diff --git a/containers/backupchecks/src/backend/app/__init__.py b/containers/backupchecks/src/backend/app/__init__.py
index 0bca4b2..0893c5a 100644
--- a/containers/backupchecks/src/backend/app/__init__.py
+++ b/containers/backupchecks/src/backend/app/__init__.py
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ def create_app():
         """Convert UTC datetime to UI timezone and format as string.
 
         Args:
-            utc_dt: datetime object in UTC (or None)
+            utc_dt: datetime object in UTC, string representation, or None
             format: strftime format string (default: '%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S')
 
         Returns:
@@ -79,6 +79,30 @@ def create_app():
 
         from datetime import datetime
 
+        # If input is already a string, try to parse it first
+        if isinstance(utc_dt, str):
+            utc_dt = utc_dt.strip()
+            if not utc_dt:
+                return ""
+            try:
+                # Try common datetime formats
+                for fmt in [
+                    "%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S.%f",  # With microseconds
+                    "%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S",     # Without microseconds
+                    "%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%S.%fZ", # ISO format with Z
+                    "%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%S",     # ISO format without Z
+                ]:
+                    try:
+                        utc_dt = datetime.strptime(utc_dt, fmt)
+                        break
+                    except ValueError:
+                        continue
+                else:
+                    # If parsing failed, return original string
+                    return str(utc_dt)
+            except Exception:
+                return str(utc_dt)
+
         try:
             from zoneinfo import ZoneInfo
         except ImportError: