diff --git a/klausur-service/backend/grid_build_core.py b/klausur-service/backend/grid_build_core.py
index cab5277..037c578 100644
--- a/klausur-service/backend/grid_build_core.py
+++ b/klausur-service/backend/grid_build_core.py
@@ -1112,6 +1112,13 @@ async def _build_grid_core(
                         # Has real IPA symbols → already fixed or valid
                         if any(c in _REAL_IPA_CHARS for c in cell_text):
                             continue
+                        # Guard: if text contains multiple real words, it's
+                        # normal text (e.g. "Betonung auf der 1. Silbe:
+                        # profit"), not garbled IPA.  Garbled IPA is
+                        # typically short and has no recognizable words.
+                        _words_in_text = re.findall(r'[A-Za-zÄÖÜäöüß]{3,}', cell_text)
+                        if len(_words_in_text) >= 3:
+                            continue
 
                     # Find headword in previous row, same column
                     prev_ri = rows_sorted[idx - 1]["index"]