diff --git a/apps/api/src/instrument-records/__tests__/instrument-records.service.spec.ts b/apps/api/src/instrument-records/__tests__/instrument-records.service.spec.ts
index 6974ccade..fbf409bd9 100644
--- a/apps/api/src/instrument-records/__tests__/instrument-records.service.spec.ts
+++ b/apps/api/src/instrument-records/__tests__/instrument-records.service.spec.ts
@@ -240,8 +240,6 @@ describe('InstrumentRecordsService', () => {
       expect(sessionsService.create).toHaveBeenCalledWith(expect.objectContaining({ username: undefined }));
     });
 
-    // `pending` is intentionally not written on create; the find-side OR filter treats missing and
-    // false `pending` alike (see the 'find' describe block), so records stay query-visible without it.
     it('should create records via createMany with the processed record data', async () => {
       await instrumentRecordsService.upload({ ...baseUploadData });
 
@@ -249,6 +247,24 @@ describe('InstrumentRecordsService', () => {
         data: [expect.objectContaining({ instrumentId: 'instrument-1', subjectId: 'subject-1' })]
       });
     });
+
+    it('should settle a form instrument record, since an upload carries its data in full', async () => {
+      await instrumentRecordsService.upload({ ...baseUploadData });
+
+      expect(instrumentRecordModel.createMany).toHaveBeenCalledWith({
+        data: [expect.objectContaining({ pending: false })]
+      });
+    });
+
+    it('should leave a file instrument record pending, so its files can still be attached', async () => {
+      instrumentsService.findById.mockResolvedValue({ ...mockInstrument, kind: 'FILE' } as any);
+
+      await instrumentRecordsService.upload({ ...baseUploadData });
+
+      expect(instrumentRecordModel.createMany).toHaveBeenCalledWith({
+        data: [expect.objectContaining({ pending: true })]
+      });
+    });
   });
 
   describe('find', () => {
diff --git a/apps/api/src/instrument-records/instrument-records.service.ts b/apps/api/src/instrument-records/instrument-records.service.ts
index e3fc2b682..188a9def6 100644
--- a/apps/api/src/instrument-records/instrument-records.service.ts
+++ b/apps/api/src/instrument-records/instrument-records.service.ts
@@ -445,7 +445,7 @@ export class InstrumentRecordsService {
             date,
             groupId,
             instrumentId,
-            pending: false,
+            pending: instrument.kind === 'FILE',
             sessionId: session.id,
             subjectId
           };