diff --git a/internal/storage/memory/memory.go b/internal/storage/memory/memory.go
index ccf53d3d..c1400718 100644
--- a/internal/storage/memory/memory.go
+++ b/internal/storage/memory/memory.go
@@ -1063,6 +1063,7 @@ func (m *MemoryStorage) getOpenBlockers(issueID string) []string {
 }
 
 // GetBlockedIssues returns issues that are blocked by other issues
+// Note: Pinned issues are excluded from the output (beads-ei4)
 func (m *MemoryStorage) GetBlockedIssues(ctx context.Context) ([]*types.BlockedIssue, error) {
 	m.mu.RLock()
 	defer m.mu.RUnlock()
@@ -1075,6 +1076,11 @@ func (m *MemoryStorage) GetBlockedIssues(ctx context.Context) ([]*types.BlockedI
 			continue
 		}
 
+		// Exclude pinned issues (beads-ei4)
+		if issue.Pinned {
+			continue
+		}
+
 		blockers := m.getOpenBlockers(issue.ID)
 		if issue.Status != types.StatusBlocked && len(blockers) == 0 {
 			continue
diff --git a/internal/storage/sqlite/ready.go b/internal/storage/sqlite/ready.go
index ed4a2a22..e6eba19f 100644
--- a/internal/storage/sqlite/ready.go
+++ b/internal/storage/sqlite/ready.go
@@ -258,11 +258,13 @@ func (s *SQLiteStorage) GetStaleIssues(ctx context.Context, filter types.StaleFi
 }
 
 // GetBlockedIssues returns issues that are blocked by dependencies or have status=blocked
+// Note: Pinned issues are excluded from the output (beads-ei4)
 func (s *SQLiteStorage) GetBlockedIssues(ctx context.Context) ([]*types.BlockedIssue, error) {
 	// Use UNION to combine:
 	// 1. Issues with open/in_progress/blocked status that have dependency blockers
 	// 2. Issues with status=blocked (even if they have no dependency blockers)
 	// Use GROUP_CONCAT to get all blocker IDs in a single query (no N+1)
+	// Exclude pinned issues (beads-ei4)
 	rows, err := s.db.QueryContext(ctx, `
 		SELECT
 		    i.id, i.title, i.description, i.design, i.acceptance_criteria, i.notes,
@@ -279,6 +281,7 @@ func (s *SQLiteStorage) GetBlockedIssues(ctx context.Context) ([]*types.BlockedI
 		        AND blocker.status IN ('open', 'in_progress', 'blocked')
 		    )
 		WHERE i.status IN ('open', 'in_progress', 'blocked')
+		  AND i.pinned = 0
 		  AND (
 		      i.status = 'blocked'
 		      OR EXISTS (
diff --git a/internal/storage/sqlite/schema.go b/internal/storage/sqlite/schema.go
index a433a6ac..9b93321a 100644
--- a/internal/storage/sqlite/schema.go
+++ b/internal/storage/sqlite/schema.go
@@ -34,6 +34,8 @@ CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS issues (
     pinned INTEGER DEFAULT 0,
     -- NOTE: replies_to, relates_to, duplicate_of, superseded_by removed per Decision 004
     -- These relationships are now stored in the dependencies table
+    -- Workflow fields
+    pinned INTEGER DEFAULT 0,
     CHECK ((status = 'closed') = (closed_at IS NOT NULL))
 );