diff --git a/.changeset/curvy-weeks-flow.md b/.changeset/curvy-weeks-flow.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..028194c7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/curvy-weeks-flow.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+"task-master-ai": patch
+---
+
+Change parent task back to "pending" when all subtasks are in "pending" state
diff --git a/packages/tm-core/src/storage/file-storage/file-storage.ts b/packages/tm-core/src/storage/file-storage/file-storage.ts
index a0486e41..858543d1 100644
--- a/packages/tm-core/src/storage/file-storage/file-storage.ts
+++ b/packages/tm-core/src/storage/file-storage/file-storage.ts
@@ -409,8 +409,11 @@ export class FileStorage implements IStorage {
 			const allDone = subs.every(isDoneLike);
 			const anyInProgress = subs.some((s) => norm(s) === 'in-progress');
 			const anyDone = subs.some(isDoneLike);
+			const allPending = subs.every((s) => norm(s) === 'pending');
+
 			if (allDone) parentNewStatus = 'done';
 			else if (anyInProgress || anyDone) parentNewStatus = 'in-progress';
+			else if (allPending) parentNewStatus = 'pending';
 		}
 
 		// Always bump updatedAt; update status only if changed