diff --git a/internal/manager/api_impl/workers.go b/internal/manager/api_impl/workers.go
index f5623db6..1fbda706 100644
--- a/internal/manager/api_impl/workers.go
+++ b/internal/manager/api_impl/workers.go
@@ -373,7 +373,14 @@ func (f *Flamenco) doTaskUpdate(
 		logger.Panic().Msg("dbTask.Job is nil, unable to continue")
 	}
 
-	var dbErr error
+	var dbErrActivity, dbErrStatus error
+
+	if update.Activity != nil {
+		dbTask.Activity = *update.Activity
+		// The state machine will also save the task, including its activity, but
+		// relying on that here would create strong cohesion.
+		dbErrActivity = f.persist.SaveTaskActivity(ctx, dbTask)
+	}
 
 	if update.TaskStatus != nil {
 		oldTaskStatus := dbTask.Status
@@ -383,16 +390,11 @@ func (f *Flamenco) doTaskUpdate(
 				Str("newTaskStatus", string(*update.TaskStatus)).
 				Str("oldTaskStatus", string(oldTaskStatus)).
 				Msg("error changing task status")
-			dbErr = fmt.Errorf("changing status of task %s to %q: %w",
+			dbErrStatus = fmt.Errorf("changing status of task %s to %q: %w",
 				dbTask.UUID, *update.TaskStatus, err)
 		}
 	}
 
-	if update.Activity != nil {
-		dbTask.Activity = *update.Activity
-		dbErr = f.persist.SaveTaskActivity(ctx, dbTask)
-	}
-
 	if update.Log != nil {
 		// Errors writing the log to file should be logged in our own logging
 		// system, but shouldn't abort the render. As such, `err` is not returned to
@@ -403,7 +405,12 @@ func (f *Flamenco) doTaskUpdate(
 		}
 	}
 
-	return dbErr
+	// Any error updating the status is more important than an error updating the
+	// activity.
+	if dbErrStatus != nil {
+		return dbErrStatus
+	}
+	return dbErrActivity
 }
 
 func (f *Flamenco) MayWorkerRun(e echo.Context, taskID string) error {
diff --git a/internal/manager/api_impl/workers_test.go b/internal/manager/api_impl/workers_test.go
index 234fd28a..ddf92df6 100644
--- a/internal/manager/api_impl/workers_test.go
+++ b/internal/manager/api_impl/workers_test.go
@@ -198,8 +198,8 @@ func TestTaskUpdate(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
 	assert.Equal(t, mockTask.UUID, statusChangedtask.UUID)
 	assert.Equal(t, mockTask.UUID, actUpdatedTask.UUID)
-	assert.Equal(t, "pre-update activity", statusChangedtask.Activity) // the 'save' should come from the change in status.
-	assert.Equal(t, "testing", actUpdatedTask.Activity)                // the activity should be saved separately.
+	assert.Equal(t, "testing", statusChangedtask.Activity)
+	assert.Equal(t, "testing", actUpdatedTask.Activity)
 }
 
 func TestMayWorkerRun(t *testing.T) {
diff --git a/internal/manager/webupdates/job_updates.go b/internal/manager/webupdates/job_updates.go
index c7dd5bd3..7a060f2d 100644
--- a/internal/manager/webupdates/job_updates.go
+++ b/internal/manager/webupdates/job_updates.go
@@ -32,14 +32,14 @@ func NewJobUpdate(job *persistence.Job) api.JobUpdate {
 // Assumes task.Job is not nil.
 func NewTaskUpdate(task *persistence.Task) api.SocketIOTaskUpdate {
 	taskUpdate := api.SocketIOTaskUpdate{
-		Id:      task.UUID,
-		JobId:   task.Job.UUID,
-		Name:    task.Name,
-		Updated: task.UpdatedAt,
-		Status:  task.Status,
+		Id:       task.UUID,
+		JobId:    task.Job.UUID,
+		Name:     task.Name,
+		Updated:  task.UpdatedAt,
+		Status:   task.Status,
+		Activity: task.Activity,
 	}
 	return taskUpdate
-
 }
 
 // BroadcastJobUpdate sends the job update to clients.