diff --git a/packages/orchestration-service/src/services/summarization.js b/packages/orchestration-service/src/services/summarization.js
index c82ffc8..3cebb20 100644
--- a/packages/orchestration-service/src/services/summarization.js
+++ b/packages/orchestration-service/src/services/summarization.js
@@ -62,7 +62,15 @@ async function generateSummary(episodes, existingSummary = null) {
 
     if (!res.ok) throw new Error(`Ollama responded ${res.status}`);
     const data = await res.json();
-    return data.response?.trim() ?? '';
+
+
+    const raw = data.response?.trim() ?? '';
+    // Strip any leaked ChatML tokens Qwen echoes back
+    const content = raw
+        .replace(/<\|im_start\|>.*?<\|im_end\|>/gs, '')
+        .replace(/<\|im_start\|>|<\|im_end\|>|<\|im_sep\|>/g, '')
+        .trim();
+    return content;
 }
 
 async function maybeSummarize(session, allEpisodes) {