diff --git a/src/documents/migrations/1021_paperlesstask.py b/src/documents/migrations/1021_paperlesstask.py
index 7e97e2af3..c42aba7c4 100644
--- a/src/documents/migrations/1021_paperlesstask.py
+++ b/src/documents/migrations/1021_paperlesstask.py
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ class Migration(migrations.Migration):
                 ),
                 (
                     "started",
-                    models.DateTimeField(verbose_name="started"),
+                    models.DateTimeField(null=True, verbose_name="started"),
                 ),
                 ("acknowledged", models.BooleanField(default=False)),
                 (
diff --git a/src/documents/models.py b/src/documents/models.py
index 5d9c07430..8ce644cd2 100644
--- a/src/documents/models.py
+++ b/src/documents/models.py
@@ -511,7 +511,7 @@ class PaperlessTask(models.Model):
     task_id = models.CharField(max_length=128)
     name = models.CharField(max_length=256)
     created = models.DateTimeField(_("created"), auto_now=True)
-    started = models.DateTimeField(_("started"))
+    started = models.DateTimeField(_("started"), null=True)
     attempted_task = models.OneToOneField(
         Task,
         on_delete=models.CASCADE,