diff --git a/internal/pkg/report/reporter.go b/internal/pkg/report/reporter.go
index dc2bfbca..6229e64e 100644
--- a/internal/pkg/report/reporter.go
+++ b/internal/pkg/report/reporter.go
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import (
 	"regexp"
 	"strings"
 	"sync"
+	"sync/atomic"
 	"time"
 
 	"gitea.com/gitea/act_runner/internal/pkg/client"
@@ -48,6 +49,10 @@ type Reporter struct {
 	outputs      sync.Map
 	daemon       chan struct{}
 
+	// Unix-nanos of the last successful UpdateTask. Atomic so the heartbeat
+	// guard in ReportState reads it without contending stateMu.
+	lastReportedAtNanos atomic.Int64
+
 	// Adaptive batching control
 	logReportInterval   time.Duration
 	logReportMaxLatency time.Duration
@@ -489,8 +494,12 @@ func (r *Reporter) ReportState(reportResult bool) error {
 
 	// Consume stateChanged atomically with the snapshot; restored on error
 	// below so a concurrent Fire() during UpdateTask isn't silently lost.
+	// Heartbeat at stateReportInterval even when nothing changed, so the server
+	// doesn't time out long-running silent jobs as orphaned (#826).
+	last := r.lastReportedAtNanos.Load()
+	withinHeartbeatInterval := last != 0 && time.Since(time.Unix(0, last)) < r.stateReportInterval
 	r.stateMu.Lock()
-	if !reportResult && !r.stateChanged && len(outputs) == 0 {
+	if !reportResult && !r.stateChanged && len(outputs) == 0 && withinHeartbeatInterval {
 		r.stateMu.Unlock()
 		return nil
 	}
@@ -517,6 +526,7 @@ func (r *Reporter) ReportState(reportResult bool) error {
 		return err
 	}
 	metrics.ReportStateTotal.WithLabelValues(metrics.LabelResultSuccess).Inc()
+	r.lastReportedAtNanos.Store(time.Now().UnixNano())
 
 	for _, k := range resp.Msg.SentOutputs {
 		r.outputs.Store(k, struct{}{})
diff --git a/internal/pkg/report/reporter_test.go b/internal/pkg/report/reporter_test.go
index 15b361ab..74697851 100644
--- a/internal/pkg/report/reporter_test.go
+++ b/internal/pkg/report/reporter_test.go
@@ -597,3 +597,45 @@ func TestReporter_StateNotifyFlush(t *testing.T) {
 	}, 500*time.Millisecond, 10*time.Millisecond,
 		"step transition should have triggered immediate state flush via stateNotify")
 }
+
+// TestReporter_StateHeartbeat verifies that ReportState sends a heartbeat
+// UpdateTask once stateReportInterval has elapsed since the last successful
+// report, even when nothing has changed. Without this, long-running silent
+// jobs (no log output, no step transitions) cause the server to time the
+// task out and cancel it (#826).
+func TestReporter_StateHeartbeat(t *testing.T) {
+	var updateTaskCalls atomic.Int64
+
+	client := mocks.NewClient(t)
+	client.On("UpdateTask", mock.Anything, mock.Anything).Return(
+		func(_ context.Context, _ *connect_go.Request[runnerv1.UpdateTaskRequest]) (*connect_go.Response[runnerv1.UpdateTaskResponse], error) {
+			updateTaskCalls.Add(1)
+			return connect_go.NewResponse(&runnerv1.UpdateTaskResponse{}), nil
+		},
+	)
+
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+	defer cancel()
+	taskCtx, err := structpb.NewStruct(map[string]any{})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	cfg, _ := config.LoadDefault("")
+	cfg.Runner.StateReportInterval = 50 * time.Millisecond
+	reporter := NewReporter(ctx, cancel, client, &runnerv1.Task{Context: taskCtx}, cfg)
+	reporter.ResetSteps(1)
+
+	// First call has no prior report — sends to seed lastReportedAt.
+	reporter.stateMu.Lock()
+	reporter.stateChanged = true
+	reporter.stateMu.Unlock()
+	require.NoError(t, reporter.ReportState(false))
+	require.Equal(t, int64(1), updateTaskCalls.Load())
+
+	// Second call immediately after with nothing changed — must skip.
+	require.NoError(t, reporter.ReportState(false))
+	assert.Equal(t, int64(1), updateTaskCalls.Load(), "no-op ReportState within stateReportInterval must skip")
+
+	// After stateReportInterval elapses, a heartbeat must fire even with no changes.
+	time.Sleep(2 * cfg.Runner.StateReportInterval)
+	require.NoError(t, reporter.ReportState(false))
+	assert.Equal(t, int64(2), updateTaskCalls.Load(), "ReportState must heartbeat after stateReportInterval even with no state change")
+}