diff --git a/services/extractor/event_classifier.py b/services/extractor/event_classifier.py
index b0db953..493bdd9 100644
--- a/services/extractor/event_classifier.py
+++ b/services/extractor/event_classifier.py
@@ -281,6 +281,16 @@ def _parse_classification_response(
     else:
         confidence = 0.5
 
+    summary = str(data.get("summary", "")).strip()
+    key_facts = [str(f) for f in data.get("key_facts", []) if str(f).strip()]
+
+    # Reject empty classifications — the LLM produced no useful output
+    if not summary and not key_facts:
+        raise ValueError(
+            f"Empty classification for document {document_id}: "
+            "no summary and no key facts"
+        )
+
     return GlobalEvent(
         event_id=str(uuid.uuid4()),
         event_types=_normalize_event_types(data.get("event_types", [])),
@@ -288,8 +298,8 @@ def _parse_classification_response(
         affected_regions=[str(r) for r in data.get("affected_regions", [])],
         affected_sectors=[str(s) for s in data.get("affected_sectors", [])],
         affected_commodities=[str(c) for c in data.get("affected_commodities", [])],
-        summary=str(data.get("summary", "")),
-        key_facts=[str(f) for f in data.get("key_facts", [])],
+        summary=summary,
+        key_facts=key_facts,
         estimated_duration=_normalize_duration(data.get("estimated_duration", "short_term")),
         confidence=confidence,
         source_document_id=document_id,