diff --git a/agents.py b/agents.py
index 64808c8..3c3df63 100755
--- a/agents.py
+++ b/agents.py
@@ -1025,11 +1025,21 @@ def pipeline_check(cfg):
                 _pipeline_push_on_retire(ag)
             log(f"pipeline: retire stage {ag['name']!r} (complete or not yet active)")
             kill_session(ag["session"])
-    if active is None:
-        marker = Path(cfg["log_dir"]) / "PIPELINE-COMPLETE"
+    # PIPELINE-COMPLETE must MIRROR the current stage list, not latch on first completion. Recompute it
+    # from every stage's marker each tick: write it only when ALL current markers exist, and CLEAR a stale
+    # one the moment any stage is incomplete. Without the clear, appending new stages to a pipeline that
+    # had already completed leaves a lying "done" sentinel (the appended stages run, but the file says the
+    # pipeline finished). `active is None` is not a safe proxy here — it's also None when a stage names a
+    # missing agent — so gate on the markers directly.
+    marker = Path(cfg["log_dir"]) / "PIPELINE-COMPLETE"
+    all_complete = all(_pipeline_marker(cfg, st).exists() for st in stages)
+    if all_complete:
         if not marker.exists():
             log("pipeline: ALL STAGES COMPLETE")
             marker.write_text("pipeline complete\n")
+    elif marker.exists():
+        log("pipeline: reopened — a stage is incomplete; clearing stale PIPELINE-COMPLETE")
+        marker.unlink()
     return active
 
 def watchdog_loop(cfg_path):