diff --git a/src/ai/backend/agent/server.py b/src/ai/backend/agent/server.py
index 128bd1fd97..d3454ff72c 100644
--- a/src/ai/backend/agent/server.py
+++ b/src/ai/backend/agent/server.py
@@ -528,7 +528,7 @@ async def _pull(reporter: ProgressReporter, *, img_conf: ImageConfig) -> None:
                         img_ref, img_conf["registry"], timeout=image_pull_timeout
                     )
                 except asyncio.TimeoutError:
-                    log.exception(f"Image pull timeout after {image_pull_timeout} sec")
+                    log.exception(f"Image pull timeout (img:{str(img_ref)},s:{image_pull_timeout})")
                     await self.agent.produce_event(
                         ImagePullFailedEvent(
                             image=str(img_ref),
@@ -537,7 +537,7 @@ async def _pull(reporter: ProgressReporter, *, img_conf: ImageConfig) -> None:
                         )
                     )
                 except Exception as e:
-                    log.exception(f"Image pull failed (e:{repr(e)})")
+                    log.exception(f"Image pull failed (img:{str(img_ref)},e:{repr(e)})")
                     await self.agent.produce_event(
                         ImagePullFailedEvent(
                             image=str(img_ref),
@@ -546,6 +546,7 @@ async def _pull(reporter: ProgressReporter, *, img_conf: ImageConfig) -> None:
                         )
                     )
                 else:
+                    log.info(f"Image pull succeeded {str(img_ref)}")
                     await self.agent.produce_event(
                         ImagePullFinishedEvent(
                             image=str(img_ref),
@@ -553,6 +554,7 @@ async def _pull(reporter: ProgressReporter, *, img_conf: ImageConfig) -> None:
                         )
                     )
             else:
+                log.debug(f"No need to pull image {str(img_ref)}")
                 await self.agent.produce_event(
                     ImagePullFinishedEvent(
                         image=str(img_ref),
diff --git a/src/ai/backend/manager/models/session.py b/src/ai/backend/manager/models/session.py
index a60773829e..b8cf91be58 100644
--- a/src/ai/backend/manager/models/session.py
+++ b/src/ai/backend/manager/models/session.py
@@ -295,6 +295,11 @@ class SessionStatus(enum.StrEnum):
         SessionStatus.ERROR,
         SessionStatus.CANCELLED,
     },
+    SessionStatus.CREATING: {
+        SessionStatus.RUNNING,
+        SessionStatus.ERROR,
+        SessionStatus.CANCELLED,
+    },
     SessionStatus.RUNNING: {
         SessionStatus.RESTARTING,
         SessionStatus.RUNNING_DEGRADED,
@@ -373,12 +378,7 @@ def determine_session_status_by_kernels(kernels: Sequence[KernelRow]) -> Session
                         return SessionStatus.ERROR
             case SessionStatus.PULLING:
                 match k.status:
-                    case (
-                        KernelStatus.PULLING
-                        | KernelStatus.PREPARING
-                        | KernelStatus.PREPARED
-                        | KernelStatus.RUNNING
-                    ):
+                    case KernelStatus.PULLING | KernelStatus.PREPARING | KernelStatus.PREPARED:
                         continue
                     case KernelStatus.CANCELLED:
                         candidate = SessionStatus.CANCELLED
@@ -403,6 +403,7 @@ def determine_session_status_by_kernels(kernels: Sequence[KernelRow]) -> Session
                     case KernelStatus.CANCELLED:
                         candidate = SessionStatus.CANCELLED
                     case _:
+                        # Set status to ERROR if any kernel is in exceptional state
                         return SessionStatus.ERROR
             case SessionStatus.CANCELLED:
                 match k.status:
@@ -410,10 +411,9 @@ def determine_session_status_by_kernels(kernels: Sequence[KernelRow]) -> Session
                         KernelStatus.CANCELLED
                         | KernelStatus.PENDING
                         | KernelStatus.SCHEDULED
-                        | KernelStatus.PULLING
                         | KernelStatus.PREPARING
+                        | KernelStatus.PULLING
                         | KernelStatus.PREPARED
-                        | KernelStatus.CREATING
                     ):
                         continue
                     case _:
@@ -434,10 +434,10 @@ def determine_session_status_by_kernels(kernels: Sequence[KernelRow]) -> Session
                         return SessionStatus.ERROR
             case SessionStatus.TERMINATED:
                 match k.status:
-                    case KernelStatus.TERMINATING:
-                        candidate = SessionStatus.TERMINATING
                     case KernelStatus.TERMINATED:
                         continue
+                    case KernelStatus.TERMINATING:
+                        candidate = SessionStatus.TERMINATING
                     case _:
                         return SessionStatus.ERROR
             case SessionStatus.RESTARTING | SessionStatus.RUNNING_DEGRADED:
diff --git a/src/ai/backend/manager/registry.py b/src/ai/backend/manager/registry.py
index cef89e1ce3..0a8d188349 100644
--- a/src/ai/backend/manager/registry.py
+++ b/src/ai/backend/manager/registry.py
@@ -3280,7 +3280,7 @@ async def _transit(db_session: AsyncSession) -> set[SessionId]:
                 .where(
                     (KernelRow.image == image)
                     & (KernelRow.agent == agent_id)
-                    & (KernelRow.status.in_(KernelStatus.SCHEDULED, KernelStatus.PREPARING))
+                    & (KernelRow.status.in_((KernelStatus.SCHEDULED, KernelStatus.PREPARING)))
                 )
                 # Ensures transition
                 .with_for_update()