diff --git a/src/blackboard/db.py b/src/blackboard/db.py
index 090087f..e37036c 100644
--- a/src/blackboard/db.py
+++ b/src/blackboard/db.py
@@ -177,17 +177,17 @@ TERMINAL_STATUSES = frozenset({"done"})
 MANUAL_STATUSES = frozenset({"cancelled", "paused"})
 
 VALID_TRANSITIONS = {
-    "pending":       {"claimed", "cancelled"},
+    "pending":       {"claimed", "paused", "cancelled"},
     "claimed":       {"working", "paused", "pending", "cancelled"},
     "working":       {"review", "blocked", "failed", "paused", "escalated", "waiting_human", "cancelled"},
-    "paused":        {"working", "cancelled"},
-    "review":        {"done", "pending", "failed", "escalated", "waiting_human", "cancelled"},
+    "paused":        {"pending", "cancelled"},
+    "review":        {"done", "pending", "failed", "paused", "escalated", "waiting_human", "cancelled"},
     "blocked":       {"pending", "escalated", "cancelled"},
     "failed":        {"pending", "escalated", "cancelled"},
-    "escalated":     {"working", "pending", "cancelled"},
-    "waiting_human": {"working", "done", "cancelled"},
-    "done":          set(),
-    "cancelled":     set(),
+    "escalated":     {"working", "pending", "paused", "cancelled"},
+    "waiting_human": {"working", "done", "paused", "cancelled"},
+    "done":          {"cancelled"},
+    "cancelled":     {"pending"},
 }
 
 COMMENT_TYPES = frozenset({