diff --git a/backend/src/routes/interviewWorkflow.js b/backend/src/routes/interviewWorkflow.js
index e8650c2..e5700d1 100644
--- a/backend/src/routes/interviewWorkflow.js
+++ b/backend/src/routes/interviewWorkflow.js
@@ -122,13 +122,12 @@ router.get('/analysis', wrapAsync(async (req, res) => {
       findingCounts[type] = (findingCounts[type] || 0) + 1;
     });
 
-    try {
-      const parsed = JSON.parse(interview.inference_notes || '{}');
+    const inferenceNotes = String(interview.inference_notes || '').trim();
+    if (inferenceNotes.startsWith('{')) {
+      const parsed = JSON.parse(inferenceNotes);
       (parsed.tags || []).forEach((tag) => {
         tagCounts[tag] = (tagCounts[tag] || 0) + 1;
       });
-    } catch (error) {
-      console.error('Failed to parse interview inference notes', error);
     }
   });