diff --git a/cheddahbot/scheduler.py b/cheddahbot/scheduler.py
index cd2745a..de256dc 100644
--- a/cheddahbot/scheduler.py
+++ b/cheddahbot/scheduler.py
@@ -486,6 +486,9 @@ class Scheduler:
 
         for xlsx_path in xlsx_files:
             filename = xlsx_path.name
+            # Skip Office temp/lock files (e.g. ~$insert_molding.xlsx)
+            if filename.startswith("~$"):
+                continue
             kv_key = f"linkbuilding:watched:{filename}"
 
             # Skip completed/failed; retry "processing" (killed run) and "blocked" (missing field)