diff --git a/src/modules/notifications/processors/in-app.processor.ts b/src/modules/notifications/processors/in-app.processor.ts
index 91b35ef..1280fc9 100644
--- a/src/modules/notifications/processors/in-app.processor.ts
+++ b/src/modules/notifications/processors/in-app.processor.ts
@@ -27,6 +27,11 @@ export class InAppProcessor extends WorkerHost {
 
     this.logger.log(`Processing InApp notification - Recipient: ${JSON.stringify(recipient)}, subject: ${subject}`);
 
+    if (!recipient.adminId) {
+      this.logger.warn(`Skipping in-app notification job ${job.id}: missing adminId`);
+      return;
+    }
+
     try {
       this.notificationsGateway.sendInAppNotification(
         { adminId: recipient.adminId, restaurantId: recipient.restaurantId },
diff --git a/src/modules/notifications/services/notification.service.ts b/src/modules/notifications/services/notification.service.ts
index 6c7e243..81c2e7f 100644
--- a/src/modules/notifications/services/notification.service.ts
+++ b/src/modules/notifications/services/notification.service.ts
@@ -43,16 +43,30 @@ export class NotificationService {
       return notifications;
     }
 
-    // send in app notification
+    // send in app notification (admins only — user records must not emit to admin socket rooms)
     if (preference?.channels?.includes(NotifChannelEnum.IN_APP)) {
-      await this.queueService.addBulkInAppNotifications(
-        notifications.map(notification => ({
-          recipient: { adminId: notification.admin?.id || '', restaurantId },
-          subject: message.title,
-          body: message.content,
-          notificationId: notification.id,
-        })),
-      );
+      const inAppJobs = recipients.flatMap((recipient, index) => {
+        if (!('adminId' in recipient) || !recipient.adminId) {
+          return [];
+        }
+
+        return [
+          {
+            recipient: { adminId: recipient.adminId, restaurantId },
+            subject: message.title,
+            body: message.content,
+            notificationId: notifications[index]!.id,
+          },
+        ];
+      });
+
+      if (inAppJobs.length > 0) {
+        await this.queueService.addBulkInAppNotifications(inAppJobs);
+      } else {
+        this.logger.warn(
+          `No admin recipients for in-app notification: restaurant ${restaurantId}, title ${message.title}`,
+        );
+      }
     }
 
     // add sms notifications to queue