diff --git a/apps/workspace-engine/pkg/events/handler/deploymentversion/deploymentversion.go b/apps/workspace-engine/pkg/events/handler/deploymentversion/deploymentversion.go
index 4d010c9f3..69ef2038e 100644
--- a/apps/workspace-engine/pkg/events/handler/deploymentversion/deploymentversion.go
+++ b/apps/workspace-engine/pkg/events/handler/deploymentversion/deploymentversion.go
@@ -40,7 +40,8 @@ func HandleDeploymentVersionCreated(
 	}
 
 	ws.ReleaseManager().ReconcileTargets(ctx, releaseTargets,
-		releasemanager.WithTrigger(trace.TriggerVersionCreated))
+		releasemanager.WithTrigger(trace.TriggerVersionCreated),
+		releasemanager.WithEarliestVersionForEvaluation(deploymentVersion))
 
 	return nil
 }
@@ -68,7 +69,8 @@ func HandleDeploymentVersionUpdated(
 		return err
 	}
 	ws.ReleaseManager().ReconcileTargets(ctx, releaseTargets,
-		releasemanager.WithTrigger(trace.TriggerVersionCreated))
+		releasemanager.WithTrigger(trace.TriggerVersionCreated),
+		releasemanager.WithEarliestVersionForEvaluation(deploymentVersion))
 
 	return nil
 }
diff --git a/apps/workspace-engine/pkg/workspace/releasemanager/deployment/planner.go b/apps/workspace-engine/pkg/workspace/releasemanager/deployment/planner.go
index 6a2859635..4c487387c 100644
--- a/apps/workspace-engine/pkg/workspace/releasemanager/deployment/planner.go
+++ b/apps/workspace-engine/pkg/workspace/releasemanager/deployment/planner.go
@@ -56,8 +56,9 @@ func NewPlanner(
 type planDeploymentOptions func(*planDeploymentConfig)
 
 type planDeploymentConfig struct {
-	resourceRelatedEntities map[string][]*oapi.EntityRelation
-	recorder                *trace.ReconcileTarget
+	resourceRelatedEntities      map[string][]*oapi.EntityRelation
+	recorder                     *trace.ReconcileTarget
+	earliestVersionForEvaluation *oapi.DeploymentVersion
 }
 
 func WithResourceRelatedEntities(entities map[string][]*oapi.EntityRelation) planDeploymentOptions {
@@ -72,6 +73,12 @@ func WithTraceRecorder(recorder *trace.ReconcileTarget) planDeploymentOptions {
 	}
 }
 
+func WithEarliestVersionForEvaluation(version *oapi.DeploymentVersion) planDeploymentOptions {
+	return func(cfg *planDeploymentConfig) {
+		cfg.earliestVersionForEvaluation = version
+	}
+}
+
 // Returns:
 //   - *oapi.Release: The desired release to deploy
 //   - nil: No deployable release (no versions or all blocked by policies)
@@ -104,7 +111,7 @@ func (p *Planner) PlanDeployment(ctx context.Context, releaseTarget *oapi.Releas
 
 	// Step 1: Get candidate versions (sorted newest to oldest)
 	span.AddEvent("Step 1: Getting candidate versions")
-	candidateVersions := p.versionManager.GetCandidateVersions(ctx, releaseTarget)
+	candidateVersions := p.versionManager.GetCandidateVersions(ctx, releaseTarget, cfg.earliestVersionForEvaluation)
 	span.SetAttributes(attribute.Int("candidate_versions.count", len(candidateVersions)))
 
 	if len(candidateVersions) == 0 {
diff --git a/apps/workspace-engine/pkg/workspace/releasemanager/deployment_orchestrator.go b/apps/workspace-engine/pkg/workspace/releasemanager/deployment_orchestrator.go
index e23a56c9c..cdaec98be 100644
--- a/apps/workspace-engine/pkg/workspace/releasemanager/deployment_orchestrator.go
+++ b/apps/workspace-engine/pkg/workspace/releasemanager/deployment_orchestrator.go
@@ -93,6 +93,7 @@ func (o *DeploymentOrchestrator) Reconcile(
 		releaseTarget,
 		deployment.WithResourceRelatedEntities(options.resourceRelationships),
 		deployment.WithTraceRecorder(recorder),
+		deployment.WithEarliestVersionForEvaluation(options.earliestVersionForEvaluation),
 	)
 	if err != nil {
 		span.RecordError(err)
diff --git a/apps/workspace-engine/pkg/workspace/releasemanager/opts.go b/apps/workspace-engine/pkg/workspace/releasemanager/opts.go
index 0de3b6f01..34ac9a6e1 100644
--- a/apps/workspace-engine/pkg/workspace/releasemanager/opts.go
+++ b/apps/workspace-engine/pkg/workspace/releasemanager/opts.go
@@ -8,9 +8,10 @@ import (
 // options is a unified options struct for all releasemanager methods
 type options struct {
 	// ReleaseManager options
-	skipEligibilityCheck  bool
-	trigger               trace.TriggerReason
-	resourceRelationships map[string][]*oapi.EntityRelation
+	skipEligibilityCheck         bool
+	trigger                      trace.TriggerReason
+	resourceRelationships        map[string][]*oapi.EntityRelation
+	earliestVersionForEvaluation *oapi.DeploymentVersion
 
 	// StateCache options
 	bypassCache    bool
@@ -35,6 +36,12 @@ func WithTrigger(trigger trace.TriggerReason) Option {
 	}
 }
 
+func WithEarliestVersionForEvaluation(version *oapi.DeploymentVersion) Option {
+	return func(opts *options) {
+		opts.earliestVersionForEvaluation = version
+	}
+}
+
 // StateCache options
 
 func WithResourceRelationships(relationships map[string][]*oapi.EntityRelation) Option {
diff --git a/apps/workspace-engine/pkg/workspace/releasemanager/versions/manager.go b/apps/workspace-engine/pkg/workspace/releasemanager/versions/manager.go
index e485accec..c07f9fcc8 100644
--- a/apps/workspace-engine/pkg/workspace/releasemanager/versions/manager.go
+++ b/apps/workspace-engine/pkg/workspace/releasemanager/versions/manager.go
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ func New(store *store.Store) *Manager {
 
 // GetCandidateVersions returns all versions for a deployment, sorted newest to oldest.
 // The caller is responsible for filtering based on policies or other criteria.
-func (m *Manager) GetCandidateVersions(ctx context.Context, releaseTarget *oapi.ReleaseTarget) []*oapi.DeploymentVersion {
+func (m *Manager) GetCandidateVersions(ctx context.Context, releaseTarget *oapi.ReleaseTarget, earliestVersionForEvaluation *oapi.DeploymentVersion) []*oapi.DeploymentVersion {
 	_, span := tracer.Start(ctx, "GetCandidateVersions",
 		trace.WithAttributes(
 			attribute.String("deployment.id", releaseTarget.DeploymentId),
@@ -70,5 +70,17 @@ func (m *Manager) GetCandidateVersions(ctx context.Context, releaseTarget *oapi.
 		)
 	}
 
-	return filtered
+	if earliestVersionForEvaluation == nil {
+		return filtered
+	}
+
+	laterThanEarliestVersion := []*oapi.DeploymentVersion{}
+	for _, version := range filtered {
+		if version.CreatedAt.Before(earliestVersionForEvaluation.CreatedAt) {
+			break
+		}
+
+		laterThanEarliestVersion = append(laterThanEarliestVersion, version)
+	}
+	return laterThanEarliestVersion
 }
diff --git a/apps/workspace-engine/test/e2e/engine_environment_progression_soak_test.go b/apps/workspace-engine/test/e2e/engine_environment_progression_soak_test.go
index 47b980772..5719739d7 100644
--- a/apps/workspace-engine/test/e2e/engine_environment_progression_soak_test.go
+++ b/apps/workspace-engine/test/e2e/engine_environment_progression_soak_test.go
@@ -663,9 +663,11 @@ func TestEngine_EnvironmentProgression_MultipleVersions(t *testing.T) {
 	engine.PushEvent(ctx, handler.JobUpdate, v2StagingJob)
 
 	// Trigger policy re-evaluation
-	engine.PushEvent(ctx, handler.DeploymentVersionUpdate, version2)
 	time.Sleep(100 * time.Millisecond)
 
+	// send a workspace tick to trigger reconciliation
+	engine.PushEvent(ctx, handler.WorkspaceTick, nil)
+
 	// v2.0.0 production job should NOT be created
 	// (even though v1.0.0 has past soak time, v2.0.0's own soak time hasn't elapsed)
 	jobs = engine.Workspace().Jobs().Items()