diff --git a/src/servers/api/tasks/pipeline-job-manager.ts b/src/servers/api/tasks/pipeline-job-manager.ts
index d8ef4492..c4d2513f 100644
--- a/src/servers/api/tasks/pipeline-job-manager.ts
+++ b/src/servers/api/tasks/pipeline-job-manager.ts
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ export async function enqueueJob(params: StartJobParams, action: 'start' | 'queu
     status: run ? 'running' : 'pending',
     inputs: params.inputs,
     cwd: params.cwd ?? null,
-    config: params.config,
+    config: params.config ?? {}, // column is NOT NULL; many script tasks have no config block
     startedAt: run ? new Date() : null,
   });
   if (run) launch(jobId, mode, params);