diff --git a/agents/runner.py b/agents/runner.py
index 763be3e..f099a6f 100644
--- a/agents/runner.py
+++ b/agents/runner.py
@@ -1162,7 +1162,7 @@ def _execute_department_head_step(
         },
     }
 
-    return {
+    ret = {
         "success": sub_result.get("success", False),
         "output": json.dumps(summary, ensure_ascii=False),
         "cost_usd": sub_result.get("total_cost_usd", 0),
@@ -1170,6 +1170,10 @@ def _execute_department_head_step(
         "duration_seconds": sub_result.get("total_duration_seconds", 0),
         "last_sub_role": last_sub_role,
     }
+    if not sub_result.get("success"):
+        ret["blocked_reason"] = sub_result.get("blocked_reason") or sub_result.get("error")
+        ret["error"] = sub_result.get("error")
+    return ret
 
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -1585,8 +1589,9 @@ def run_pipeline(
                         total_tokens=total_tokens,
                         total_duration_seconds=total_duration,
                     )
-                error_msg = f"Department {role} sub-pipeline failed"
-                models.update_task(conn, task_id, status="blocked", blocked_reason=error_msg)
+                blocked_reason = dept_result.get("blocked_reason") or dept_result.get("error") or f"Department {role} sub-pipeline failed"
+                error_msg = f"Department {role} sub-pipeline failed: {dept_result.get('output', '')[:200]}"
+                models.update_task(conn, task_id, status="blocked", blocked_reason=blocked_reason)
                 return {
                     "success": False,
                     "error": error_msg,