diff --git a/apps/rowboat/app/projects/lib/project-creation-utils.ts b/apps/rowboat/app/projects/lib/project-creation-utils.ts
index 7c8e7ecd..4d87dac6 100644
--- a/apps/rowboat/app/projects/lib/project-creation-utils.ts
+++ b/apps/rowboat/app/projects/lib/project-creation-utils.ts
@@ -35,6 +35,11 @@ export async function createProjectWithOptions(options: CreateProjectOptions): P
       if (options.prompt?.trim()) {
         localStorage.setItem(`project_prompt_${response.id}`, options.prompt);
       }
+      // If the project was created from a template (pre-built agent),
+      // mark the Build step as completed in localStorage for the progress bar.
+      if (options.template) {
+        localStorage.setItem(`agent_instructions_changed_${response.id}`, 'true');
+      }
       
       // Call success callback if provided
       if (options.onSuccess) {
@@ -77,6 +82,8 @@ export async function createProjectFromJsonWithOptions(options: CreateProjectFro
       if (options.onSuccess) {
         options.onSuccess(response.id);
       }
+      // Project created from imported JSON: mark Build step as completed
+      localStorage.setItem(`agent_instructions_changed_${response.id}`, 'true');
       
       // Navigate to workflow page
       options.router.push(`/projects/${response.id}/workflow`);
@@ -112,4 +119,4 @@ export async function createProjectFromTemplate(
     router,
     onError
   });
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}