diff --git a/docs/source/changes.md b/docs/source/changes.md
index 6184c9a04..8cfff71f3 100644
--- a/docs/source/changes.md
+++ b/docs/source/changes.md
@@ -49,6 +49,8 @@ releases are available on [PyPI](https://pypi.org/project/pytask) and
 - {pull}`605` improves checks and CI.
 - {pull}`609` allows a pending status for tasks. Useful for async backends implemented
   in pytask-parallel.
+- {pull}`611` removes the initial task execution status from
+  `pytask_execute_task_log_start`.
 
 ## 0.4.7 - 2024-03-19
 
diff --git a/src/_pytask/execute.py b/src/_pytask/execute.py
index facd4d233..039c7f9be 100644
--- a/src/_pytask/execute.py
+++ b/src/_pytask/execute.py
@@ -25,7 +25,6 @@
 from _pytask.exceptions import ExecutionError
 from _pytask.exceptions import NodeLoadError
 from _pytask.exceptions import NodeNotFoundError
-from _pytask.logging_utils import TaskExecutionStatus
 from _pytask.mark import Mark
 from _pytask.mark_utils import has_mark
 from _pytask.node_protocols import PNode
@@ -99,9 +98,7 @@ def pytask_execute_build(session: Session) -> bool | None:
 @hookimpl
 def pytask_execute_task_protocol(session: Session, task: PTask) -> ExecutionReport:
     """Follow the protocol to execute each task."""
-    session.hook.pytask_execute_task_log_start(
-        session=session, task=task, status=TaskExecutionStatus.RUNNING
-    )
+    session.hook.pytask_execute_task_log_start(session=session, task=task)
     try:
         session.hook.pytask_execute_task_setup(session=session, task=task)
         session.hook.pytask_execute_task(session=session, task=task)
diff --git a/src/_pytask/hookspecs.py b/src/_pytask/hookspecs.py
index 4f8bfab9a..02ce07210 100644
--- a/src/_pytask/hookspecs.py
+++ b/src/_pytask/hookspecs.py
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@
     import click
     from pluggy import PluginManager
 
-    from _pytask.logging_utils import TaskExecutionStatus
     from _pytask.models import NodeInfo
     from _pytask.node_protocols import PNode
     from _pytask.node_protocols import PProvisionalNode
@@ -256,9 +255,7 @@ def pytask_execute_task_protocol(session: Session, task: PTask) -> ExecutionRepo
 
 
 @hookspec(firstresult=True)
-def pytask_execute_task_log_start(
-    session: Session, task: PTask, status: TaskExecutionStatus
-) -> None:
+def pytask_execute_task_log_start(session: Session, task: PTask) -> None:
     """Start logging of task execution.
 
     This hook can be used to provide more verbose output during the execution.
diff --git a/src/_pytask/live.py b/src/_pytask/live.py
index f5b2f562f..d7686648c 100644
--- a/src/_pytask/live.py
+++ b/src/_pytask/live.py
@@ -20,12 +20,12 @@
 
 from _pytask.console import console
 from _pytask.console import format_task_name
+from _pytask.logging_utils import TaskExecutionStatus
 from _pytask.outcomes import CollectionOutcome
 from _pytask.outcomes import TaskOutcome
 from _pytask.pluginmanager import hookimpl
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
-    from _pytask.logging_utils import TaskExecutionStatus
     from _pytask.node_protocols import PTask
     from _pytask.reports import CollectionReport
     from _pytask.reports import ExecutionReport
@@ -151,6 +151,7 @@ class LiveExecution:
     n_entries_in_table: int
     verbose: int
     editor_url_scheme: str
+    initial_status: TaskExecutionStatus = TaskExecutionStatus.RUNNING
     sort_final_table: bool = False
     n_tasks: int | str = "x"
     _reports: list[_ReportEntry] = field(factory=list)
@@ -170,11 +171,9 @@ def pytask_execute_build(self) -> Generator[None, None, None]:
         return result
 
     @hookimpl(tryfirst=True)
-    def pytask_execute_task_log_start(
-        self, task: PTask, status: TaskExecutionStatus
-    ) -> bool:
+    def pytask_execute_task_log_start(self, task: PTask) -> bool:
         """Mark a new task as running."""
-        self.add_task(new_running_task=task, status=status)
+        self.add_task(new_running_task=task, status=self.initial_status)
         return True
 
     @hookimpl