diff --git a/internal/store/cron_store.go b/internal/store/cron_store.go
index d84d1f27..ad5f1af9 100644
--- a/internal/store/cron_store.go
+++ b/internal/store/cron_store.go
@@ -244,11 +244,9 @@ func MergeCronSchedule(current CronSchedule, patch *CronSchedule) CronSchedule {
 		} else if current.Kind == newKind {
 			merged.Expr = current.Expr
 		}
-		if patch.TZ != "" {
-			merged.TZ = patch.TZ
-		} else if current.Kind == newKind {
-			merged.TZ = current.TZ
-		}
+		// TZ: always use patch value. Empty = UTC (default).
+		// Callers (UI, agent tool) send full schedule via spread, so empty is explicit.
+		merged.TZ = patch.TZ
 	case "every":
 		if patch.EveryMS != nil {
 			merged.EveryMS = patch.EveryMS
diff --git a/internal/store/pg/cron_exec.go b/internal/store/pg/cron_exec.go
index ff139b01..fe95d50f 100644
--- a/internal/store/pg/cron_exec.go
+++ b/internal/store/pg/cron_exec.go
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ func (s *PGCronStore) RunJob(ctx context.Context, jobID string, force bool) (boo
 	if parseErr != nil {
 		return false, "", fmt.Errorf("invalid job id %q: %w", jobID, parseErr)
 	}
-	res, err := s.db.ExecContext(ctx, "UPDATE cron_jobs SET last_status = 'running', next_run_at = NULL, updated_at = $1 WHERE id = $2 AND last_status != 'running'", time.Now(), id)
+	res, err := s.db.ExecContext(ctx, "UPDATE cron_jobs SET last_status = 'running', next_run_at = NULL, updated_at = $1 WHERE id = $2 AND last_status IS DISTINCT FROM 'running'", time.Now(), id)
 	if err != nil {
 		slog.Warn("cron: failed to claim job for forced run", "jobId", jobID, "error", err)
 		return false, "", err