diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index d76b7b0..6115877 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ CMD_DIR := ./cmd/knowledgehub
 ui:
 	cd ui && bun install && bun run build
 	rm -rf $(CMD_DIR)/ui/build
+	mkdir -p $(CMD_DIR)/ui
 	cp -r ui/build $(CMD_DIR)/ui/build
 
 build: ui
diff --git a/internal/routes/quickadd.go b/internal/routes/quickadd.go
index 0f718b0..f08349d 100644
--- a/internal/routes/quickadd.go
+++ b/internal/routes/quickadd.go
@@ -128,6 +128,11 @@ func HandleQuickAddDirect(app core.App, body QuickAddRequest, client *http.Clien
 
 	// Trigger AI processing in background
 	go func() {
+		defer func() {
+			if r := recover(); r != nil {
+				log.Printf("AI processing panicked for quick-add entry %s: %v", entry.Id, r)
+			}
+		}()
 		if aiErr := ai.SummarizeAndScore(app, entry); aiErr != nil {
 			log.Printf("AI processing failed for quick-add entry %s: %v", entry.Id, aiErr)
 			entry.Set("processing_status", "failed")