diff --git a/routes/document_routes.py b/routes/document_routes.py
index 282e358..baf84b2 100644
--- a/routes/document_routes.py
+++ b/routes/document_routes.py
@@ -901,7 +901,7 @@ def setup_document_routes(session_manager, upload_handler=None) -> APIRouter:
             for i, doc in enumerate(batch):
                 if i >= len(verdicts):
                     break
-                verdict = verdicts[i].lower().strip()
+                verdict = str(verdicts[i] or "").lower().strip()
                 if verdict == "junk":
                     doc.tidy_verdict = "junk"
                     db.delete(doc)