diff --git a/apply_polled_quote_template_jobmaterials.py b/apply_polled_quote_template_jobmaterials.py
index 1e7dcfd..8248fb7 100755
--- a/apply_polled_quote_template_jobmaterials.py
+++ b/apply_polled_quote_template_jobmaterials.py
@@ -547,7 +547,38 @@ def main() -> int:
             }
 
             if not args.apply:
+                remote_existing_rows = list_remote_job_materials(session, job_uuid)
+                remote_existing_blocks_apply = bool(remote_existing_rows)
+                if remote_existing_blocks_apply:
+                    remote_active_count = sum(1 for remote_row in remote_existing_rows if is_active_remote_job_material(remote_row))
+                    reason = (
+                        f"Remote ServiceM8 job already has {len(remote_existing_rows)} jobMaterial row(s) "
+                        f"({remote_active_count} active); apply would be blocked before updates or creates"
+                    )
+                    incident_id = record_remote_existing_incident(
+                        conn,
+                        form_response_uuid=form_response_uuid,
+                        job_uuid=job_uuid,
+                        apply_run_id=run_id,
+                        desired_count=len(desired_rows),
+                        remote_rows=remote_existing_rows,
+                        action="dry_run_would_block",
+                        reason=reason,
+                    )
+                    result["remote_existing"] = {
+                        "incident_id": incident_id,
+                        "action": "would_block_remote_existing",
+                        "remote_count": len(remote_existing_rows),
+                        "remote_active_count": remote_active_count,
+                        "reason": reason,
+                    }
+
                 if job_update_payload:
+                    job_update_action = (
+                        "would_update_work_done_description_if_remote_empty"
+                        if remote_existing_blocks_apply
+                        else "would_update_work_done_description"
+                    )
                     record_apply_row(
                         conn,
                         run_id=run_id,
@@ -556,13 +587,14 @@ def main() -> int:
                         row_index=0,
                         row=job_update_row,
                         api_payload=job_update_record_payload,
-                        action="would_update_work_done_description",
+                        action=job_update_action,
                     )
-                    result["job_update"] = {"action": "would_update_work_done_description", **job_update_record_payload}
+                    result["job_update"] = {"action": job_update_action, **job_update_record_payload}
                 else:
                     result["job_update"] = {"action": "skipped", "reason": "Quote description is empty"}
                 for idx, row in enumerate(desired_rows, start=1):
                     api_payload = build_payload(job_uuid, row)
+                    row_action = "would_create_if_remote_empty" if remote_existing_blocks_apply else "would_create"
                     record_apply_row(
                         conn,
                         run_id=run_id,
@@ -571,9 +603,9 @@ def main() -> int:
                         row_index=idx,
                         row=row,
                         api_payload=api_payload,
-                        action="would_create",
+                        action=row_action,
                     )
-                    result["rows"].append({"action": "would_create", "kind": row.get("kind"), "payload": api_payload})
+                    result["rows"].append({"action": row_action, "kind": row.get("kind"), "payload": api_payload})
                 finish_apply_run(conn, run_id, status="dry-run", created_count=0)
                 conn.execute(
                     "UPDATE quote_template_form_responses SET process_status = ? WHERE form_response_uuid = ?",