diff --git a/pack/pack.go b/pack/pack.go
index 9e063702..0fdc8dbf 100644
--- a/pack/pack.go
+++ b/pack/pack.go
@@ -88,6 +88,11 @@ func Pack(
 	job model.Job,
 ) (*model.Car, error) {
 	db = db.WithContext(ctx)
+	// Attachment is nil when the job was orphaned by a deleted preparation; guard
+	// against the SET NULL cascade racing the reaper rather than panicking.
+	if job.Attachment == nil || job.Attachment.Preparation == nil {
+		return nil, errors.Errorf("job %d has no attachment, likely orphaned by a deleted preparation", job.ID)
+	}
 	pieceSize := job.Attachment.Preparation.GetMinPieceSize()
 	// storageWriter can be nil for inline preparation
 	storageID, storageWriter, err := storagesystem.GetRandomOutputWriter(ctx, job.Attachment.Preparation.OutputStorages)
diff --git a/service/datasetworker/find.go b/service/datasetworker/find.go
index 92a79e92..abb83b61 100644
--- a/service/datasetworker/find.go
+++ b/service/datasetworker/find.go
@@ -38,7 +38,9 @@ func (w *Thread) findJob(ctx context.Context, typesOrdered []model.JobType) (*mo
 					Strength: "UPDATE",
 					Options:  "SKIP LOCKED",
 				}).
-					Where("type = ? AND (state = ? OR (state = ? AND worker_id IS NULL))", jobType, model.Ready, model.Processing).
+					// attachment_id IS NOT NULL skips jobs orphaned by a deleted
+					// preparation (SET NULL cascade); the reaper deletes those.
+					Where("type = ? AND attachment_id IS NOT NULL AND (state = ? OR (state = ? AND worker_id IS NULL))", jobType, model.Ready, model.Processing).
 					First(&job).Error
 				if err != nil {
 					if errors.Is(err, gorm.ErrRecordNotFound) {
diff --git a/service/datasetworker/find_test.go b/service/datasetworker/find_test.go
index 8add3e37..52757797 100644
--- a/service/datasetworker/find_test.go
+++ b/service/datasetworker/find_test.go
@@ -67,3 +67,30 @@ func TestFindPackWork(t *testing.T) {
 		require.Equal(t, thread.id.String(), *existing.WorkerID)
 	})
 }
+
+// A job orphaned by a deleted preparation (attachment_id NULL via SET NULL
+// cascade) must be skipped, not claimed, so it never reaches pack.Pack.
+func TestFindPackWorkSkipsOrphanedJob(t *testing.T) {
+	testutil.All(t, func(ctx context.Context, t *testing.T, db *gorm.DB) {
+		thread := &Thread{
+			dbNoContext: db,
+			config:      Config{EnablePack: true},
+			logger:      logger.With("test", true),
+			id:          uuid.New(),
+		}
+
+		_, err := healthcheck.Register(ctx, thread.dbNoContext, thread.id, model.DatasetWorker, true)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+
+		err = db.Create(&model.Job{
+			AttachmentID: nil,
+			State:        model.Ready,
+			Type:         model.Pack,
+		}).Error
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+
+		found, err := thread.findJob(ctx, []model.JobType{model.Pack})
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		require.Nil(t, found)
+	})
+}