diff --git a/awx/main/tasks/callback.py b/awx/main/tasks/callback.py
index f92a6028d22e..3c5d4b23b970 100644
--- a/awx/main/tasks/callback.py
+++ b/awx/main/tasks/callback.py
@@ -203,12 +203,12 @@ def status_handler(self, status_data, runner_config):
                 if os.path.exists(key_data_file) and stat.S_ISFIFO(os.stat(key_data_file).st_mode):
                     os.remove(key_data_file)
         elif status_data['status'] == 'error':
-            result_traceback = status_data.get('result_traceback', None)
-            if result_traceback:
-                from awx.main.signals import disable_activity_stream  # Circular import
-
-                with disable_activity_stream():
-                    self.instance = self.update_model(self.instance.pk, result_traceback=result_traceback)
+            updates = {}
+            for potential_field in ('result_traceback', 'job_explanation'):
+                if status_data.get(potential_field, None):
+                    updates[potential_field] = status_data[potential_field]
+            if updates:
+                self.instance = self.update_model(self.instance.pk, **updates)
 
 
 class RunnerCallbackForProjectUpdate(RunnerCallback):