diff --git a/backend/app.js b/backend/app.js
index 1e3f4a8..ce4b870 100644
--- a/backend/app.js
+++ b/backend/app.js
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ app.get('/api/messages', async (req, res) => {
 
   try {
     const [rows] = await db.execute(
-      'SELECT id, sender, recipient, subject, body, received_at FROM emails WHERE recipient LIKE ? ORDER BY received_at DESC',
+      'SELECT id, sender, recipient, subject, body, CAST(received_at AS CHAR) as received_at FROM emails WHERE recipient LIKE ? ORDER BY received_at DESC',
       [`%${recipient}%`]
     );
     res.json(rows);