diff --git a/backend/internal/user/repository.go b/backend/internal/user/repository.go
index db0259e..648c416 100644
--- a/backend/internal/user/repository.go
+++ b/backend/internal/user/repository.go
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ func (r *PGRepository) Update(ctx context.Context, userID uuid.UUID, input Updat
 		set
 			role_id = coalesce((select id from roles where name = $2), u.role_id),
 			display_name = coalesce($3, u.display_name),
-			email = case when $4 is null then u.email else nullif($4, '')::citext end,
+			email = case when $4::text is null then u.email else nullif($4::text, '')::citext end,
 			password_hash = coalesce($5, u.password_hash),
 			is_active = coalesce($6, u.is_active),
 			updated_at = now()