diff --git a/src/documents/signals/handlers.py b/src/documents/signals/handlers.py
index 642fd7809..78da89833 100644
--- a/src/documents/signals/handlers.py
+++ b/src/documents/signals/handlers.py
@@ -1097,12 +1097,13 @@ def _determine_trigger_source(
     2. For consume_file tasks, the DocumentSource on the input document.
     3. MANUAL as the catch-all for all other cases.
     """
-    # Explicit header takes priority -- covers beat ("scheduled") and system auto-runs ("system")
+    # Explicit header takes priority -- callers pass a TriggerSource DB value directly.
     header_source = headers.get("trigger_source")
-    if header_source == "scheduled":
-        return PaperlessTask.TriggerSource.SCHEDULED
-    if header_source == "system":
-        return PaperlessTask.TriggerSource.SYSTEM
+    if header_source is not None:
+        try:
+            return PaperlessTask.TriggerSource(header_source)
+        except ValueError:
+            pass
 
     if task_type == PaperlessTask.TaskType.CONSUME_FILE:
         input_doc, _ = _get_consume_args(args, task_kwargs)
diff --git a/src/documents/tests/test_task_signals.py b/src/documents/tests/test_task_signals.py
index 94f35b8b1..04554eb84 100644
--- a/src/documents/tests/test_task_signals.py
+++ b/src/documents/tests/test_task_signals.py
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ class TestBeforeTaskPublishHandler:
             "documents.tasks.train_classifier",
             (),
             {},
-            headers={"trigger_source": "scheduled"},
+            headers={"trigger_source": PaperlessTask.TriggerSource.SCHEDULED},
         )
         task = PaperlessTask.objects.get(task_id=task_id)
         assert task.trigger_source == PaperlessTask.TriggerSource.SCHEDULED
@@ -104,11 +104,21 @@ class TestBeforeTaskPublishHandler:
             "documents.tasks.llmindex_index",
             (),
             {"rebuild": True},
-            headers={"trigger_source": "system"},
+            headers={"trigger_source": PaperlessTask.TriggerSource.SYSTEM},
         )
         task = PaperlessTask.objects.get(task_id=task_id)
         assert task.trigger_source == PaperlessTask.TriggerSource.SYSTEM
 
+    def test_invalid_header_falls_back_to_manual(self):
+        task_id = send_publish(
+            "documents.tasks.train_classifier",
+            (),
+            {},
+            headers={"trigger_source": "bogus_value"},
+        )
+        task = PaperlessTask.objects.get(task_id=task_id)
+        assert task.trigger_source == PaperlessTask.TriggerSource.MANUAL
+
     def test_ignores_untracked_task(self):
         send_publish("documents.tasks.some_untracked_task", (), {})
         assert PaperlessTask.objects.count() == 0