diff --git a/src/ClaudeDo.Localization/locales/de.json b/src/ClaudeDo.Localization/locales/de.json
index 2bb0b81e..d169e9a1 100644
--- a/src/ClaudeDo.Localization/locales/de.json
+++ b/src/ClaudeDo.Localization/locales/de.json
@@ -239,6 +239,7 @@
     "toggleSubtasksTip": "Unteraufgaben ein-/ausklappen",
     "agentSuggestedTip": "Vom Agenten vorgeschlagen",
     "interactiveChipTip": "Interaktive Sitzung offen — klicken, um im Mission Control dorthin zu springen",
+    "waitingOnTip": "Wartet auf {0}",
     "scheduleTitle": "Aufgabe planen",
     "scheduleWhen": "WANN",
     "scheduleConfirm": "Planen",
@@ -277,6 +278,7 @@
     "starTip": "Favorit",
     "agentSettingsTip": "Agent-Einstellungen",
     "agentSettingsHeading": "Agent-Einstellungen (Überschreibungen)",
+    "waitingOnPrefix": "Wartet auf",
     "copyFormattedTip": "Titel, Beschreibung und offene Schritte kopieren",
     "toggleEditPreviewTip": "Bearbeiten/Vorschau umschalten",
     "planDay": "Tag planen",
@@ -775,7 +777,7 @@
     "shell": { "restartingWorker": "Worker wird neu gestartet…", "unexpectedError": "Unerwarteter Fehler: {0}" },
     "mainWindow": { "closeConfirm": { "message": "{0} Mission-Control-Sitzung(en) laufen noch. Beim Beenden werden sie abgebrochen. Trotzdem schließen?" } },
     "agentStatus": { "idle": "Leerlauf", "queued": "In Warteschlange", "running": "Läuft", "review": "Prüfung", "children": "Wartet auf Teilaufgaben", "done": "Fertig", "failed": "Fehlgeschlagen", "cancelled": "Abgebrochen" },
-    "taskStatus": { "idle": "Leerlauf", "queued": "In Warteschlange", "running": "Läuft", "waitingForReview": "Wartet auf Prüfung", "waitingForChildren": "Wartet auf Teilaufgaben", "done": "Fertig", "failed": "Fehlgeschlagen", "cancelled": "Abgebrochen", "parked": "Geparkt", "interactive": "Interaktiv" },
+    "taskStatus": { "idle": "Leerlauf", "queued": "In Warteschlange", "running": "Läuft", "waitingForReview": "Wartet auf Prüfung", "waitingForChildren": "Wartet auf Teilaufgaben", "done": "Fertig", "failed": "Fehlgeschlagen", "cancelled": "Abgebrochen", "parked": "Geparkt", "interactive": "Interaktiv", "waiting": "Wartet" },
     "failureReason": { "maxTurns": "Turn-Limit erreicht", "timeout": "Zeitüberschreitung", "usageLimit": "Nutzungslimit erreicht", "error": "Fehler", "cancelled": "Abgebrochen", "unknown": "Grund unbekannt" },
     "failureReasonTooltip": { "maxTurns": "Turn-Limit erreicht ({0}/{1} Turns) — der Worktree ist meist brauchbar; Task fortsetzen statt zurücksetzen." },
     "planningBadge": { "active": "PLANUNG", "finalized": "GEPLANT" },
diff --git a/src/ClaudeDo.Localization/locales/en.json b/src/ClaudeDo.Localization/locales/en.json
index c013ac84..2184215e 100644
--- a/src/ClaudeDo.Localization/locales/en.json
+++ b/src/ClaudeDo.Localization/locales/en.json
@@ -239,6 +239,7 @@
     "toggleSubtasksTip": "Expand / collapse subtasks",
     "agentSuggestedTip": "Suggested by the agent",
     "interactiveChipTip": "Interactive session open — click to jump to it in Mission Control",
+    "waitingOnTip": "Waiting on {0}",
     "scheduleTitle": "Schedule task",
     "scheduleWhen": "WHEN",
     "scheduleConfirm": "Schedule",
@@ -277,6 +278,7 @@
     "starTip": "Star",
     "agentSettingsTip": "Agent settings",
     "agentSettingsHeading": "Agent settings (overrides)",
+    "waitingOnPrefix": "Waiting on",
     "copyFormattedTip": "Copy title, description and open steps",
     "toggleEditPreviewTip": "Toggle edit/preview",
     "planDay": "Plan day",
@@ -775,7 +777,7 @@
     "shell": { "restartingWorker": "Restarting worker…", "unexpectedError": "Unexpected error: {0}" },
     "mainWindow": { "closeConfirm": { "message": "{0} Mission Control session(s) are still running. Closing the app will end them. Close anyway?" } },
     "agentStatus": { "idle": "Idle", "queued": "Queued", "running": "Running", "review": "Review", "children": "Waiting for Subtasks", "done": "Done", "failed": "Failed", "cancelled": "Cancelled" },
-    "taskStatus": { "idle": "Idle", "queued": "Queued", "running": "Running", "waitingForReview": "Waiting for Review", "waitingForChildren": "Waiting for Subtasks", "done": "Done", "failed": "Failed", "cancelled": "Cancelled", "parked": "Parked", "interactive": "Interactive" },
+    "taskStatus": { "idle": "Idle", "queued": "Queued", "running": "Running", "waitingForReview": "Waiting for Review", "waitingForChildren": "Waiting for Subtasks", "done": "Done", "failed": "Failed", "cancelled": "Cancelled", "parked": "Parked", "interactive": "Interactive", "waiting": "Waiting" },
     "failureReason": { "maxTurns": "Turn limit reached", "timeout": "Timed out", "usageLimit": "Usage limit reached", "error": "Error", "cancelled": "Cancelled", "unknown": "Unknown reason" },
     "failureReasonTooltip": { "maxTurns": "Turn limit reached ({0}/{1} turns) — the worktree is usually fine; continue the task instead of resetting it." },
     "planningBadge": { "active": "PLANNING", "finalized": "PLANNED" },
diff --git a/src/ClaudeDo.Ui/Design/IslandStyles.axaml b/src/ClaudeDo.Ui/Design/IslandStyles.axaml
index b055dbaa..f5a375ee 100644
--- a/src/ClaudeDo.Ui/Design/IslandStyles.axaml
+++ b/src/ClaudeDo.Ui/Design/IslandStyles.axaml
@@ -297,6 +297,18 @@
     <Setter Property="Foreground" Value="{StaticResource StatusQueuedBrush}" />
   </Style>
 
+  <!-- waiting → muted amber: a Queued task blocked on an unmet predecessor (a task_dependencies
+       edge, or the planning chain's BlockedByTaskId) — distinct from queued (unblocked, next up
+       to run) and from children (a parent waiting on its own subtasks). Mutually exclusive with
+       .queued on the same chip (IsQueued/IsWaiting), so no declaration-order fight between them. -->
+  <Style Selector="Border.chip.waiting">
+    <Setter Property="Background"  Value="#332F1A" />
+    <Setter Property="BorderBrush" Value="#4D451A" />
+  </Style>
+  <Style Selector="Border.chip.waiting > TextBlock">
+    <Setter Property="Foreground" Value="#C9A227" />
+  </Style>
+
   <!-- done → green (#6FA86B) -->
   <Style Selector="Border.chip.done">
     <Setter Property="Background"  Value="{StaticResource DoneTintBrush}" />
diff --git a/src/ClaudeDo.Ui/ViewModels/Islands/TaskRowViewModel.cs b/src/ClaudeDo.Ui/ViewModels/Islands/TaskRowViewModel.cs
index 600bf719..dbbdb5c8 100644
--- a/src/ClaudeDo.Ui/ViewModels/Islands/TaskRowViewModel.cs
+++ b/src/ClaudeDo.Ui/ViewModels/Islands/TaskRowViewModel.cs
@@ -112,11 +112,31 @@ public sealed partial class TaskRowViewModel : ViewModelBase
     [NotifyPropertyChangedFor(nameof(IsQueued))]
     [NotifyPropertyChangedFor(nameof(IsWaiting))]
     [NotifyPropertyChangedFor(nameof(StatusChipClass))]
+    [NotifyPropertyChangedFor(nameof(StatusLabel))]
+    [NotifyPropertyChangedFor(nameof(StatusChipTooltip))]
     [NotifyPropertyChangedFor(nameof(CanRemoveFromQueue))]
     private string? _blockedByTaskId;
     [ObservableProperty]
     [NotifyPropertyChangedFor(nameof(DependsOnTaskId))]
     private IReadOnlyList<string> _dependsOnTaskIds = [];
+    // Extrinsic — assigned by TasksIslandViewModel.ApplyDependencyWaitState, which alone has the
+    // cross-row graph (plus any cross-list predecessor lookup) needed to tell an unmet
+    // task_dependencies edge from a satisfied one. True only for the task_dependencies case;
+    // IsWaiting also ORs in the older BlockedByTaskId planning-chain link.
+    [ObservableProperty]
+    [NotifyPropertyChangedFor(nameof(IsQueued))]
+    [NotifyPropertyChangedFor(nameof(IsWaiting))]
+    [NotifyPropertyChangedFor(nameof(StatusChipClass))]
+    [NotifyPropertyChangedFor(nameof(StatusLabel))]
+    [NotifyPropertyChangedFor(nameof(StatusChipTooltip))]
+    [NotifyPropertyChangedFor(nameof(CanRemoveFromQueue))]
+    private bool _isBlockedByDependency;
+    // The predecessor(s) this row is waiting on, rendered ("#42" or "#42, #57"), or null when not
+    // waiting. Prefers BlockedByTaskId's single predecessor (the planning chain "parent wins" the
+    // same way it does for the chain rail), else lists every unmet task_dependencies edge.
+    [ObservableProperty]
+    [NotifyPropertyChangedFor(nameof(StatusChipTooltip))]
+    private string? _dependencyWaitLabel;
 
     // The single predecessor, or null when the task has none or several. The chain rail can only
     // draw a line, so a task waiting on n predecessors gets a ChainAfterLabel instead — see
@@ -275,8 +295,8 @@ public sealed partial class TaskRowViewModel : ViewModelBase
     // task). A live ConPTY session is that same shape but not parked — it reads "Interactive".
     public bool IsParked    => Status == TaskStatus.Idle && WorktreeState == ClaudeDo.Data.Models.WorktreeState.Active
                                && !HasInteractiveSession;
-    public bool IsQueued    => Status == TaskStatus.Queued && string.IsNullOrEmpty(BlockedByTaskId);
-    public bool IsWaiting   => Status == TaskStatus.Queued && !string.IsNullOrEmpty(BlockedByTaskId);
+    public bool IsQueued    => Status == TaskStatus.Queued && string.IsNullOrEmpty(BlockedByTaskId) && !IsBlockedByDependency;
+    public bool IsWaiting   => Status == TaskStatus.Queued && (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(BlockedByTaskId) || IsBlockedByDependency);
     public bool CanRemoveFromQueue => IsQueued || IsWaiting || HasQueuedSubtasks;
     // "Send to queue" is the single queue entry. On a finalized planning parent it queues the
     // plan (children) via CanQueuePlan; an Active (not-yet-finalized) planning parent is hidden —
@@ -412,9 +432,12 @@ public sealed partial class TaskRowViewModel : ViewModelBase
             : FailureReasonLabel;
 
     // Drives the status chip tooltip: an open interactive session takes priority (it's tappable),
-    // otherwise a Failed task's reason, otherwise no tooltip.
+    // then the predecessor(s) a waiting task is blocked on, then a Failed task's reason,
+    // otherwise no tooltip.
     public string? StatusChipTooltip
-        => HasInteractiveSession ? Loc.T("tasks.interactiveChipTip") : FailureReasonTooltip;
+        => HasInteractiveSession ? Loc.T("tasks.interactiveChipTip")
+         : IsWaiting && DependencyWaitLabel is not null ? Loc.T("tasks.waitingOnTip", DependencyWaitLabel)
+         : FailureReasonTooltip;
 
     public string DiffAdditionsText => $"+{DiffAdditions}";
     public string DiffDeletionsText => $"−{DiffDeletions}";
@@ -422,7 +445,8 @@ public sealed partial class TaskRowViewModel : ViewModelBase
 
     public string StatusLabel
         => HasInteractiveSession ? Loc.T("vm.taskStatus.interactive")
-         : IsParked ? Loc.T("vm.taskStatus.parked") : Status switch
+         : IsParked ? Loc.T("vm.taskStatus.parked")
+         : IsWaiting ? Loc.T("vm.taskStatus.waiting") : Status switch
     {
         TaskStatus.Idle             => Loc.T("vm.taskStatus.idle"),
         TaskStatus.Queued           => Loc.T("vm.taskStatus.queued"),
@@ -444,7 +468,7 @@ public sealed partial class TaskRowViewModel : ViewModelBase
 
     public string StatusChipClass => HasInteractiveSession
         ? "interactive"
-        : (Status, IsBlocked: !string.IsNullOrEmpty(BlockedByTaskId)) switch
+        : (Status, IsBlocked: !string.IsNullOrEmpty(BlockedByTaskId) || IsBlockedByDependency) switch
     {
         (TaskStatus.Running,            _) => "running",
         (TaskStatus.WaitingForReview,   _) => "review",
diff --git a/src/ClaudeDo.Ui/ViewModels/Islands/TasksIslandViewModel.cs b/src/ClaudeDo.Ui/ViewModels/Islands/TasksIslandViewModel.cs
index 54d3f4ff..7c9efc7a 100644
--- a/src/ClaudeDo.Ui/ViewModels/Islands/TasksIslandViewModel.cs
+++ b/src/ClaudeDo.Ui/ViewModels/Islands/TasksIslandViewModel.cs
@@ -43,6 +43,12 @@ public sealed partial class TasksIslandViewModel : ViewModelBase, IDisposable
     // Two events (TaskUpdated + WorktreeUpdated) drive the same delta refresh, so two reads for
     // one task can be in flight at once. Only the newest may write to the row.
     private readonly Dictionary<string, long> _deltaSeq = new();
+    // Number/Title/Status for a predecessor id that isn't loaded into Items (a different list, My
+    // Day, or the completed group) -- populated by RefreshExternalDependencyCacheAsync so
+    // ApplyChainGrouping/ApplyDependencyWaitState can still render "after #N" and the blocked
+    // chip for a cross-list predecessor instead of silently dropping it. Refreshed, never evicted:
+    // stale entries just get overwritten on the next load/delta that references the same id.
+    private readonly Dictionary<string, (int Number, string Title, TaskStatus Status)> _externalDependencyInfo = new();
     private long _deltaCounter;
     // Phase 3 reconcile tick — see the block at the end of this class.
     private readonly System.Timers.Timer _reconcileTimer = new(4_000);
@@ -363,6 +369,12 @@ public sealed partial class TasksIslandViewModel : ViewModelBase, IDisposable
                     r.ParentTaskId == parent.Id && (r.IsQueued || r.IsWaiting));
         }
 
+        // entity is not null here whenever `existing` is still reachable (see the branching
+        // above: an early return covers every entity-null-but-existing case except delete, which
+        // needs no lookup refresh).
+        if (entity is not null && existing is not null)
+            await RefreshExternalDependencyCacheAsync(db, DependencyLookupIds([existing]));
+
         Regroup();
         UpdateSubtitle();
     }
@@ -548,6 +560,8 @@ public sealed partial class TasksIslandViewModel : ViewModelBase, IDisposable
                 r.ParentFinalized = !string.IsNullOrEmpty(r.ParentTaskId)
                                     && finalizedParents.Contains(r.ParentTaskId!);
 
+            await RefreshExternalDependencyCacheAsync(db, DependencyLookupIds(Items), ct);
+
             Regroup();
             UpdateSubtitle();
             ok = true;
@@ -556,6 +570,32 @@ public sealed partial class TasksIslandViewModel : ViewModelBase, IDisposable
         finally { OperationTiming.Shared.Record("db", "TasksIsland.LoadForListAsync", sw.Elapsed, ok); }
     }
 
+    // Every predecessor id a row in `items` could need labelled/checked: its task_dependencies
+    // edges plus the planning chain's BlockedByTaskId (both resolved the same way in
+    // ApplyDependencyWaitState/BuildAfterLabel).
+    private static IEnumerable<string> DependencyLookupIds(IEnumerable<TaskRowViewModel> items) =>
+        items.SelectMany(r => string.IsNullOrEmpty(r.BlockedByTaskId)
+            ? r.DependsOnTaskIds
+            : r.DependsOnTaskIds.Append(r.BlockedByTaskId));
+
+    // Resolves predecessor ids that aren't loaded into Items (a different list, My Day, or the
+    // completed group) so cross-list dependency display doesn't silently drop them. Cheap: reuses
+    // the caller's already-open context, one query for however many ids are actually missing.
+    private async Task RefreshExternalDependencyCacheAsync(
+        ClaudeDoDbContext db, IEnumerable<string> ids, CancellationToken ct = default)
+    {
+        var known = Items.Select(r => r.Id).ToHashSet();
+        var missing = ids.Where(id => !string.IsNullOrEmpty(id) && !known.Contains(id)).Distinct().ToList();
+        if (missing.Count == 0) return;
+
+        var rows = await db.Tasks
+            .Where(t => missing.Contains(t.Id))
+            .Select(t => new { t.Id, t.Number, t.Title, t.Status })
+            .ToListAsync(ct);
+        foreach (var r in rows)
+            _externalDependencyInfo[r.Id] = (r.Number, r.Title, r.Status);
+    }
+
     internal void Regroup()
     {
         // Collapse parents that have children by default, so subtasks stay tucked away until
@@ -691,13 +731,66 @@ public sealed partial class TasksIslandViewModel : ViewModelBase, IDisposable
         // with a label rather than an orphaned rail. Whether the head is resolvable at all
         // still uses the whole-Items graph (rowsById), independent of section.
         var rowsById = Items.ToDictionary(r => r.Id);
-        overdue   = ApplyChainGrouping(overdue, rowsById);
-        open      = ApplyChainGrouping(open, rowsById);
-        completed = ApplyChainGrouping(completed, rowsById);
+
+        // Blocked-by-dependency is independent of section (a blocked row can be Overdue or Open
+        // alike) and independent of chain membership, so it's computed once over all of Items
+        // rather than per section.
+        foreach (var r in Items)
+            ApplyDependencyWaitState(r, rowsById, _externalDependencyInfo);
+
+        overdue   = ApplyChainGrouping(overdue, rowsById, _externalDependencyInfo);
+        open      = ApplyChainGrouping(open, rowsById, _externalDependencyInfo);
+        completed = ApplyChainGrouping(completed, rowsById, _externalDependencyInfo);
 
         return (overdue, open, completed);
     }
 
+    // Assigns IsBlockedByDependency/DependencyWaitLabel for one row. BlockedByTaskId (the planning
+    // chain's single link) wins the label the same way a planning child's parent indent wins over
+    // chain-rail membership -- "parent wins" is the existing precedent (ApplyChainGrouping below).
+    private static void ApplyDependencyWaitState(
+        TaskRowViewModel row, Dictionary<string, TaskRowViewModel> rowsById,
+        IReadOnlyDictionary<string, (int Number, string Title, TaskStatus Status)> external)
+    {
+        if (row.Status != TaskStatus.Queued)
+        {
+            row.IsBlockedByDependency = false;
+            row.DependencyWaitLabel = null;
+            return;
+        }
+
+        var unmet = row.DependsOnTaskIds.Where(id => IsUnmet(id, rowsById, external)).ToList();
+        row.IsBlockedByDependency = unmet.Count > 0;
+
+        var waitIds = !string.IsNullOrEmpty(row.BlockedByTaskId) ? [row.BlockedByTaskId] : unmet;
+        row.DependencyWaitLabel = waitIds.Count == 0 ? null
+            : string.Join(", ", waitIds.Select(id => ResolveLabel(id, rowsById, external)).Where(s => s is not null));
+    }
+
+    // A predecessor missing from both rowsById and the external cache counts as unmet -- mirrors
+    // QueuePicker/Worker's TaskBlocking.Unmet: an edge pointing at an unresolved/vanished task
+    // keeps blocking rather than being silently treated as satisfied.
+    private static bool IsUnmet(
+        string id, Dictionary<string, TaskRowViewModel> rowsById,
+        IReadOnlyDictionary<string, (int Number, string Title, TaskStatus Status)> external)
+    {
+        if (rowsById.TryGetValue(id, out var p)) return p.Status != TaskStatus.Done;
+        if (external.TryGetValue(id, out var e)) return e.Status != TaskStatus.Done;
+        return true;
+    }
+
+    // Resolves a predecessor id to its display label, checking the in-view rows first and falling
+    // back to the cross-list cache (RefreshExternalDependencyCacheAsync) -- null only when the
+    // predecessor is genuinely unresolvable anywhere (e.g. a deleted task).
+    private static string? ResolveLabel(
+        string id, Dictionary<string, TaskRowViewModel> rowsById,
+        IReadOnlyDictionary<string, (int Number, string Title, TaskStatus Status)> external)
+    {
+        if (rowsById.TryGetValue(id, out var p)) return p.Number > 0 ? $"#{p.Number}" : p.Title;
+        if (external.TryGetValue(id, out var e)) return e.Number > 0 ? $"#{e.Number}" : e.Title;
+        return null;
+    }
+
     // Cycles are rejected by TaskStateService.SetDependsOnAsync, so this should always
     // terminate quickly — capped anyway against a corrupt/legacy row forming a loop.
     private const int MaxChainWalkDepth = 64;
@@ -724,14 +817,15 @@ public sealed partial class TasksIslandViewModel : ViewModelBase, IDisposable
 
     // Content only — "after " + localization is Slice 2's concern (the view), which is why this
     // holds just the identifying fragment rather than an assembled sentence. Names every
-    // predecessor it can resolve: a task can wait on n of them, and hiding all but the first
-    // would misreport what the row is actually waiting for.
-    private static string? BuildAfterLabel(TaskRowViewModel row, Dictionary<string, TaskRowViewModel> rowsById)
+    // predecessor it can resolve (in-view first, then the cross-list external cache): a task can
+    // wait on n of them, and hiding all but the first would misreport what the row is waiting for.
+    private static string? BuildAfterLabel(
+        TaskRowViewModel row, Dictionary<string, TaskRowViewModel> rowsById,
+        IReadOnlyDictionary<string, (int Number, string Title, TaskStatus Status)> external)
     {
         var parts = row.DependsOnTaskIds
-            .Select(id => rowsById.TryGetValue(id, out var p) ? p : null)
+            .Select(id => ResolveLabel(id, rowsById, external))
             .Where(p => p is not null)
-            .Select(p => p!.Number > 0 ? $"#{p.Number}" : p.Title)
             .ToList();
         return parts.Count == 0 ? null : string.Join(", ", parts);
     }
@@ -741,7 +835,8 @@ public sealed partial class TasksIslandViewModel : ViewModelBase, IDisposable
     // (ascending ChainStep), regardless of their SortOrder-derived position — mirroring how
     // planning children already sit right after their parent regardless of Items order.
     private static List<TaskRowViewModel> ApplyChainGrouping(
-        List<TaskRowViewModel> section, Dictionary<string, TaskRowViewModel> rowsById)
+        List<TaskRowViewModel> section, Dictionary<string, TaskRowViewModel> rowsById,
+        IReadOnlyDictionary<string, (int Number, string Title, TaskStatus Status)> external)
     {
         var sectionIds = section.Select(r => r.Id).ToHashSet();
         var headIdOf = new Dictionary<TaskRowViewModel, string>();
@@ -763,7 +858,7 @@ public sealed partial class TasksIslandViewModel : ViewModelBase, IDisposable
             {
                 r.ShowAsChainMember = false;
                 r.ChainStep = null;
-                r.ChainAfterLabel = BuildAfterLabel(r, rowsById);
+                r.ChainAfterLabel = BuildAfterLabel(r, rowsById, external);
                 continue;
             }
 
@@ -773,7 +868,7 @@ public sealed partial class TasksIslandViewModel : ViewModelBase, IDisposable
             {
                 r.ShowAsChainMember = false;
                 r.ChainStep = null;
-                r.ChainAfterLabel = BuildAfterLabel(r, rowsById);
+                r.ChainAfterLabel = BuildAfterLabel(r, rowsById, external);
                 continue;
             }
 
@@ -790,7 +885,7 @@ public sealed partial class TasksIslandViewModel : ViewModelBase, IDisposable
             {
                 r.ShowAsChainMember = false;
                 r.ChainStep = null;
-                r.ChainAfterLabel = BuildAfterLabel(r, rowsById);
+                r.ChainAfterLabel = BuildAfterLabel(r, rowsById, external);
             }
         }
 
@@ -1739,7 +1834,12 @@ public sealed partial class TasksIslandViewModel : ViewModelBase, IDisposable
         // reflects any of that after a Regroup — without this the tick would heal the row's data
         // while leaving a completed task sitting in the Open section under a stale count. Gated
         // on a real change so an idle tick stays free.
-        if (groupingChanged) Regroup();
+        if (groupingChanged)
+        {
+            await using var db2 = await _dbFactory.CreateDbContextAsync(ct);
+            await RefreshExternalDependencyCacheAsync(db2, DependencyLookupIds(Items), ct);
+            Regroup();
+        }
     }
 
     // The slice of a row that Regroup reads: which section it lands in, where it sits inside it,
diff --git a/src/ClaudeDo.Ui/Views/Islands/Detail/TaskHeaderBar.axaml b/src/ClaudeDo.Ui/Views/Islands/Detail/TaskHeaderBar.axaml
index aaedbfd6..9504c990 100644
--- a/src/ClaudeDo.Ui/Views/Islands/Detail/TaskHeaderBar.axaml
+++ b/src/ClaudeDo.Ui/Views/Islands/Detail/TaskHeaderBar.axaml
@@ -41,6 +41,14 @@
         </Viewbox>
         <TextBlock Classes="meta" Text="{Binding Task.Branch}"/>
       </StackPanel>
+
+      <!-- Dependency-wait line: this task is Queued but blocked on an unmet predecessor (a
+           task_dependencies edge, or the planning chain's BlockedByTaskId). -->
+      <StackPanel Orientation="Horizontal" Spacing="4" Margin="0,4,0,0"
+                  IsVisible="{Binding Task.IsWaiting, FallbackValue=False}">
+        <TextBlock Classes="meta" Text="{loc:Tr details.waitingOnPrefix}"/>
+        <TextBlock Classes="meta" Text="{Binding Task.DependencyWaitLabel}"/>
+      </StackPanel>
     </StackPanel>
 
     <!-- Column 1: trash button (not running) -->
diff --git a/src/ClaudeDo.Ui/Views/Islands/TaskRowView.axaml b/src/ClaudeDo.Ui/Views/Islands/TaskRowView.axaml
index ccc7513a..e309d8a4 100644
--- a/src/ClaudeDo.Ui/Views/Islands/TaskRowView.axaml
+++ b/src/ClaudeDo.Ui/Views/Islands/TaskRowView.axaml
@@ -142,7 +142,8 @@
                     Classes.children="{Binding Status, Converter={StaticResource EqStatus}, ConverterParameter=WaitingForChildren}"
                     Classes.done="{Binding Status, Converter={StaticResource EqStatus}, ConverterParameter=Done}"
                     Classes.error="{Binding Status, Converter={StaticResource EqStatus}, ConverterParameter=Failed}"
-                    Classes.queued="{Binding Status, Converter={StaticResource EqStatus}, ConverterParameter=Queued}">
+                    Classes.queued="{Binding IsQueued}"
+                    Classes.waiting="{Binding IsWaiting}">
               <TextBlock Text="{Binding StatusLabel}"/>
             </Border>
 
diff --git a/tests/ClaudeDo.Ui.Tests/ViewModels/DetailsIslandDependencyWaitTests.cs b/tests/ClaudeDo.Ui.Tests/ViewModels/DetailsIslandDependencyWaitTests.cs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..197de6d7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/ClaudeDo.Ui.Tests/ViewModels/DetailsIslandDependencyWaitTests.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,72 @@
+using ClaudeDo.Data;
+using ClaudeDo.Ui.Services;
+using ClaudeDo.Ui.ViewModels.Islands;
+using Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore;
+using TaskStatus = ClaudeDo.Data.Models.TaskStatus;
+
+namespace ClaudeDo.Ui.Tests.ViewModels;
+
+// Usability-Audit 2026-09-10: the detail pane showed nothing when a task was blocked on a
+// predecessor -- the header bar now renders a "Waiting on #N" line bound straight to the same
+// Task.IsWaiting/DependencyWaitLabel TasksIslandViewModel already computes (no new VM logic here).
+public class DetailsIslandDependencyWaitTests : IDisposable
+{
+    private readonly string _dbPath;
+
+    public DetailsIslandDependencyWaitTests()
+    {
+        _dbPath = Path.Combine(Path.GetTempPath(), $"claudedo_dep_wait_test_{Guid.NewGuid():N}.db");
+        using var ctx = NewContext();
+        ctx.Database.EnsureCreated();
+    }
+
+    public void Dispose()
+    {
+        try { File.Delete(_dbPath); } catch { }
+        try { File.Delete(_dbPath + "-wal"); } catch { }
+        try { File.Delete(_dbPath + "-shm"); } catch { }
+    }
+
+    private ClaudeDoDbContext NewContext()
+    {
+        var opts = new DbContextOptionsBuilder<ClaudeDoDbContext>()
+            .UseSqlite($"Data Source={_dbPath}")
+            .Options;
+        return new ClaudeDoDbContext(opts);
+    }
+
+    private DetailsIslandViewModel NewVm()
+    {
+        var factory = new TestDbFactory(NewContext);
+        return new DetailsIslandViewModel(factory, new DefaultStub(), new NullServiceProvider(), new ClaudeDo.Ui.Services.MergeCoordinator());
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void UnblockedTask_HasNoWaitingLine()
+    {
+        var vm = NewVm();
+        vm.Bind(new TaskRowViewModel { Id = Guid.NewGuid().ToString("N"), Number = 1, Status = TaskStatus.Queued });
+
+        Assert.False(vm.Task!.IsWaiting);
+        Assert.Null(vm.Task.DependencyWaitLabel);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void BlockedTask_ExposesWaitingLineViaBoundRow()
+    {
+        var vm = NewVm();
+        var row = new TaskRowViewModel
+        {
+            Id = Guid.NewGuid().ToString("N"),
+            Number = 2,
+            Status = TaskStatus.Queued,
+            IsBlockedByDependency = true,
+            DependencyWaitLabel = "#42",
+        };
+
+        vm.Bind(row);
+
+        Assert.True(vm.Task!.IsWaiting);
+        Assert.Equal("#42", vm.Task.DependencyWaitLabel);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/tests/ClaudeDo.Ui.Tests/ViewModels/TasksIslandChainTests.cs b/tests/ClaudeDo.Ui.Tests/ViewModels/TasksIslandChainTests.cs
index 9ba9f8e1..18f524ee 100644
--- a/tests/ClaudeDo.Ui.Tests/ViewModels/TasksIslandChainTests.cs
+++ b/tests/ClaudeDo.Ui.Tests/ViewModels/TasksIslandChainTests.cs
@@ -266,4 +266,93 @@ public class TasksIslandChainTests : IDisposable
         Assert.Contains(numbers["a"].ToString(), wiring.ChainAfterLabel);
         Assert.Contains(numbers["b"].ToString(), wiring.ChainAfterLabel);
     }
+
+    // Usability-Audit 2026-09-10: a Queued task blocked on an unmet task_dependencies edge used to
+    // render the same "queued" chip as one that's actually next up to run.
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task QueuedTaskWithUnmetDependency_ShowsWaitingChipAndTooltip()
+    {
+        var numbers = await SeedAsync(
+            ("predecessor", TaskStatus.Idle, null, null, 0),
+            ("dependent", TaskStatus.Queued, "predecessor", null, 1));
+
+        var vm = BuildViewModel();
+        await LoadAndWaitAsync(vm, UserList("list1", "Default"));
+
+        var dependent = vm.Items.First(r => r.Id == "dependent");
+
+        Assert.True(dependent.IsWaiting);
+        Assert.False(dependent.IsQueued);
+        Assert.Equal("waiting", dependent.StatusChipClass);
+        Assert.NotNull(dependent.StatusChipTooltip);
+        Assert.Contains(numbers["predecessor"].ToString(), dependent.StatusChipTooltip);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task QueuedTaskWithSatisfiedDependency_ShowsPlainQueuedChip()
+    {
+        await SeedAsync(
+            ("predecessor", TaskStatus.Done, null, null, 0),
+            ("dependent", TaskStatus.Queued, "predecessor", null, 1));
+
+        var vm = BuildViewModel();
+        await LoadAndWaitAsync(vm, UserList("list1", "Default"));
+
+        var dependent = vm.Items.First(r => r.Id == "dependent");
+
+        Assert.False(dependent.IsWaiting);
+        Assert.True(dependent.IsQueued);
+        Assert.Equal("queued", dependent.StatusChipClass);
+        Assert.Null(dependent.DependencyWaitLabel);
+    }
+
+    // Usability-Audit 2026-09-10: BuildAfterLabel only resolved predecessors already loaded into
+    // Items, so a listenfremder Vorgänger (different list) silently dropped both the "after #N"
+    // chip and the blocked chip. RefreshExternalDependencyCacheAsync backfills Number/Title/Status
+    // for exactly those ids via one extra query on the already-open DbContext.
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task CrossListPredecessor_BlocksAndRendersAfterLabel()
+    {
+        var headNumber = TestTaskNumbers.Next();
+        await using (var db = NewContext())
+        {
+            db.Lists.Add(new ListEntity { Id = "list1", Name = "Default", CreatedAt = DateTime.UtcNow });
+            db.Lists.Add(new ListEntity { Id = "list2", Name = "Other", CreatedAt = DateTime.UtcNow });
+            db.Tasks.Add(new TaskEntity
+            {
+                Number = headNumber,
+                Id = "head",
+                ListId = "list1",
+                Title = "head",
+                CreatedAt = DateTime.UtcNow,
+                Status = TaskStatus.Idle,
+                SortOrder = 0,
+            });
+            db.Tasks.Add(new TaskEntity
+            {
+                Number = TestTaskNumbers.Next(),
+                Id = "dependent",
+                ListId = "list2",
+                Title = "dependent",
+                CreatedAt = DateTime.UtcNow,
+                Status = TaskStatus.Queued,
+                SortOrder = 0,
+            });
+            db.TaskDependencies.Add(new TaskDependencyEntity { TaskId = "dependent", DependsOnTaskId = "head" });
+            await db.SaveChangesAsync();
+        }
+
+        var vm = BuildViewModel();
+        await LoadAndWaitAsync(vm, UserList("list2", "Other"));
+
+        var dependent = vm.Items.First(r => r.Id == "dependent");
+
+        Assert.True(dependent.IsWaiting);
+        Assert.False(dependent.IsQueued);
+        Assert.Equal("waiting", dependent.StatusChipClass);
+        Assert.NotNull(dependent.ChainAfterLabel);
+        Assert.Contains($"#{headNumber}", dependent.ChainAfterLabel);
+        Assert.NotNull(dependent.DependencyWaitLabel);
+        Assert.Contains($"#{headNumber}", dependent.DependencyWaitLabel);
+    }
 }
diff --git a/tests/ClaudeDo.Worker.Tests/UiVm/TaskRowViewModelNotificationsTests.cs b/tests/ClaudeDo.Worker.Tests/UiVm/TaskRowViewModelNotificationsTests.cs
index 94c0ec16..d506750d 100644
--- a/tests/ClaudeDo.Worker.Tests/UiVm/TaskRowViewModelNotificationsTests.cs
+++ b/tests/ClaudeDo.Worker.Tests/UiVm/TaskRowViewModelNotificationsTests.cs
@@ -281,10 +281,41 @@ public class TaskRowViewModelNotificationsTests
             nameof(TaskRowViewModel.IsQueued),
             nameof(TaskRowViewModel.IsWaiting),
             nameof(TaskRowViewModel.StatusChipClass),
+            nameof(TaskRowViewModel.StatusLabel),
+            nameof(TaskRowViewModel.StatusChipTooltip),
             nameof(TaskRowViewModel.CanRemoveFromQueue),
         }, raised);
     }
 
+    [Fact]
+    public void IsBlockedByDependencyChanged_Notifies_Dependents()
+    {
+        var vm = new TaskRowViewModel { Id = "t" };
+        var raised = Raised(vm, () => vm.IsBlockedByDependency = true);
+        Assert.Equal(new HashSet<string?>
+        {
+            nameof(TaskRowViewModel.IsBlockedByDependency),
+            nameof(TaskRowViewModel.IsQueued),
+            nameof(TaskRowViewModel.IsWaiting),
+            nameof(TaskRowViewModel.StatusChipClass),
+            nameof(TaskRowViewModel.StatusLabel),
+            nameof(TaskRowViewModel.StatusChipTooltip),
+            nameof(TaskRowViewModel.CanRemoveFromQueue),
+        }, raised);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void DependencyWaitLabelChanged_Notifies_Dependents()
+    {
+        var vm = new TaskRowViewModel { Id = "t" };
+        var raised = Raised(vm, () => vm.DependencyWaitLabel = "#42");
+        Assert.Equal(new HashSet<string?>
+        {
+            nameof(TaskRowViewModel.DependencyWaitLabel),
+            nameof(TaskRowViewModel.StatusChipTooltip),
+        }, raised);
+    }
+
     [Fact]
     public void HasPlanningChildrenChanged_Notifies_Dependents()
     {