diff --git a/backend/services/falukantService.js b/backend/services/falukantService.js
index e23da4e..aa7c321 100644
--- a/backend/services/falukantService.js
+++ b/backend/services/falukantService.js
@@ -3226,13 +3226,17 @@ class FalukantService extends BaseService {
             err.meta = { retryAt: retryAt.toISOString() };
             throw err;
         }
-        const gift = await PromotionalGift.findOne({
+    // prepare a safe trait filter: user.character.traits may be undefined
+    const userTraitIds = Array.isArray(user.character?.traits) ? user.character.traits.map(t => t.id) : [];
+    const traitWhere = userTraitIds.length ? { traitId: { [Op.in]: userTraitIds } } : { traitId: { [Op.in]: [-1] } };
+
+    const gift = await PromotionalGift.findOne({
             where: { id: giftId },
             include: [
                 {
                     model: PromotionalGiftCharacterTrait,
                     as: 'characterTraits',
-                    where: { traitId: { [Op.in]: user.character.traits.map(t => t.id) } },
+            where: traitWhere,
                     required: false
                 },
                 {