diff --git a/lambdas/functions/control-plane/src/scale-runners/scale-up.test.ts b/lambdas/functions/control-plane/src/scale-runners/scale-up.test.ts
index 8ac2c14489..72b3c5ef1d 100644
--- a/lambdas/functions/control-plane/src/scale-runners/scale-up.test.ts
+++ b/lambdas/functions/control-plane/src/scale-runners/scale-up.test.ts
@@ -863,6 +863,20 @@ describe('scaleUp with GHES', () => {
         }),
       );
     });
+
+    it('Should assume job is queued when isJobQueued throws (fail-open)', async () => {
+      mockOctokit.actions.getJobForWorkflowRun.mockRejectedValue(new Error('GitHub API 502'));
+
+      const messages = createTestMessages(2);
+      await scaleUpModule.scaleUp(messages);
+
+      // All messages processed despite API error — fail-open prevents job drops
+      expect(createRunner).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+        expect.objectContaining({
+          numberOfRunners: 2,
+        }),
+      );
+    });
   });
 });
 
diff --git a/lambdas/functions/control-plane/src/scale-runners/scale-up.ts b/lambdas/functions/control-plane/src/scale-runners/scale-up.ts
index 395c87e8f8..48333bdc11 100644
--- a/lambdas/functions/control-plane/src/scale-runners/scale-up.ts
+++ b/lambdas/functions/control-plane/src/scale-runners/scale-up.ts
@@ -416,10 +416,21 @@ export async function scaleUp(payloads: ActionRequestMessageSQS[]): Promise<stri
         },
       });
 
-      if (enableJobQueuedCheck && !(await isJobQueued(githubInstallationClient, message))) {
-        messageLogger.info('No runner will be created, job is not queued.');
-
-        continue;
+      if (enableJobQueuedCheck) {
+        let jobQueued = true;
+        try {
+          jobQueued = await isJobQueued(githubInstallationClient, message);
+        } catch (e) {
+          const err = e as Error & { status?: number };
+          messageLogger.warn('isJobQueued check failed, assuming job is still queued (fail-open)', {
+            error: err.message,
+            status: err.status,
+          });
+        }
+        if (!jobQueued) {
+          messageLogger.info('No runner will be created, job is not queued.');
+          continue;
+        }
       }
 
       scaleUp++;