diff --git a/pkg/pipelineascode/pipelineascode.go b/pkg/pipelineascode/pipelineascode.go
index e0cd70e4b..754780079 100644
--- a/pkg/pipelineascode/pipelineascode.go
+++ b/pkg/pipelineascode/pipelineascode.go
@@ -301,6 +301,14 @@ func (p *PacRun) startPR(ctx context.Context, match matcher.Match) (*tektonv1.Pi
 		return pr, fmt.Errorf("cannot use the API on the provider platform to create a in_progress status: %w", err)
 	}
 
+	// Also update the parent status (without pipeline name) to reflect pipeline is now running.
+	// This updates the initial "Pipelines as Code CI" status that was set when waiting for /ok-to-test.
+	parentStatus := status
+	parentStatus.OriginalPipelineRunName = ""
+	if err := p.vcx.CreateStatus(ctx, p.event, parentStatus); err != nil {
+		p.logger.Warnf("failed to update parent status: %v", err)
+	}
+
 	// Patch pipelineRun with logURL annotation, skips for GitHub App as we patch logURL while patching CheckrunID
 	if _, ok := pr.Annotations[keys.InstallationID]; !ok {
 		patchAnnotations[keys.LogURL] = p.run.Clients.ConsoleUI().DetailURL(pr)
diff --git a/pkg/provider/gitlab/gitlab.go b/pkg/provider/gitlab/gitlab.go
index 145ac1862..4c48add14 100644
--- a/pkg/provider/gitlab/gitlab.go
+++ b/pkg/provider/gitlab/gitlab.go
@@ -281,6 +281,11 @@ func (v *Provider) CreateStatus(_ context.Context, event *info.Event, statusOpts
 		statusOpts.Conclusion = "success"
 		statusOpts.Title = "completed"
 	case "pending":
+		statusOpts.Conclusion = "pending"
+	}
+	// When the pipeline is actually running (in_progress), show it as running
+	// not pending. Pending is only for waiting states like /ok-to-test approval.
+	if statusOpts.Status == "in_progress" {
 		statusOpts.Conclusion = "running"
 	}
 	if statusOpts.DetailsURL != "" {
diff --git a/pkg/reconciler/reconciler.go b/pkg/reconciler/reconciler.go
index 412047fb0..36ee59818 100644
--- a/pkg/reconciler/reconciler.go
+++ b/pkg/reconciler/reconciler.go
@@ -360,6 +360,9 @@ func (r *Reconciler) updatePipelineRunToInProgress(ctx context.Context, logger *
 		return nil
 	}
 
+	// Also update the parent status (without pipeline name) to reflect pipeline is running.
+	updateParentStatus(ctx, logger, detectedProvider, event, status)
+
 	logger.Info("updated in_progress status on provider platform for pipelineRun ", pr.GetName())
 	return nil
 }
diff --git a/pkg/reconciler/status.go b/pkg/reconciler/status.go
index 46fcc5bb6..243332b68 100644
--- a/pkg/reconciler/status.go
+++ b/pkg/reconciler/status.go
@@ -158,6 +158,10 @@ func (r *Reconciler) postFinalStatus(ctx context.Context, logger *zap.SugaredLog
 
 	err = createStatusWithRetry(ctx, logger, vcx, event, status)
 	logger.Infof("pipelinerun %s has a status of '%s'", pr.Name, status.Conclusion)
+
+	// Also update the parent status (without pipeline name) to reflect pipeline completion.
+	updateParentStatus(ctx, logger, vcx, event, status)
+
 	return pr, err
 }
 
@@ -174,3 +178,14 @@ func createStatusWithRetry(ctx context.Context, logger *zap.SugaredLogger, vcx p
 	}
 	return fmt.Errorf("failed to report status: %w", finalError)
 }
+
+// updateParentStatus updates the parent status (without pipeline name) to reflect the current state.
+// This ensures the initial "Pipelines as Code CI" status set when waiting for /ok-to-test is updated
+// when pipelines start or complete. Uses retry logic for resilience to transient network issues.
+func updateParentStatus(ctx context.Context, logger *zap.SugaredLogger, vcx provider.Interface, event *info.Event, status provider.StatusOpts) {
+	parentStatus := status
+	parentStatus.OriginalPipelineRunName = ""
+	if err := createStatusWithRetry(ctx, logger, vcx, event, parentStatus); err != nil {
+		logger.Warnf("failed to update parent status: %v", err)
+	}
+}