diff --git a/rein_aharness/claim_loop.py b/rein_aharness/claim_loop.py
index 949ebea..510ae19 100644
--- a/rein_aharness/claim_loop.py
+++ b/rein_aharness/claim_loop.py
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ logger = logging.getLogger("rein_aharness.claim_loop")
 class ProcessResult:
     claimed: bool
     empty: bool = False
+    retry_full_interval: bool = False
     run_id: str | None = None
     approach: str | None = None
     ok: bool | None = None
@@ -104,7 +105,11 @@ def process_one(
     try:
         claimed = client.claim(limit=1)
     except OpsRunError as exc:
-        return ProcessResult(claimed=False, reason=f"claim error: {exc}")
+        return ProcessResult(
+            claimed=False,
+            retry_full_interval=True,
+            reason=f"claim error: {exc}",
+        )
 
     if not claimed:
         return ProcessResult(claimed=False, empty=True, reason="queue empty")
@@ -396,8 +401,13 @@ def run_claim_loop(
             break
         if max_iterations is not None and iterations >= max_iterations:
             break
-        # Sleep full interval only when empty; short pause after work
-        sleep_for = interval_seconds if result.empty else min(2.0, interval_seconds)
+        # Empty queues and upstream errors both use the configured backoff.
+        # The short pause is only for a cycle that actually claimed work.
+        sleep_for = (
+            interval_seconds
+            if result.empty or result.retry_full_interval
+            else min(2.0, interval_seconds)
+        )
         stop.wait(sleep_for)
 
     logger.info("claim-loop stop iterations=%s exit=%s", iterations, exit_code)
diff --git a/tests/test_claim_loop.py b/tests/test_claim_loop.py
index 814ac37..91fb880 100644
--- a/tests/test_claim_loop.py
+++ b/tests/test_claim_loop.py
@@ -7,7 +7,12 @@ from unittest.mock import MagicMock, patch
 from rein_aharness.approaches import ApproachResult, APPROACH_FI_RESEARCH_BRIEF
 from rein_aharness.claim_loop import process_one, poll_peek
 from rein_aharness.glas_execution import GLAS_APPROACH, GlasExecutionError
-from rein_aharness.ops_run_client import OpsRun, OpsRunConfig, ActivityCoreOpsClient
+from rein_aharness.ops_run_client import (
+    ActivityCoreOpsClient,
+    OpsRun,
+    OpsRunConfig,
+    OpsRunError,
+)
 
 
 def _claimed_run() -> OpsRun:
@@ -34,6 +39,16 @@ def test_process_one_empty() -> None:
     assert r.claimed is False
 
 
+def test_process_one_claim_error_requests_full_backoff() -> None:
+    client = MagicMock(spec=ActivityCoreOpsClient)
+    client.config = OpsRunConfig(worker_id="w", lease_seconds=90)
+    client.claim.side_effect = OpsRunError("upstream failed")
+    result = process_one(client)
+    assert result.claimed is False
+    assert result.empty is False
+    assert result.retry_full_interval is True
+
+
 def test_process_one_success_completes() -> None:
     client = MagicMock(spec=ActivityCoreOpsClient)
     client.config = OpsRunConfig(worker_id="w", lease_seconds=90)
diff --git a/workplans/REIN-A-0004-glas-profiled-ops-runs.md b/workplans/REIN-A-0004-glas-profiled-ops-runs.md
index 4448868..269c6c6 100644
--- a/workplans/REIN-A-0004-glas-profiled-ops-runs.md
+++ b/workplans/REIN-A-0004-glas-profiled-ops-runs.md
@@ -106,3 +106,11 @@ deployment rsync now excludes `.venv`, preventing workstation-bound shebangs
 from overwriting the live worker environment. railiance01 is healthy on the
 legacy worker but still needs the Glas checkout/package install, deployment,
 restart, and coordinated pilot.
+
+Deployment then exposed a pre-existing upstream database mismatch: the live
+Activity Core image selects `ops_runs.harness_profile_ref`, but production
+PostgreSQL has not applied migration `0008`, so every claim returns 500. The
+worker's prior error path retried that failure every two seconds; it now uses
+the configured 30-second backoff for claim errors and reserves the short pause
+for cycles that actually claimed work. Activity Core must apply/verify its
+migration before the coordinated pilot can run.