diff --git a/docs/TOOLS-REFERENCE.md b/docs/TOOLS-REFERENCE.md
index d1818b1..0822cee 100644
--- a/docs/TOOLS-REFERENCE.md
+++ b/docs/TOOLS-REFERENCE.md
@@ -436,7 +436,7 @@ Spec Workflow MCP provides specialized tools for structured software development
 
 ### delete-approval
 
-**Purpose**: Removes completed approval requests to clean up the approval queue.
+**Purpose**: Removes completed, rejected, or needs-revision approval requests to clean up the approval queue. Cannot delete pending approvals.
 
 **Parameters**:
 
diff --git a/docs/technical-documentation/api-reference.md b/docs/technical-documentation/api-reference.md
index 2d3b94b..06cc8e9 100644
--- a/docs/technical-documentation/api-reference.md
+++ b/docs/technical-documentation/api-reference.md
@@ -610,9 +610,9 @@ sequenceDiagram
 
 ### `delete-approval`
 
-**Purpose**: Clean up approval after successful approval
+**Purpose**: Clean up completed, rejected, or needs-revision approvals. Cannot delete pending approvals.
 
-**Usage**: Call immediately after `approved` status before proceeding
+**Usage**: Call to clean up old approval requests after workflow completion
 
 ```typescript
 // Parameters
@@ -632,19 +632,19 @@ sequenceDiagram
   nextSteps: ["Proceed to next phase"]
 }
 
-// Response - Failed  
+// Response - Failed
 {
   success: false,
-  message: "Failed to delete approval: Approval not found or still pending",
+  message: "Failed to delete approval: Approval not found or is still pending",
   nextSteps: [
     "Check approval status first",
-    "Ensure approval is approved before deletion", 
-    "BLOCKING: Cannot proceed until cleanup succeeds"
+    "Cannot delete pending approvals - wait for approval/rejection/revision",
+    "Can delete: approved, rejected, or needs-revision status"
   ]
 }
 ```
 
-**Critical**: If deletion fails, **STOP** and return to polling status. Never proceed without successful cleanup.
+**Note**: Pending approvals cannot be deleted. You can delete approvals with status: `approved`, `rejected`, or `needs-revision`.
 
 ## 🔄 Common Usage Patterns
 
diff --git a/src/tools/approvals.ts b/src/tools/approvals.ts
index 2439b99..4d46736 100644
--- a/src/tools/approvals.ts
+++ b/src/tools/approvals.ts
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ export const approvalsTool: Tool = {
 Use this tool to request, check status, or delete approval requests. The action parameter determines the operation:
 - 'request': Create a new approval request after creating each document
 - 'status': Check the current status of an approval request
-- 'delete': Clean up completed approval requests
+- 'delete': Clean up completed, rejected, or needs-revision approval requests (cannot delete pending requests)
 
 CRITICAL: Only provide filePath parameter for requests - the dashboard reads files directly. Never include document content. Wait for user to review and approve before continuing.`,
   inputSchema: {
@@ -376,11 +376,12 @@ async function handleDeleteApproval(
       };
     }
 
-    // Only allow deletion of approved requests
-    if (approval.status !== 'approved') {
+    // Only block deletion of pending requests (still awaiting approval)
+    // Allow deletion of: approved, needs-revision, rejected
+    if (approval.status === 'pending') {
       return {
         success: false,
-        message: `BLOCKED: Cannot proceed - status is "${approval.status}". VERBAL APPROVAL NOT ACCEPTED. Use dashboard or VS Code extension.`,
+        message: `BLOCKED: Cannot delete - status is "${approval.status}". This approval is still awaiting review. VERBAL APPROVAL NOT ACCEPTED. Use dashboard or VS Code extension.`,
         data: {
           approvalId: args.approvalId,
           currentStatus: approval.status,
@@ -389,9 +390,10 @@ async function handleDeleteApproval(
           canProceed: false
         },
         nextSteps: [
-          'STOP - Do not proceed to next phase',
-          'Wait for approval',
-          'Poll with approvals action:"status"'
+          'STOP - Cannot delete pending approval',
+          'Wait for approval or rejection',
+          'Poll with approvals action:"status"',
+          'Delete only after status changes to approved, rejected, or needs-revision'
         ]
       };
     }