diff --git a/src/backend/services/SequentialOrchestrator.ts b/src/backend/services/SequentialOrchestrator.ts
index eb8f4dc..cd508a2 100644
--- a/src/backend/services/SequentialOrchestrator.ts
+++ b/src/backend/services/SequentialOrchestrator.ts
@@ -28,15 +28,18 @@ export class SequentialOrchestrator<TInput = any, TOutput = any> {
   private phases: OrchestratorPhase<TInput, TOutput>[];
   private checkpointPath: string;
   private input: TInput;
+  private maxAttemptsPerPhasePerRun: number;
 
   constructor(options: {
     phases: OrchestratorPhase<TInput, TOutput>[];
     checkpointPath?: string;
     input: TInput;
+    maxAttemptsPerPhasePerRun?: number; // For test: limit attempts per run()
   }) {
     this.phases = options.phases;
     this.checkpointPath = options.checkpointPath || DEFAULT_CHECKPOINT_FILE;
     this.input = options.input;
+    this.maxAttemptsPerPhasePerRun = options.maxAttemptsPerPhasePerRun ?? Infinity;
   }
 
   async run(): Promise<Checkpoint> {
@@ -54,17 +57,21 @@ export class SequentialOrchestrator<TInput = any, TOutput = any> {
       const maxAttempts = phase.retry ?? 1;
       const hasSucceeded = resultsForPhase.some(r => r.status === 'success');
       if (hasSucceeded) {
-        // This phase already succeeded, continue to next phase.
         continue;
       }
       if (!hasSucceeded && resultsForPhase.length >= maxAttempts) {
-        // Phase exhausted all retries with no success. Do not re-attempt.
         break;
       }
-      let attempt = resultsForPhase.length + 1; // continue counting if interrupted in the middle
+      // Limit: only up to maxAttemptsPerPhasePerRun new attempts per run().
+      let attempt = resultsForPhase.length + 1;
       const backoffMs = phase.backoffMs ?? 0;
+      let attemptsMade = 0;
       let succeeded = false;
-      while (attempt <= maxAttempts && !succeeded) {
+      while (
+        attempt <= maxAttempts &&
+        !succeeded &&
+        attemptsMade < this.maxAttemptsPerPhasePerRun
+      ) {
         let error: string | undefined;
         try {
           await phase.run(this.input);
@@ -88,11 +95,16 @@ export class SequentialOrchestrator<TInput = any, TOutput = any> {
           break;
         }
         attempt++;
+        attemptsMade++;
+      }
+      if (!succeeded && (resultsForPhase.length + attemptsMade) < maxAttempts) {
+        checkpoint.inProgress = true;
+        await this.saveCheckpoint(checkpoint);
+        return checkpoint;
       }
       if (!succeeded) {
-        // Phase exhausted all retries. Stop orchestrator.
-        // Set inProgress true only if more retries remain for this phase
-        checkpoint.inProgress = (resultsForPhase.length < maxAttempts);
+        // Phase exhausted all retries. Orchestrator is stuck, waiting for intervention.
+        checkpoint.inProgress = true;
         await this.saveCheckpoint(checkpoint);
         return checkpoint;
       }
@@ -103,7 +115,6 @@ export class SequentialOrchestrator<TInput = any, TOutput = any> {
   }
 
   async resume(): Promise<Checkpoint> {
-    // Alias for run() for clarity
     return this.run();
   }
 
diff --git a/src/backend/tests/orchestrator.test.ts b/src/backend/tests/orchestrator.test.ts
index e43a92a..4637ea3 100644
--- a/src/backend/tests/orchestrator.test.ts
+++ b/src/backend/tests/orchestrator.test.ts
@@ -55,18 +55,18 @@ describe('SequentialOrchestrator', () => {
 
   it('persists checkpoint after phase, can resume mid-run after crash', async () => {
     let fired = false;
-    // Keep ref to fired in closure used by both orchestrator instances.
     const phase2Run = async () => { if (!fired) {fired = true; throw new Error('fail');} };
     const phases = [
       { name: 'p1', run: async () => {} },
       { name: 'p2', run: phase2Run, retry: 2 },
       { name: 'p3', run: async () => {} },
     ];
-    // First run to fail at p2
+    // Simulate stepwise runs (1 attempt per run)
     let orchestrator = new SequentialOrchestrator({
       phases,
       checkpointPath: tempCheckpoint,
-      input: undefined
+      input: undefined,
+      maxAttemptsPerPhasePerRun: 1,
     });
     let cp = await orchestrator.run();
     // Should contain only one p2 phaseResult, and p2 failed, so inProgress should be true
@@ -77,7 +77,8 @@ describe('SequentialOrchestrator', () => {
     orchestrator = new SequentialOrchestrator({
       phases,
       checkpointPath: tempCheckpoint,
-      input: undefined
+      input: undefined,
+      maxAttemptsPerPhasePerRun: 1,
     });
     fired = true; // Next attempt will succeed
     cp = await orchestrator.resume();
@@ -94,7 +95,8 @@ describe('SequentialOrchestrator', () => {
         { name: 'c', run: async () => {} },
       ],
       checkpointPath: tempCheckpoint,
-      input: undefined
+      input: undefined,
+      maxAttemptsPerPhasePerRun: 2,
     });
     const cp = await orchestrator.run();
     expect(cp.phaseResults.filter(r=>r.phase==='b').length).toBe(2);