diff --git a/frontend/src/hooks/useAccessibleVideoEdit.ts b/frontend/src/hooks/useAccessibleVideoEdit.ts
index 7aa40f4..a48d148 100644
--- a/frontend/src/hooks/useAccessibleVideoEdit.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/hooks/useAccessibleVideoEdit.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { useQuery, useMutation, useQueryClient } from '@tanstack/react-query';
+import { useQuery, useMutation, useQueryClient, keepPreviousData } from '@tanstack/react-query';
 import { apiClient } from '../lib/api';
 
 /**
@@ -9,8 +9,9 @@ export function useAccessibleVideoEditState(jobId: string, language: string) {
     queryKey: ['jobs', jobId, 'accessible-video', language, 'edit-state'],
     queryFn: () => apiClient.getAccessibleVideoEditState(jobId, language),
     enabled: !!jobId && !!language,
-    staleTime: 30000, // 30 seconds
+    staleTime: 0,
     refetchOnWindowFocus: false,
+    placeholderData: keepPreviousData,
   });
 }
 
diff --git a/frontend/src/routes/admin/QCDetail.tsx b/frontend/src/routes/admin/QCDetail.tsx
index c95a078..718030a 100644
--- a/frontend/src/routes/admin/QCDetail.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/routes/admin/QCDetail.tsx
@@ -523,6 +523,9 @@ export function QCDetail() {
     if (!id) return;
 
     try {
+      // Force prevJobStatusRef to 'rendering_qc' so the completion effect fires
+      // even if polling misses the rendering_qc state (fast renders < 10s)
+      prevJobStatusRef.current = 'rendering_qc';
       await rerenderMutation.mutateAsync({
         jobId: id,
         language: selectedLanguage,