RecoveryIssue, "id" | "companyId">,
     latestRun: LatestIssueRun,
     options: { historicalAttemptCount?: number; legacyEpisode?: LegacyDispositionEpisode } = {},
   ): Promise<"queued" | "escalated" | "covered" | "skipped"> {
@@ -4023,7 +4027,7 @@ export function recoveryService(
   }
 
   async function escalateStrandedAssignedIssue(input: {
-    issue: typeof issues.$inferSelect;
+    issue: RecoveryIssue;
     previousStatus: StrandedPreviousStatus;
     latestRun: LatestIssueRun;
     comment?: string;
@@ -4390,7 +4394,7 @@ export function recoveryService(
   }
 
   async function scheduleProviderQuotaRecoveryMonitor(input: {
-    issue: typeof issues.$inferSelect;
+    issue: RecoveryIssue;
     latestRun: NonNullable<LatestIssueRun>;
     classification: Extract<
       NonNullable<AdapterFailureRecoveryClassification>,
@@ -4473,7 +4477,7 @@ export function recoveryService(
   }
 
   function getAdapterFailureRecoveryTargetAgentId(
-    issue: typeof issues.$inferSelect,
+    issue: RecoveryIssue,
   ) {
     if (issue.status !== "in_review") return issue.assigneeAgentId;
 
@@ -4488,7 +4492,7 @@ export function recoveryService(
   }
 
   function hasPendingProviderQuotaRecoveryMonitor(
-    issue: typeof issues.$inferSelect,
+    issue: RecoveryIssue,
     latestRun: LatestIssueRun,
     now: Date,
   ) {
@@ -4510,7 +4514,7 @@ export function recoveryService(
     issueCreatedAtGte?: Date | null;
   }) {
     const candidates = await db
-      .select()
+      .select(recoveryIssueFields)
       .from(issues)
       .where(
         and(