diff --git a/pulsar/managers/stateful.py b/pulsar/managers/stateful.py
index 1f33a2a313e59497cfc2828343b3770cc9c452bd..1ced16890df9140e20cfb36f522f794709aea242 100644
--- a/pulsar/managers/stateful.py
+++ b/pulsar/managers/stateful.py
@@ -113,7 +113,8 @@ class StatefulManagerProxy(ManagerProxy):
         """
         state_change = None
         if job_directory.has_metadata(JOB_FILE_PREPROCESSING_FAILED):
-            proxy_status = status.COMPLETE
+            proxy_status = status.FAILED
+            job_directory.store_metadata(JOB_FILE_FINAL_STATUS, proxy_status)
             state_change = "to_complete"
         elif not job_directory.has_metadata(JOB_FILE_PREPROCESSED):
             proxy_status = status.PREPROCESSING