diff --git a/pkg/spxrpc/place_stream_media_finalizelivestream.go b/pkg/spxrpc/place_stream_media_finalizelivestream.go
index 0ac1d9a2c..cf9680046 100644
--- a/pkg/spxrpc/place_stream_media_finalizelivestream.go
+++ b/pkg/spxrpc/place_stream_media_finalizelivestream.go
@@ -61,19 +61,23 @@ func (s *Server) handlePlaceStreamMediaFinalizeLivestream(ctx context.Context, b
 		return nil, echo.NewHTTPError(http.StatusInternalServerError, err.Error())
 	}
 
+	// Create a draft VOD in the 'processing' state, inheriting the livestream's
+	// metadata and linking back to it via connections. The client no longer polls
+	// or publishes — the draft reaches 'ready' server-side and the user
+	// publishes it later from the Drafts tab.
+	draft, err := s.createLivestreamDraft(ctx, session.DID, uploadID, ls)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, echo.NewHTTPError(http.StatusInternalServerError, err.Error())
+	}
+
 	if _, err := s.statefulDB.EnqueueTask(ctx, statedb.TaskFinalizeLivestreamVOD, statedb.FinalizeLivestreamVODTask{
 		UploadID:      uploadID,
 		RepoDID:       session.DID,
 		LivestreamURI: body.Livestream,
 	}, statedb.WithTaskKey("finalize-vod:"+uploadID)); err != nil {
+		_, _ = s.statefulDB.DeleteDraft(ctx, draft.URI)
 		return nil, echo.NewHTTPError(http.StatusInternalServerError, err.Error())
 	}
-
-	// Create a draft VOD in the 'processing' state, inheriting the livestream's
-	// metadata and linking back to it via connections. The client no longer polls
-	// or publishes — the draft reaches 'ready' server-side and the user
-	// publishes it later from the Drafts tab.
-	draft, err := s.createLivestreamDraft(ctx, session.DID, uploadID, ls)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, echo.NewHTTPError(http.StatusInternalServerError, err.Error())
 	}