diff --git a/pkg/executor/executortype/poolmgr/gpm.go b/pkg/executor/executortype/poolmgr/gpm.go
index dcf98fb8..4c806c67 100644
--- a/pkg/executor/executortype/poolmgr/gpm.go
+++ b/pkg/executor/executortype/poolmgr/gpm.go
@@ -833,6 +833,11 @@ func (gpm *GenericPoolManager) AddNamespace(ctx context.Context, ns string, mgr
 		return fmt.Errorf("AddNamespace %s: register informers: %w", ns, err)
 	}
 
+	// Also update gpm.podLister so IsValid can resolve pods in this namespace.
+	// Without this line gpm.podLister[ns] is nil for dynamically-added user namespaces,
+	// causing a nil-pointer panic in IsValid, which leaves activeRequests permanently stuck at 1.
+	gpm.podLister[ns] = gpmInformer.Core().V1().Pods().Lister()
+
 	// Start the factories — they will begin syncing immediately.
 	finformer.Start(ctx.Done())
 	gpmInformer.Start(ctx.Done())