diff --git a/api/routers/upload.py b/api/routers/upload.py
index da9a155..8921483 100644
--- a/api/routers/upload.py
+++ b/api/routers/upload.py
@@ -962,7 +962,12 @@ def add_in(name: Any) -> None:
         if not name:
             return
         text = str(name)
-        if text in seen_out or text in {lot_col, ts_col} or text in seen_in:
+        if (
+            text in seen_out
+            or text in _PLACEHOLDER_TARGET_IDS
+            or text in {lot_col, ts_col}
+            or text in seen_in
+        ):
             return
         seen_in.add(text)
         input_names.append(text)
diff --git a/api/tests/test_phase3_security.py b/api/tests/test_phase3_security.py
index 4d7cbab..f3d0cc7 100644
--- a/api/tests/test_phase3_security.py
+++ b/api/tests/test_phase3_security.py
@@ -769,6 +769,49 @@ def test_upload_reports_missing_required_columns(self):
             any("Missing required columns" in message for message in payload["errors"])
         )
 
+    def test_upload_does_not_require_placeholder_target_columns(self):
+        with patch.object(
+            upload,
+            "get_equipment_pg",
+            return_value={
+                "domain_id": "etcher_01",
+                "owner_id": "owner-1",
+                "owner_org": "Birck",
+                "status": "approved",
+                "columns": [
+                    {"name": "LOTNAME", "type": "string", "unit": ""},
+                    {"name": "run_date", "type": "datetime", "unit": ""},
+                    {"name": "pressure", "type": "float", "unit": "mTorr"},
+                    {"name": "primary_metric", "type": "float", "unit": ""},
+                    {"name": "secondary_metric", "type": "float", "unit": ""},
+                ],
+                "config_json": {},
+            },
+        ), patch.object(
+            upload,
+            "create_upload_record_pg",
+            return_value={
+                "upload_id": "upload-placeholder-targets",
+                "uploaded_at": "2026-04-15T12:00:00+00:00",
+            },
+        ):
+            response = self.client.post(
+                "/api/data/upload",
+                headers=OWNER_HEADERS,
+                data={"equipment_id": "etcher_01"},
+                files={
+                    "file": (
+                        "runs.csv",
+                        b"LOTNAME,run_date,pressure\nLOT-001,2026-04-15,55\n",
+                        "text/csv",
+                    )
+                },
+            )
+
+        self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 200)
+        payload = response.json()
+        self.assertEqual(payload["status"], "success")
+
     def test_upload_requires_approved_equipment(self):
         with patch.object(
             upload,
diff --git a/web/app/data/upload/page.tsx b/web/app/data/upload/page.tsx
index c29325c..1351cfe 100644
--- a/web/app/data/upload/page.tsx
+++ b/web/app/data/upload/page.tsx
@@ -67,6 +67,10 @@ function mapPersistedUpload(upload: PersistedUpload): UploadedFile {
     };
 }
 
+function shouldRestoreUpload(upload: PersistedUpload): boolean {
+    return upload.status !== "error" && upload.status !== "failed";
+}
+
 export default function DataUploadPage() {
     const [files, setFiles] = useState<UploadedFile[]>([]);
     const [selectedEquipment, setSelectedEquipment] = useState("");
@@ -87,7 +91,7 @@ export default function DataUploadPage() {
             ]);
 
             setEquipment(equipmentData ?? []);
-            setFiles((uploadData ?? []).map(mapPersistedUpload));
+            setFiles((uploadData ?? []).filter(shouldRestoreUpload).map(mapPersistedUpload));
             setProjects(projectData ?? []);
             setEquipmentLoading(false);