diff --git a/src/fabledassistant/services/notes.py b/src/fabledassistant/services/notes.py
index 2e2e052..b9e65d8 100644
--- a/src/fabledassistant/services/notes.py
+++ b/src/fabledassistant/services/notes.py
@@ -136,6 +136,7 @@ async def list_notes(
     milestone_ids: list[int] | None = None,
     parent_id: int | None = None,
     no_project: bool = False,
+    exclude_paused_projects: bool = False,
     sort: str = "updated_at",
     order: str = "desc",
     limit: int = 50,
@@ -211,6 +212,17 @@ async def list_notes(
             query = query.where(Note.project_id.is_(None))
             count_query = count_query.where(Note.project_id.is_(None))
 
+        if exclude_paused_projects:
+            from fabledassistant.models.project import Project
+            paused_ids = (
+                select(Project.id)
+                .where(Project.user_id == user_id, Project.status == "paused")
+                .scalar_subquery()
+            )
+            paused_filter = or_(Note.project_id.is_(None), Note.project_id.not_in(paused_ids))
+            query = query.where(paused_filter)
+            count_query = count_query.where(paused_filter)
+
         sort_col = getattr(Note, sort, Note.updated_at)
         if order == "asc":
             query = query.order_by(sort_col.asc())
diff --git a/src/fabledassistant/services/tools.py b/src/fabledassistant/services/tools.py
index 443d63e..f0e32b8 100644
--- a/src/fabledassistant/services/tools.py
+++ b/src/fabledassistant/services/tools.py
@@ -1509,6 +1509,7 @@ async def execute_tool(
                 due_after=_parse_due_date(arguments.get("due_after")),
                 project_id=project_id,
                 milestone_id=milestone_id,
+                exclude_paused_projects=project_id is None,
                 limit=int(arguments.get("limit", 10)),
                 sort="due_date",
                 order="asc",