}

        // Normalize the path
        String normalized = normalizePath(path);

        // Check against blacklist
        if (isBlacklisted(normalized)) {
            log.warn("Path is blacklisted: {}", sanitizeForLog(normalized));
            throw new SmbException("Path is not allowed");
        }

        // Check against whitelist if configured

            } else {
                // For regular steps:
                // Don't run for halted builds, blacklisted projects, or if predecessors failed
                shouldExecute = !status.isHalted() && !status.isBlackListed(step.project) && allPredecessorsExecuted;
            }

            // 2. Either schedule the step or mark it as skipped based on the decision