diff --git a/config/runtime.exs b/config/runtime.exs
index ea2844dd..37bab24e 100644
--- a/config/runtime.exs
+++ b/config/runtime.exs
@@ -167,10 +167,17 @@ if config_env() == :prod do
 
   # config/config.exs sets a base Oban config (queues + cron) that Config
   # deep-merges with runtime.exs. To actually drop the hot-path queues on
-  # backfill pods we have to explicitly override them to `limit: 0` rather
-  # than just leaving them out — Config deep merge by key means omitted
-  # values fall through to the compile-time defaults.
-  disabled_hot_queues = [propagation: 0, commercial: 0, solar: 0, enqueue: 0]
+  # backfill pods we can't use `limit: 0` — Oban Pro's Smart engine
+  # rejects it with "local_limit must be greater than 0". Instead override
+  # each queue with `paused: true` (queue exists, processes nothing).
+  paused_queue = [local_limit: 1, paused: true]
+
+  disabled_hot_queues = [
+    propagation: paused_queue,
+    commercial: paused_queue,
+    solar: paused_queue,
+    enqueue: paused_queue
+  ]
 
   oban_queues =
     case prop_role do