diff --git a/src/cashet/async_executor.py b/src/cashet/async_executor.py
index f37c545..3eefcc6 100644
--- a/src/cashet/async_executor.py
+++ b/src/cashet/async_executor.py
@@ -46,7 +46,9 @@ async def _async_store_lock(
 
 
 def _is_stale_claim(commit: Commit, ttl: timedelta) -> bool:
-    return datetime.now(UTC) - commit.claimed_at > ttl
+    # Use created_at so that long-pending tasks (created but never successfully
+    # claimed) are still eligible for reclaim, rather than being stuck forever.
+    return datetime.now(UTC) - commit.created_at > ttl
 
 
 class AsyncLocalExecutor:
diff --git a/src/cashet/models.py b/src/cashet/models.py
index 1e36b30..f21434c 100644
--- a/src/cashet/models.py
+++ b/src/cashet/models.py
@@ -62,6 +62,9 @@ class Commit:
     output_ref: ObjectRef | None = None
     parent_hash: str | None = None
     status: TaskStatus = TaskStatus.PENDING
+    # created_at is the canonical anchor for task lifetime; it never changes
+    # and is used for stale-claim detection so that pending tasks cannot hide
+    # behind a recent heartbeat.
     created_at: datetime = field(default_factory=lambda: datetime.now(UTC))
     claimed_at: datetime = field(default_factory=lambda: datetime.now(UTC))
     error: str | None = None
diff --git a/src/cashet/store.py b/src/cashet/store.py
index a80c60a..80cb9a7 100644
--- a/src/cashet/store.py
+++ b/src/cashet/store.py
@@ -352,7 +352,7 @@ def find_running_by_fingerprint(self, fingerprint: str) -> Commit | None:
         row = conn.execute(
             """SELECT * FROM commits
                WHERE fingerprint = ? AND status = 'running'
-               ORDER BY claimed_at DESC LIMIT 1""",
+               ORDER BY created_at DESC LIMIT 1""",
             (fingerprint,),
         ).fetchone()
         if row is None:
diff --git a/tests/test_async_client.py b/tests/test_async_client.py
index 04da39a..b6a1fd8 100644
--- a/tests/test_async_client.py
+++ b/tests/test_async_client.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+from datetime import UTC, datetime, timedelta
 from pathlib import Path
 
 import pytest
@@ -281,6 +282,27 @@ def non_cached() -> int:
         assert await ref1.load() == 1
         assert await ref2.load() == 2
 
+    async def test_old_created_at_causes_reclaim_despite_fresh_claim(
+        self, async_client: AsyncClient
+    ) -> None:
+        import cashet.dag as dag
+        import cashet.hashing as hashing
+        from cashet.models import TaskStatus
+
+        def work() -> int:
+            return 42
+
+        task_def = hashing.build_task_def(work, (), {})
+        input_refs = dag.resolve_input_refs((), {})
+        commit = dag.build_commit(task_def, input_refs)
+        commit.status = TaskStatus.RUNNING
+        commit.created_at = datetime.now(UTC) - timedelta(seconds=400)
+        commit.claimed_at = datetime.now(UTC) - timedelta(seconds=5)
+        await async_client.store.put_commit(commit)
+
+        ref = await async_client.submit(work)
+        assert await ref.load() == 42
+
     async def test_task_decorator_callable_returns_async_result_ref(
         self, async_client: AsyncClient
     ) -> None:
diff --git a/tests/test_store.py b/tests/test_store.py
index 13cee6b..f2bfbfd 100644
--- a/tests/test_store.py
+++ b/tests/test_store.py
@@ -299,6 +299,27 @@ def slow() -> int:
         with pytest.raises(TaskError, match="TimeoutError"):
             client.submit(slow, _timeout=0.01)
 
+    def test_old_created_at_trumps_recent_claimed_at(self, store_dir: Path) -> None:
+        import cashet.dag as dag
+        import cashet.hashing as hashing
+        from cashet.models import TaskStatus
+
+        client = Client(store_dir=store_dir)
+
+        def work() -> int:
+            return 42
+
+        task_def = hashing.build_task_def(work, (), {})
+        input_refs = dag.resolve_input_refs((), {})
+        commit = dag.build_commit(task_def, input_refs)
+        commit.status = TaskStatus.RUNNING
+        commit.created_at = datetime.now(UTC) - timedelta(seconds=400)
+        commit.claimed_at = datetime.now(UTC) - timedelta(seconds=5)
+        client.store.put_commit(commit)
+
+        ref = client.submit(work)
+        assert ref.load() == 42
+
     def test_running_claim_lookup_is_not_limited_to_1000_rows(self, store_dir: Path) -> None:
         import cashet.dag as dag
         import cashet.hashing as hashing