diff --git a/backend/database.py b/backend/database.py
index 22926a4..940c76f 100644
--- a/backend/database.py
+++ b/backend/database.py
@@ -496,11 +496,8 @@ def _migrate(conn_factory):
         ("users", "profil_sichtbarkeit",  "TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT 'public'"),
         ("users", "avatar_url",           "TEXT"),
         ("places", "telefon",             "TEXT"),
-        # Chat: Foto-Versand
-        ("direct_messages", "media_url",  "TEXT"),
-        ("direct_messages", "media_type", "TEXT"),
-        # Chat: Read Receipts
-        ("direct_messages", "read_at",    "TEXT"),
+        # Chat: Foto-Versand + Read Receipts — nur wenn Tabelle existiert (wird später per CREATE IF NOT EXISTS angelegt)
+        # Hinweis: Wird nach dem direct_messages-CREATE unten nochmal als separate Migration behandelt
         # Chat: Online-Indikator
         ("users", "last_seen",            "TEXT"),
         # Foto-Editor: Zoom + Position
@@ -779,6 +776,11 @@ def _migrate(conn_factory):
             );
             CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_dm_conv ON direct_messages(conversation_id, created_at ASC);
         """)
+        # Chat-Spalten sicher nach CREATE hinzufügen
+        _dm_cols = [r[1] for r in conn.execute("PRAGMA table_info(direct_messages)").fetchall()]
+        for _col, _typedef in [("media_url", "TEXT"), ("media_type", "TEXT"), ("read_at", "TEXT")]:
+            if _col not in _dm_cols:
+                conn.execute(f"ALTER TABLE direct_messages ADD COLUMN {_col} {_typedef}")
 
         # Wiki: Rassen-Datenbank (TheDogAPI)
         conn.executescript("""