diff --git a/app/validators/maintenance_tasks/run_status_validator.rb b/app/validators/maintenance_tasks/run_status_validator.rb
index 143561d8..e8c4db08 100644
--- a/app/validators/maintenance_tasks/run_status_validator.rb
+++ b/app/validators/maintenance_tasks/run_status_validator.rb
@@ -48,9 +48,8 @@ class RunStatusValidator < ActiveModel::Validator
         "errored",
       ],
       # paused -> enqueued occurs when the task is resumed after being paused.
-      # paused -> cancelling when the user cancels the task after it is paused.
       # paused -> cancelled when the user cancels the task after it is paused.
-      "paused" => ["enqueued", "cancelling", "cancelled"],
+      "paused" => ["enqueued", "cancelled"],
       # interrupted -> running occurs when the task is resumed after being
       #   interrupted by the job infrastructure.
       # interrupted -> pausing occurs when the task is paused by the user while
diff --git a/test/validators/maintenance_tasks/run_status_validator_test.rb b/test/validators/maintenance_tasks/run_status_validator_test.rb
index 85c5cc2b..73aaef72 100644
--- a/test/validators/maintenance_tasks/run_status_validator_test.rb
+++ b/test/validators/maintenance_tasks/run_status_validator_test.rb
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ class RunStatusValidatorTest < ActiveSupport::TestCase
       )
     end
 
-    test "run can go from enqueued, running, interrupted, pausing, or paused to cancelling" do
+    test "run can go from enqueued, running, interrupted, or pausing to cancelling" do
       enqueued_run = Run.create!(task_name: "Maintenance::UpdatePostsTask")
       enqueued_run.status = :cancelling
 
@@ -93,16 +93,8 @@ class RunStatusValidatorTest < ActiveSupport::TestCase
 
       assert pausing_run.valid?
 
-      paused_run = Run.create!(
-        task_name: "Maintenance::UpdatePostsTask",
-        status: :paused
-      )
-      paused_run.status = :cancelling
-
-      assert paused_run.valid?
-
       assert_no_invalid_transitions(
-        [:enqueued, :running, :interrupted, :pausing, :paused],
+        [:enqueued, :running, :interrupted, :pausing],
         :cancelling
       )
     end