diff --git a/cylc/flow/scheduler.py b/cylc/flow/scheduler.py
index 9164d950536..66eacb56544 100644
--- a/cylc/flow/scheduler.py
+++ b/cylc/flow/scheduler.py
@@ -737,7 +737,7 @@ def restart_remote_init(self):
             itask.platform['install target'] = (
                 get_install_target_from_platform(itask.platform))
             if (
-                itask.state(*TASK_STATUSES_ACTIVE)
+                itask.state(*TASK_STATUSES_ACTIVE, TASK_STATUS_PREPARING)
                 and not (
                     is_platform_with_target_in_list(
                         itask.platform['install target'],
diff --git a/cylc/flow/task_pool.py b/cylc/flow/task_pool.py
index 6c9cc51148b..10fa629064a 100644
--- a/cylc/flow/task_pool.py
+++ b/cylc/flow/task_pool.py
@@ -822,7 +822,7 @@ def reload_taskdefs(self) -> None:
                 itask.copy_to_reload_successor(new_task)
                 self._swap_out(new_task)
                 LOG.info(f"[{itask}] reloaded task definition")
-                if itask.state(*TASK_STATUSES_ACTIVE):
+                if itask.state(*TASK_STATUSES_ACTIVE, TASK_STATUS_PREPARING):
                     LOG.warning(
                         f"[{itask}] active with pre-reload settings"
                     )
@@ -895,7 +895,7 @@ def can_stop(self, stop_mode):
         return not any(
             (
                 stop_mode in [StopMode.REQUEST_CLEAN, StopMode.REQUEST_KILL]
-                and itask.state(*TASK_STATUSES_ACTIVE)
+                and itask.state(*TASK_STATUSES_ACTIVE, TASK_STATUS_PREPARING)
                 and not itask.state.kill_failed
             )
             for itask in self.get_tasks()