diff --git a/klausur-service/backend/cv_gutter_repair.py b/klausur-service/backend/cv_gutter_repair.py
index c9d4fea..2eead8e 100644
--- a/klausur-service/backend/cv_gutter_repair.py
+++ b/klausur-service/backend/cv_gutter_repair.py
@@ -161,6 +161,9 @@ class GutterSuggestion:
 # Core repair logic
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
+_TRAILING_PUNCT_RE = re.compile(r'[.,;:!?\)\]]+$')
+
+
 def _try_hyphen_join(
     word_text: str,
     next_word_text: str,
@@ -168,10 +171,15 @@ def _try_hyphen_join(
 ) -> Optional[Tuple[str, str, float]]:
     """Try joining two fragments with 0..max_missing interpolated chars.
 
+    Strips trailing punctuation from the continuation word before testing
+    (e.g. "künden," → "künden") so dictionary lookup succeeds.
+
     Returns (joined_word, missing_chars, confidence) or None.
     """
     base = word_text.rstrip("-").rstrip()
-    continuation = next_word_text.lstrip()
+    # Strip trailing punctuation from continuation (commas, periods, etc.)
+    raw_continuation = next_word_text.lstrip()
+    continuation = _TRAILING_PUNCT_RE.sub('', raw_continuation)
 
     if not base or not continuation:
         return None
diff --git a/klausur-service/backend/tests/test_gutter_repair.py b/klausur-service/backend/tests/test_gutter_repair.py
index b56aee9..353f8d1 100644
--- a/klausur-service/backend/tests/test_gutter_repair.py
+++ b/klausur-service/backend/tests/test_gutter_repair.py
@@ -126,6 +126,21 @@ class TestTryHyphenJoin:
         assert _try_hyphen_join("", "word") is None
         assert _try_hyphen_join("word", "") is None
 
+    def test_join_strips_trailing_punctuation(self):
+        # "ver" + "künden," → should still find "verkünden" despite comma
+        result = _try_hyphen_join("ver-", "künden,")
+        assert result is not None
+        joined, missing, conf = result
+        assert joined == "verkünden"
+
+    def test_join_with_missing_chars_and_punctuation(self):
+        # "ve" + "künden," → needs "r" in between, comma must be stripped
+        result = _try_hyphen_join("ve", "künden,", max_missing=2)
+        assert result is not None
+        joined, missing, conf = result
+        assert joined == "verkünden"
+        assert "r" in missing
+
 
 @needs_spellchecker
 class TestTrySpellFix: