diff --git a/orchestrator/utils/orchestrator_functions.py b/orchestrator/utils/orchestrator_functions.py
index 291573c..c5df001 100644
--- a/orchestrator/utils/orchestrator_functions.py
+++ b/orchestrator/utils/orchestrator_functions.py
@@ -100,8 +100,16 @@ def simple_metrics(config: dict[str, Any]):
     # SIENTIAPDE-1995: laborious flips `adaptive_state.escalated` on a threshold breach (and back
     # after the window is renewed without one) and bumps `updated_at`, which makes this tick
     # rewrite the schedule.
-    if frequency_alert and (config.get('adaptive_state') or {}).get('escalated'):
-        base['frequency'] = frequency_alert
+    state = config.get('adaptive_state')
+    # Hand-written docs: a malformed state must not raise and kill the tick for every model.
+    if frequency_alert and isinstance(state, dict) and state.get('escalated') is True:
+        try:
+            # Temporal parses the schedule frequency on create/update; an unparseable value
+            # would fail it, so keep `frequency` (create_schedule_config still warns).
+            parse_frequency(str(frequency_alert))
+            base['frequency'] = frequency_alert
+        except ValueError:
+            pass
     return {
         **base,
         'schema': 'sientia_data',
@@ -121,7 +129,8 @@ MIN_FREQUENCY_ALERT_SECONDS = 60
 def frequency_alert_warning(frequency_alert: str | None) -> str | None:
     """
     Warning message when `frequency_alert` is below the 1-minute floor or does not parse,
-    otherwise None. Warn only: the configured value is kept (SIENTIAPDE-1995 decision 7).
+    otherwise None. Warn only (SIENTIAPDE-1995 decision 7): a value below the floor is kept;
+    an unparseable one is ignored by `simple_metrics()`, which keeps `frequency`.
     """
     if not frequency_alert:
         return None
diff --git a/tests/orchestrator/activities/test_formatters.py b/tests/orchestrator/activities/test_formatters.py
index 85e190f..4891eb2 100644
--- a/tests/orchestrator/activities/test_formatters.py
+++ b/tests/orchestrator/activities/test_formatters.py
@@ -1057,6 +1057,18 @@ def test_create_schedule_config_warns_on_frequency_alert_below_floor(formatters)
     assert kwargs['metadata']['schedule_name'] == 'm1-simple_metrics-60m'
 
 
+def test_create_schedule_config_warns_on_frequency_alert_below_floor_on_update(formatters):
+    input_data = _schedule_config_with_frequency_alert('30s')
+    input_data['current_schedule_config'] = {'laborious': {'m1-simple_metrics-60m': '2026-10-06'}}
+
+    result = formatters.create_schedule_config(input_data)
+
+    assert 'm1-simple_metrics-60m' in result['to_update']['laborious']
+    formatters.send_notification.assert_called_once()
+    kwargs = formatters.send_notification.call_args.kwargs
+    assert kwargs['notification_id'] == 'SIMPLE_METRICS_FREQUENCY_ALERT_BELOW_FLOOR'
+
+
 def test_create_schedule_config_no_warning_at_or_above_floor(formatters):
     formatters.create_schedule_config(_schedule_config_with_frequency_alert('5m'))
 
diff --git a/tests/orchestrator/utils/test_orchestrator_functions.py b/tests/orchestrator/utils/test_orchestrator_functions.py
index b7008e4..45209ee 100644
--- a/tests/orchestrator/utils/test_orchestrator_functions.py
+++ b/tests/orchestrator/utils/test_orchestrator_functions.py
@@ -158,6 +158,24 @@ def test_simple_metrics_frequency_alert_without_state_keeps_frequency():
     assert simple_metrics(_simple_metrics_config(frequency_alert='5m'))['frequency'] == '1h'
 
 
+def test_simple_metrics_escalated_unparseable_frequency_alert_keeps_frequency():
+    # An unparseable frequency would make the Temporal schedule create/update fail.
+    config = _simple_metrics_config(frequency_alert='5min', adaptive_state={'escalated': True})
+    assert simple_metrics(config)['frequency'] == '1h'
+
+
+def test_simple_metrics_escalated_below_floor_frequency_alert_is_applied():
+    # Decision 7: below the floor only warns, the value is kept.
+    config = _simple_metrics_config(frequency_alert='30s', adaptive_state={'escalated': True})
+    assert simple_metrics(config)['frequency'] == '30s'
+
+
+@mark.parametrize('adaptive_state', ['yes', {'escalated': 'false'}])
+def test_simple_metrics_malformed_adaptive_state_keeps_frequency(adaptive_state):
+    config = _simple_metrics_config(frequency_alert='5m', adaptive_state=adaptive_state)
+    assert simple_metrics(config)['frequency'] == '1h'
+
+
 def test_minimal_retrain():
     config = {
         'workflow_type': 'minimal_retrain',