diff --git a/app/modules/services/execution.py b/app/modules/services/execution.py
index 63714b5..d0038f9 100644
--- a/app/modules/services/execution.py
+++ b/app/modules/services/execution.py
@@ -279,6 +279,128 @@ def _default_internal_target_date(subscription: ClientServiceSubscription, templ
     return None
 
 
+def _normalise_task_name_for_setup_sync(value: str | None) -> str:
+    return " ".join((value or "").strip().lower().replace("&", "and").split())
+
+
+def _is_engagement_acceptance_setup_task_name(value: str | None) -> bool:
+    """Return True only for execution rows that duplicate the engagement-level AQMM setup.
+
+    These tasks are retained in the work tracker as historical/scope rows, but once the
+    engagement-level AQMM workflow is approved they must not ask staff to repeat the
+    same acceptance, independence, KYC or team-setup approvals.
+    """
+    name = _normalise_task_name_for_setup_sync(value)
+    if not name:
+        return False
+    if "acceptance and continuance" in name:
+        return True
+    if "independence and conflict" in name:
+        return True
+    if "kyc" in name and "engagement letter" in name:
+        return True
+    if name.startswith("create ") and "engagement" in name and "assign team" in name:
+        return True
+    return False
+
+
+def _apply_approved_engagement_acceptance_to_task(
+    task: ClientServiceTaskInstance,
+    *,
+    actor_user_id: int,
+) -> bool:
+    """Synchronise one duplicate setup task from an already-approved engagement AQMM gate.
+
+    No task is deleted and no executed/reviewed normal work is rewritten. Only the four
+    pre-execution setup controls that duplicate the engagement-level acceptance workflow
+    are satisfied automatically. This removes the circular gate where an active, AQMM-
+    approved engagement asks staff to obtain AQMM approval again before starting work.
+    """
+    if not _is_engagement_acceptance_setup_task_name(getattr(task, "task_name", None)):
+        return False
+
+    # Never rewrite genuine task execution/rework history. This repair is intentionally
+    # limited to untouched setup rows, plus rows already auto-completed by this sync.
+    status = (getattr(task, "status", None) or "pending").strip().lower()
+    if status not in {"pending", "completed"}:
+        return False
+    if getattr(task, "started_at_utc", None) is not None and status != "completed":
+        return False
+    if (getattr(task, "rework_status", None) or "none").strip().lower() == "open":
+        return False
+
+    now = datetime.now(timezone.utc)
+    changed = False
+
+    def set_if_different(attr: str, value) -> None:
+        nonlocal changed
+        if getattr(task, attr, None) != value:
+            setattr(task, attr, value)
+            changed = True
+
+    set_if_different("status", "completed")
+    if getattr(task, "completed_at_utc", None) is None:
+        task.completed_at_utc = now
+        changed = True
+
+    # The engagement-level AQMM approval has already performed these reviews. Keep the
+    # task row, but do not make staff repeat Manager/Partner/Review-Partner approvals.
+    set_if_different("normal_review_required", False)
+    set_if_different("normal_review_role", None)
+    set_if_different("normal_review_status", "not_required")
+    set_if_different("aqmm_manager_review_required", False)
+    set_if_different("aqmm_partner_review_required", False)
+    set_if_different("aqmm_review_partner_required", False)
+    set_if_different("manager_review_status", "not_required")
+    set_if_different("partner_review_status", "not_required")
+    set_if_different("review_partner_review_status", "not_required")
+
+    # Evidence for these four setup controls lives in the engagement-level AQMM records
+    # (declarations/KYC/engagement letter). Do not require duplicate task-document evidence.
+    set_if_different("aqmm_evidence_required", False)
+    set_if_different("evidence_status", "not_required")
+    set_if_different("aqmm_review_status", "not_required")
+    set_if_different("aqmm_status", "completed")
+    if getattr(task, "aqmm_completed_at_utc", None) is None:
+        task.aqmm_completed_at_utc = now
+        changed = True
+
+    if changed:
+        task.updated_by_user_id = actor_user_id
+    return changed
+
+
+def synchronise_approved_engagement_acceptance_tasks(
+    db: Session,
+    *,
+    subscription: ClientServiceSubscription,
+    actor_user_id: int,
+) -> int:
+    """Self-heal duplicate pre-acceptance execution rows after AQMM approval.
+
+    Returns the number of task rows changed. The caller can use this to decide whether
+    a commit is required. Existing non-setup tasks, task responses, evidence, rework and
+    reviews are left untouched.
+    """
+    if not quality_required_for_engagement(subscription.engagement_type):
+        return 0
+    if getattr(subscription, "quality_acceptance_status", None) != QUALITY_APPROVED:
+        return 0
+
+    tasks = db.execute(
+        select(ClientServiceTaskInstance).where(
+            ClientServiceTaskInstance.subscription_id == subscription.id,
+            ClientServiceTaskInstance.is_active.is_(True),
+        )
+    ).scalars().all()
+
+    changed = 0
+    for task in tasks:
+        if _apply_approved_engagement_acceptance_to_task(task, actor_user_id=actor_user_id):
+            changed += 1
+    return changed
+
+
 def generate_tasks_for_subscription(db: Session, *, subscription: ClientServiceSubscription, user_id: int) -> int:
     if quality_required_for_engagement(subscription.engagement_type) and getattr(subscription, "quality_acceptance_status", None) != QUALITY_APPROVED:
         raise ValueError(getattr(subscription, "quality_block_reason", None) or "AQMM acceptance is pending for this assurance engagement. Complete AQMM before generating tasks.")
@@ -372,11 +494,19 @@ def generate_tasks_for_subscription_if_ready(
         and getattr(subscription, "quality_acceptance_status", None) != QUALITY_APPROVED
     ):
         return 0
-    return generate_tasks_for_subscription(
+    created = generate_tasks_for_subscription(
         db,
         subscription=subscription,
         user_id=user_id,
     )
+    repaired = synchronise_approved_engagement_acceptance_tasks(
+        db,
+        subscription=subscription,
+        actor_user_id=user_id,
+    )
+    # Preserve the historical meaning (positive = database changed) while allowing
+    # existing already-generated engagements to self-heal and be committed by callers.
+    return int(created) + int(repaired)
 
 
 def _sync_normal_review_snapshot_preserving_history(