diff --git a/spiffworkflow-backend/src/spiffworkflow_backend/models/process_instance.py b/spiffworkflow-backend/src/spiffworkflow_backend/models/process_instance.py
index b3ab709df..1668565c9 100644
--- a/spiffworkflow-backend/src/spiffworkflow_backend/models/process_instance.py
+++ b/spiffworkflow-backend/src/spiffworkflow_backend/models/process_instance.py
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ class ProcessInstanceModel(SpiffworkflowBaseDBModel):
 
     @classmethod
     def active_statuses(cls) -> list[str]:
-        return ["user_input_required", "waiting"]
+        return ["not_started", "user_input_required", "waiting"]
 
 
 class ProcessInstanceModelSchema(Schema):
diff --git a/spiffworkflow-backend/src/spiffworkflow_backend/routes/tasks_controller.py b/spiffworkflow-backend/src/spiffworkflow_backend/routes/tasks_controller.py
index 66f93bb46..e3491cfb5 100644
--- a/spiffworkflow-backend/src/spiffworkflow_backend/routes/tasks_controller.py
+++ b/spiffworkflow-backend/src/spiffworkflow_backend/routes/tasks_controller.py
@@ -45,7 +45,8 @@ from spiffworkflow_backend.models.process_instance import (
 )
 from spiffworkflow_backend.models.process_instance_event import ProcessInstanceEventType
 from spiffworkflow_backend.models.process_model import ProcessModelInfo
-from spiffworkflow_backend.models.task import TaskModel  # noqa: F401
+from spiffworkflow_backend.models.task import Task
+from spiffworkflow_backend.models.task import TaskModel
 from spiffworkflow_backend.models.user import UserModel
 from spiffworkflow_backend.routes.process_api_blueprint import (
     _find_principal_or_raise,
@@ -400,6 +401,11 @@ def _interstitial_stream(process_instance: ProcessInstanceModel) -> Generator[st
         extensions = TaskService.get_extensions_from_task_model(task_model)
         return _render_instructions_for_end_user(task_model, extensions)
 
+    def render_data(return_type: str, entity: Union[ApiError, Task, ProcessInstanceModel]) -> str:
+        return_hash: dict = {"type": return_type}
+        return_hash[return_type] = entity
+        return f"data: {current_app.json.dumps(return_hash)} \n\n"
+
     tasks = get_reportable_tasks()
     while True:
         for spiff_task in tasks:
@@ -411,14 +417,18 @@ def _interstitial_stream(process_instance: ProcessInstanceModel) -> Generator[st
                     message=f"Failed to complete an automated task. Error was: {str(e)}",
                     status_code=400,
                 )
-                yield f"data: {current_app.json.dumps(api_error)} \n\n"
+                yield render_data("error", api_error)
                 raise e
             if instructions and spiff_task.id not in reported_ids:
                 task = ProcessInstanceService.spiff_task_to_api_task(processor, spiff_task)
                 task.properties = {"instructionsForEndUser": instructions}
-                yield f"data: {current_app.json.dumps(task)} \n\n"
+                yield render_data("task", task)
                 reported_ids.append(spiff_task.id)
             if spiff_task.state == TaskState.READY:
+                # do not do any processing if the instance is not currently active
+                if process_instance.status not in ProcessInstanceModel.active_statuses():
+                    yield render_data("unrunnable_instance", process_instance)
+                    break
                 try:
                     processor.do_engine_steps(execution_strategy_name="one_at_a_time")
                     processor.do_engine_steps(execution_strategy_name="run_until_user_message")
@@ -427,7 +437,7 @@ def _interstitial_stream(process_instance: ProcessInstanceModel) -> Generator[st
                     api_error = ApiError.from_workflow_exception(
                         "engine_steps_error", "Failed complete an automated task.", exp=wfe
                     )
-                    yield f"data: {current_app.json.dumps(api_error)} \n\n"
+                    yield render_data("error", api_error)
                     return
                 except Exception as e:
                     api_error = ApiError(
@@ -435,7 +445,7 @@ def _interstitial_stream(process_instance: ProcessInstanceModel) -> Generator[st
                         message=f"Failed to complete an automated task. Error was: {str(e)}",
                         status_code=400,
                     )
-                    yield f"data: {current_app.json.dumps(api_error)} \n\n"
+                    yield render_data("error", api_error)
                     return
         processor.refresh_waiting_tasks()
         ready_engine_task_count = get_ready_engine_step_count(processor.bpmn_process_instance)
@@ -454,10 +464,10 @@ def _interstitial_stream(process_instance: ProcessInstanceModel) -> Generator[st
                 message=f"Failed to complete an automated task. Error was: {str(e)}",
                 status_code=400,
             )
-            yield f"data: {current_app.json.dumps(api_error)} \n\n"
+            yield render_data("error", api_error)
             raise e
         task.properties = {"instructionsForEndUser": instructions}
-        yield f"data: {current_app.json.dumps(task)} \n\n"
+        yield render_data("task", task)
 
 
 def get_ready_engine_step_count(bpmn_process_instance: BpmnWorkflow) -> int:
@@ -472,8 +482,9 @@ def get_ready_engine_step_count(bpmn_process_instance: BpmnWorkflow) -> int:
     )
 
 
-def _dequeued_interstitial_stream(process_instance_id: int) -> Generator[str, Optional[str], None]:
+def _dequeued_interstitial_stream(process_instance_id: int) -> Generator[Optional[str], Optional[str], None]:
     process_instance = _find_process_instance_by_id_or_raise(process_instance_id)
+
     with ProcessInstanceQueueService.dequeued(process_instance):
         yield from _interstitial_stream(process_instance)
 
diff --git a/spiffworkflow-backend/tests/spiffworkflow_backend/integration/test_process_api.py b/spiffworkflow-backend/tests/spiffworkflow_backend/integration/test_process_api.py
index 9a124f6d3..ab3303c16 100644
--- a/spiffworkflow-backend/tests/spiffworkflow_backend/integration/test_process_api.py
+++ b/spiffworkflow-backend/tests/spiffworkflow_backend/integration/test_process_api.py
@@ -1688,14 +1688,15 @@ class TestProcessApi(BaseTest):
         # The second script task should produce rendered jinja text
         # The Manual Task should then return a message as well.
         assert len(results) == 2
-        assert json_results[0]["state"] == "READY"
-        assert json_results[0]["title"] == "Script Task #2"
-        assert json_results[0]["properties"]["instructionsForEndUser"] == "I am Script Task 2"
-        assert json_results[1]["state"] == "READY"
-        assert json_results[1]["title"] == "Manual Task"
+        # import pdb; pdb.set_trace()
+        assert json_results[0]["task"]["state"] == "READY"
+        assert json_results[0]["task"]["title"] == "Script Task #2"
+        assert json_results[0]["task"]["properties"]["instructionsForEndUser"] == "I am Script Task 2"
+        assert json_results[1]["task"]["state"] == "READY"
+        assert json_results[1]["task"]["title"] == "Manual Task"
 
         response = client.put(
-            f"/v1.0/tasks/{process_instance_id}/{json_results[1]['id']}",
+            f"/v1.0/tasks/{process_instance_id}/{json_results[1]['task']['id']}",
             headers=headers,
         )
 
@@ -1705,14 +1706,14 @@ class TestProcessApi(BaseTest):
         results = list(_dequeued_interstitial_stream(process_instance_id))
         json_results = list(map(lambda x: json.loads(x[5:]), results))  # type: ignore
         assert len(results) == 1
-        assert json_results[0]["state"] == "READY"
-        assert json_results[0]["can_complete"] is False
-        assert json_results[0]["title"] == "Please Approve"
-        assert json_results[0]["properties"]["instructionsForEndUser"] == "I am a manual task in another lane"
+        assert json_results[0]["task"]["state"] == "READY"
+        assert json_results[0]["task"]["can_complete"] is False
+        assert json_results[0]["task"]["title"] == "Please Approve"
+        assert json_results[0]["task"]["properties"]["instructionsForEndUser"] == "I am a manual task in another lane"
 
         # Complete task as the finance user.
         response = client.put(
-            f"/v1.0/tasks/{process_instance_id}/{json_results[0]['id']}",
+            f"/v1.0/tasks/{process_instance_id}/{json_results[0]['task']['id']}",
             headers=self.logged_in_headers(finance_user),
         )
 
@@ -1722,8 +1723,8 @@ class TestProcessApi(BaseTest):
         results = list(_dequeued_interstitial_stream(process_instance_id))
         json_results = list(map(lambda x: json.loads(x[5:]), results))  # type: ignore
         assert len(json_results) == 1
-        assert json_results[0]["state"] == "COMPLETED"
-        assert json_results[0]["properties"]["instructionsForEndUser"] == "I am the end task"
+        assert json_results[0]["task"]["state"] == "COMPLETED"
+        assert json_results[0]["task"]["properties"]["instructionsForEndUser"] == "I am the end task"
 
     def test_process_instance_list_with_default_list(
         self,
diff --git a/spiffworkflow-frontend/src/interfaces.ts b/spiffworkflow-frontend/src/interfaces.ts
index 79866cd6b..ac0980a28 100644
--- a/spiffworkflow-frontend/src/interfaces.ts
+++ b/spiffworkflow-frontend/src/interfaces.ts
@@ -351,3 +351,15 @@ export interface ProcessModelCaller {
 }
 
 export interface UserGroup {}
+
+type InterstitialPageResponseType =
+  | 'task_update'
+  | 'error'
+  | 'unrunnable_instance';
+
+export interface InterstitialPageResponse {
+  type: InterstitialPageResponseType;
+  error?: any;
+  task?: ProcessInstanceTask;
+  process_instance?: ProcessInstance;
+}
diff --git a/spiffworkflow-frontend/src/routes/ProcessInterstitial.tsx b/spiffworkflow-frontend/src/routes/ProcessInterstitial.tsx
index a5f6b3d33..1998c924f 100644
--- a/spiffworkflow-frontend/src/routes/ProcessInterstitial.tsx
+++ b/spiffworkflow-frontend/src/routes/ProcessInterstitial.tsx
@@ -9,12 +9,14 @@ import { getBasicHeaders } from '../services/HttpService';
 // @ts-ignore
 import InstructionsForEndUser from '../components/InstructionsForEndUser';
 import ProcessBreadcrumb from '../components/ProcessBreadcrumb';
-import { ProcessInstanceTask } from '../interfaces';
+import { ProcessInstance, ProcessInstanceTask } from '../interfaces';
 import useAPIError from '../hooks/UseApiError';
 
 export default function ProcessInterstitial() {
   const [data, setData] = useState<any[]>([]);
   const [lastTask, setLastTask] = useState<any>(null);
+  const [processInstance, setProcessInstance] =
+    useState<ProcessInstance | null>(null);
   const [state, setState] = useState<string>('RUNNING');
   const params = useParams();
   const navigate = useNavigate();
@@ -32,11 +34,13 @@ export default function ProcessInterstitial() {
         headers: getBasicHeaders(),
         onmessage(ev) {
           const retValue = JSON.parse(ev.data);
-          if ('error_code' in retValue) {
-            addError(retValue);
-          } else {
-            setData((prevData) => [retValue, ...prevData]);
-            setLastTask(retValue);
+          if (retValue.type === 'error') {
+            addError(retValue.error);
+          } else if (retValue.type === 'task') {
+            setData((prevData) => [retValue.task, ...prevData]);
+            setLastTask(retValue.task);
+          } else if (retValue.type === 'unrunnable_instance') {
+            setProcessInstance(retValue.unrunnable_instance);
           }
         },
         onclose() {
@@ -49,9 +53,14 @@ export default function ProcessInterstitial() {
 
   const shouldRedirect = useCallback(
     (myTask: ProcessInstanceTask): boolean => {
-      return myTask && myTask.can_complete && userTasks.includes(myTask.type);
+      return (
+        !processInstance &&
+        myTask &&
+        myTask.can_complete &&
+        userTasks.includes(myTask.type)
+      );
     },
-    [userTasks]
+    [userTasks, processInstance]
   );
 
   useEffect(() => {
@@ -68,6 +77,9 @@ export default function ProcessInterstitial() {
   }, [lastTask, navigate, userTasks, shouldRedirect]);
 
   const getStatus = (): string => {
+    if (processInstance) {
+      return 'LOCKED';
+    }
     if (!lastTask.can_complete && userTasks.includes(lastTask.type)) {
       return 'LOCKED';
     }
@@ -153,12 +165,15 @@ export default function ProcessInterstitial() {
       return <div>{myTask.error_message}</div>;
     }
 
+    let message =
+      'There are no additional instructions or information for this task.';
+    if (processInstance && processInstance.status !== 'completed') {
+      message = `The tasks cannot be completed on this instance because its status is "${processInstance.status}".`;
+    }
+
     return (
       <div>
-        <InstructionsForEndUser
-          task={myTask}
-          defaultMessage="There are no additional instructions or information for this task."
-        />
+        <InstructionsForEndUser task={myTask} defaultMessage={message} />
       </div>
     );
   };