diff --git a/backend/handlers/handle_rowing.go b/backend/handlers/handle_rowing.go
index ce8ba18..fcd9c89 100644
--- a/backend/handlers/handle_rowing.go
+++ b/backend/handlers/handle_rowing.go
@@ -82,6 +82,13 @@ func (store *Store) CreateRowing(ctx *gin.Context) {
 	}
 	encoded := base64.StdEncoding.EncodeToString(data)
 
+	// Reject duplicates: same EXIF datetime already recorded
+	var existing models.Rowing
+	if err := store.DB.Where("date = ?", dateTaken).First(&existing).Error; err == nil {
+		ctx.JSON(http.StatusConflict, gin.H{"error": "duplicate entry for this date"})
+		return
+	}
+
 	// Build the message with an image + text prompt
 	message, err := store.ClaudeClient.Messages.New(context.Background(), anthropic.MessageNewParams{
 		Model:     anthropic.ModelClaudeHaiku4_5,
@@ -176,13 +183,6 @@ No text, no markdown, no explanation. Just the JSON object.`),
 		return
 	}
 
-	// Reject duplicates: same EXIF datetime already recorded
-	var existing models.Rowing
-	if err := store.DB.Where("date = ?", dateTaken).First(&existing).Error; err == nil {
-		ctx.JSON(http.StatusConflict, gin.H{"error": "duplicate entry for this date"})
-		return
-	}
-
 	calories := float64(extractedData.Distance) / 7500.0 * 500.0
 
 	rowing := models.Rowing{