diff --git a/lib/mix/tasks/propagation_grid.ex b/lib/mix/tasks/propagation_grid.ex
index 76cbce55..197951ae 100644
--- a/lib/mix/tasks/propagation_grid.ex
+++ b/lib/mix/tasks/propagation_grid.ex
@@ -6,6 +6,17 @@ defmodule Mix.Tasks.PropagationGrid do
 
   @impl Mix.Task
   def run(_args) do
+    # Pause all Oban queues so backfill jobs don't run alongside the grid fetch
+    Application.put_env(
+      :microwaveprop,
+      Oban,
+      Keyword.put(
+        Application.get_env(:microwaveprop, Oban, []),
+        :queues,
+        false
+      )
+    )
+
     Mix.Task.run("app.start")
 
     IO.puts("Starting propagation grid computation...")