diff --git a/app/services/director_pipeline.py b/app/services/director_pipeline.py
index bfb6e209..3df1682e 100644
--- a/app/services/director_pipeline.py
+++ b/app/services/director_pipeline.py
@@ -4356,6 +4356,19 @@ def _rejoin_clips_impl(out_dir: str, pid: str) -> dict:
     state = _ensure_h3_segment_state(state)
     clips = state.get("clips", [])
     video_files = []
+    # Image reruns keep video_stale on the clip even when a Studio selection or
+    # H3 segment list still points at playable files. Gate Rejoin before the
+    # H3 branch, which otherwise treats those files as current.
+    stale_clip_numbers = [
+        str(index + 1)
+        for index, clip in enumerate(clips)
+        if clip.get("video_stale")
+    ]
+    if stale_clip_numbers:
+        raise ValueError(
+            "Regenerate stale video clip(s) "
+            f"{', '.join(stale_clip_numbers)} before rejoining."
+        )
     legacy_h3_segments = (
         _is_sequential_h3_model(state.get("video_model"))
         and any(clip.get("h3_segments") for clip in clips)
@@ -4390,17 +4403,6 @@ def _rejoin_clips_impl(out_dir: str, pid: str) -> dict:
         if stale:
             raise ValueError("Regenerate stale H3 continuations before rejoining the final video")
     else:
-        stale_clip_numbers = [
-            str(index + 1)
-            for index, clip in enumerate(clips)
-            if clip.get("video_stale")
-        ]
-        if stale_clip_numbers:
-            raise ValueError(
-                "Regenerate stale video clip(s) "
-                f"{', '.join(stale_clip_numbers)} before rejoining."
-            )
-
         if shot_images_required(_saved_pipeline_shot_image_policy(state)):
             invalid_start_numbers = _invalid_saved_media_numbers(
                 [clip.get("start_image_filename") for clip in clips],
diff --git a/tests/test_director_h3_workflow_edits.py b/tests/test_director_h3_workflow_edits.py
index 525e5834..831d68e9 100644
--- a/tests/test_director_h3_workflow_edits.py
+++ b/tests/test_director_h3_workflow_edits.py
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 from pathlib import Path
 from unittest.mock import patch
 
+import pytest
+
 from app.services import director_pipeline
 
 
@@ -346,3 +348,51 @@ def concatenate_multi_clip_videos(paths, destination, _audio, **_kwargs):
         director_pipeline.rejoin_clips(str(tmp_path), "h3-selection")
 
     assert joined == ["shot0_studio.mp4", "shot1.mp4"]
+
+
+def test_h3_rejoin_rejects_stale_clip_even_when_segments_are_playable(tmp_path: Path):
+    filenames = ("shot0_a.mp4", "shot0_b.mp4", "shot1.mp4")
+    for filename in filenames:
+        (tmp_path / filename).write_bytes(b"video")
+    _write_pipeline(tmp_path, {
+        "pipeline_id": "h3-stale-rejoin",
+        "created_at": 10.0,
+        "status": "completed",
+        "pipeline_type": "short_film_story",
+        "video_model": "minimax_h3",
+        "clips": [
+            {
+                "index": 0,
+                "video_filename": "shot0_b.mp4",
+                "video_stale": True,
+                "video_prompt": "Whole shot zero",
+                "h3_segments": [
+                    {"index": 0, "filename": "shot0_a.mp4", "stale": False},
+                    {"index": 1, "filename": "shot0_b.mp4", "stale": False},
+                ],
+            },
+            {
+                "index": 1,
+                "video_filename": "shot1.mp4",
+                "video_prompt": "Whole shot one",
+                "h3_segments": [
+                    {"index": 0, "filename": "shot1.mp4", "stale": False},
+                ],
+            },
+        ],
+        "output_files": list(filenames),
+        "workspace": "default",
+    })
+    joined = []
+
+    class FakeWgp:
+        @staticmethod
+        def concatenate_multi_clip_videos(paths, destination, _audio, **_kwargs):
+            joined.extend(Path(path).name for path in paths)
+            Path(destination).write_bytes(b"joined")
+            return True
+
+    with patch.object(director_pipeline, "_wgp", FakeWgp()):
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="stale video clip.*1.*before rejoining"):
+            director_pipeline.rejoin_clips(str(tmp_path), "h3-stale-rejoin")
+    assert joined == []