diff --git a/backend/steering/strategies/next_action/execution_ready.py b/backend/steering/strategies/next_action/execution_ready.py
index 8baa125..4e025da 100644
--- a/backend/steering/strategies/next_action/execution_ready.py
+++ b/backend/steering/strategies/next_action/execution_ready.py
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ def blocked_execution_action_ids(
 
 
 def first_active_gate_id(ctx: TenantContext, initiative_id: str) -> str | None:
-    """First active roadmap item for initiative scope (Gate-Horizont)."""
+    """First active plan gate (milestone/review/maturity) — not work_cycle."""
     from db import get_connection
     from psycopg2.extras import RealDictCursor
 
@@ -184,6 +184,7 @@ def first_active_gate_id(ctx: TenantContext, initiative_id: str) -> str | None:
                 JOIN roadmaps r ON r.id = ri.roadmap_id AND r.tenant_id = ri.tenant_id
                 WHERE ri.tenant_id = %s AND r.initiative_id = %s
                   AND ri.status = 'active'
+                  AND ri.item_type != 'work_cycle'
                 ORDER BY ri.sort_order ASC NULLS LAST,
                          ri.target_date ASC NULLS LAST,
                          ri.updated_at DESC