diff --git a/.last-branch b/.last-branch
index db1f226..6ee1479 100644
--- a/.last-branch
+++ b/.last-branch
@@ -1 +1 @@
-v20260119-16-fix-runchecks-render-modal
+v20260119-17-fix-autotask-postcreate-ticketnumber-internal-linking
diff --git a/containers/backupchecks/src/backend/app/main/routes_run_checks.py b/containers/backupchecks/src/backend/app/main/routes_run_checks.py
index 0a81bb3..ab23fb2 100644
--- a/containers/backupchecks/src/backend/app/main/routes_run_checks.py
+++ b/containers/backupchecks/src/backend/app/main/routes_run_checks.py
@@ -1331,15 +1331,50 @@ def api_run_checks_create_autotask_ticket():
     if not ticket_id:
         return jsonify({"status": "error", "message": "Autotask did not return a ticket id."}), 400
 
+    # Mandatory post-create retrieval: create response does not reliably include Ticket Number.
+    ticket_number_str = (str(ticket_number).strip() if ticket_number is not None else "").strip()
+    try:
+        if not ticket_number_str:
+            fetched = client.get_ticket(int(ticket_id))
+            if isinstance(fetched, dict):
+                ticket_number_str = (
+                    str(fetched.get("ticketNumber") or fetched.get("number") or fetched.get("ticket_number") or "").strip()
+                )
+    except Exception:
+        ticket_number_str = ticket_number_str
+
+    now = datetime.utcnow()
+
     try:
         run.autotask_ticket_id = int(ticket_id)
     except Exception:
         run.autotask_ticket_id = None
 
-    run.autotask_ticket_number = (str(ticket_number).strip() if ticket_number is not None else "") or None
-    run.autotask_ticket_created_at = datetime.utcnow()
+    run.autotask_ticket_number = (ticket_number_str or "") or None
+    run.autotask_ticket_created_at = now
     run.autotask_ticket_created_by_user_id = current_user.id
 
+    # Propagate linkage to all active (unreviewed) runs of the same job.
+    active_runs: list[JobRun] = []
+    try:
+        active_runs = JobRun.query.filter(JobRun.job_id == job.id, JobRun.reviewed_at.is_(None)).all()
+    except Exception:
+        active_runs = [run]
+
+    run_ids: list[int] = []
+    for rr in active_runs or []:
+        if getattr(rr, "id", None):
+            run_ids.append(int(rr.id))
+        if getattr(rr, "autotask_ticket_id", None) is None:
+            rr.autotask_ticket_id = int(ticket_id)
+        if ticket_number_str and not (getattr(rr, "autotask_ticket_number", None) or "").strip():
+            rr.autotask_ticket_number = ticket_number_str
+        db.session.add(rr)
+
+    # Create/repair internal Ticket + TicketJobRun links (legacy UI compatibility).
+    if ticket_number_str:
+        _ensure_internal_ticket_for_autotask(ticket_number=ticket_number_str, job=job, run_ids=run_ids, now=now)
+
     try:
         db.session.add(run)
         db.session.commit()
@@ -1347,6 +1382,18 @@ def api_run_checks_create_autotask_ticket():
         db.session.rollback()
         return jsonify({"status": "error", "message": f"Failed to store ticket reference: {exc}"}), 500
 
+    # If Ticket Number is still unknown, surface that explicitly (ticket id is still stored).
+    if not (run.autotask_ticket_number or "").strip():
+        return jsonify(
+            {
+                "status": "ok",
+                "ticket_id": int(run.autotask_ticket_id) if run.autotask_ticket_id else None,
+                "ticket_number": "",
+                "already_exists": False,
+                "warning": "Ticket created, but ticket number could not be retrieved.",
+            }
+        )
+
     return jsonify(
         {
             "status": "ok",