diff --git a/admin-lehrer/app/(admin)/ai/ocr-overlay/page.tsx b/admin-lehrer/app/(admin)/ai/ocr-overlay/page.tsx
index 5840773..52b0df2 100644
--- a/admin-lehrer/app/(admin)/ai/ocr-overlay/page.tsx
+++ b/admin-lehrer/app/(admin)/ai/ocr-overlay/page.tsx
@@ -136,6 +136,7 @@ export default function OcrOverlayPage() {
             if (uiStep < 4) uiStep = 4
           } else if (dbStep >= 2) {
             skipIds.push('orientation')
+            if (uiStep < 1) uiStep = 1 // advance past skipped orientation to deskew
           }
         }
       }
diff --git a/admin-lehrer/app/(admin)/ai/ocr-pipeline/page.tsx b/admin-lehrer/app/(admin)/ai/ocr-pipeline/page.tsx
index 0c512a5..285e92a 100644
--- a/admin-lehrer/app/(admin)/ai/ocr-pipeline/page.tsx
+++ b/admin-lehrer/app/(admin)/ai/ocr-pipeline/page.tsx
@@ -108,6 +108,7 @@ export default function OcrPipelinePage() {
         } else if (dbStep >= 2) {
           // Page-split sub-session: parent orientation applied, skip only orientation
           if (!skipSteps.includes('orientation')) skipSteps.push('orientation')
+          if (uiStep < 1) uiStep = 1 // advance past skipped orientation to deskew
         }
         // dbStep === 1: page-split from original image, needs full pipeline
       }