diff --git a/cognite/extractorutils/unstable/core/base.py b/cognite/extractorutils/unstable/core/base.py
index 6e38b9c9..61972b05 100644
--- a/cognite/extractorutils/unstable/core/base.py
+++ b/cognite/extractorutils/unstable/core/base.py
@@ -637,6 +637,14 @@ def _dispatch_single_action(self, action: Action) -> None:
                 token = self._running_action_tokens.get(action.external_id)
             if token is not None:
                 token.cancel()
+            else:
+                # No in-flight run for this external_id: either never dispatched by this process, or
+                # already finished and cleaned up. Safe to confirm cancellation immediately — Odin
+                # would otherwise wait on an ack that never comes until this integration's next
+                # startup.
+                self._checkin_worker.queue_action_update(
+                    ActionUpdate(external_id=action.external_id, status=ActionStatus.canceled)
+                )
             return
 
         actionable_tasks = [t for t in self._tasks if isinstance(t, ACTIONABLE_TASK_TYPES)]
diff --git a/tests/test_unstable/test_action_dispatch.py b/tests/test_unstable/test_action_dispatch.py
index 635f1e6a..94216274 100644
--- a/tests/test_unstable/test_action_dispatch.py
+++ b/tests/test_unstable/test_action_dispatch.py
@@ -645,13 +645,16 @@ def cancellable(ctx: TaskContext) -> None:
     assert statuses[-1] == ActionStatus.canceled
 
 
-def test_cancel_pending_unknown_action_is_a_no_op() -> None:
+def test_cancel_pending_unknown_action_confirms_canceled() -> None:
     extractor = _make_extractor()
     extractor._dispatch_single_action(
         _make_action("act-unknown", "does not matter", status=ActionStatus.cancel_pending)
     )
 
-    assert _queued_updates(extractor) == []
+    updates = _queued_updates(extractor)
+    assert len(updates) == 1
+    assert updates[0].external_id == "act-unknown"
+    assert updates[0].status == ActionStatus.canceled
 
 
 def test_custom_action_reports_canceled_when_target_raises_action_error_after_cancellation() -> None: