diff --git a/backend/app/services/system_settings_service.py b/backend/app/services/system_settings_service.py
index 8c6dc65..1d5a3b8 100644
--- a/backend/app/services/system_settings_service.py
+++ b/backend/app/services/system_settings_service.py
@@ -211,8 +211,16 @@ class SystemSettingsService:
         for default in defaults:
             existing = await self.get_setting(default["key"], session)
             if not existing:
-                await self.create_setting(default, session)
-                logger.info(f"Created default setting: {default['key']}")
+                try:
+                    await self.create_setting(default, session)
+                    logger.info(f"Created default setting: {default['key']}")
+                except Exception as e:
+                    # Ignore duplicate key errors (race condition between workers)
+                    if "duplicate key" in str(e).lower() or "unique constraint" in str(e).lower():
+                        logger.debug(f"Setting {default['key']} already exists (created by another worker)")
+                    else:
+                        logger.error(f"Error creating default setting {default['key']}: {e}")
+                        raise
 
 
 # Singleton instance