diff --git a/app/beauty_main.py b/app/beauty_main.py
index 54d4aeb..1b85130 100644
--- a/app/beauty_main.py
+++ b/app/beauty_main.py
@@ -218,6 +218,7 @@ async def prescreen_batch(body: dict):
 
     from app.prescreener import prescreen_domains, classify_with_deepseek, DEEPSEEK_BATCH_SIZE
 
+    # Phase 1: HTTP check — runs synchronously, finishes in ~30-90s, saves immediately.
     results = await prescreen_domains(domains_list)
     await save_prescreen_results(results)
 
@@ -227,18 +228,26 @@ async def prescreen_batch(body: dict):
         counts[s] = counts.get(s, 0) + 1
 
     live = [r for r in results if r.get("prescreen_status") == "live"]
-    classified = 0
+
+    # Phase 2: DeepSeek classification — fires in the background so the HTTP
+    # response is returned immediately.  Results are saved async; the Browse
+    # table will show niche/type once the background task completes.
     if live:
-        batches = [live[i:i + DEEPSEEK_BATCH_SIZE] for i in range(0, len(live), DEEPSEEK_BATCH_SIZE)]
-        all_cls: list = []
-        for i, batch in enumerate(batches):
-            if i > 0:
-                await asyncio.sleep(3)
-            cls = await classify_with_deepseek(batch)
-            all_cls.extend(cls)
-        if all_cls:
-            await save_prescreen_results(all_cls)
-            classified = len(all_cls)
+        async def _classify_bg(items: list) -> None:
+            try:
+                batches = [items[i:i + DEEPSEEK_BATCH_SIZE]
+                           for i in range(0, len(items), DEEPSEEK_BATCH_SIZE)]
+                for i, batch in enumerate(batches):
+                    if i > 0:
+                        await asyncio.sleep(3)
+                    cls = await classify_with_deepseek(batch)
+                    if cls:
+                        await save_prescreen_results(cls)
+                        logger.info("Prescreen BG: classified %d domains", len(cls))
+            except Exception as e:
+                logger.error("Prescreen BG classification failed: %s", e)
+
+        asyncio.create_task(_classify_bg(live))
 
     return {
         "total": len(domains_list),
@@ -246,7 +255,8 @@ async def prescreen_batch(body: dict):
         "parked": counts.get("parked", 0),
         "redirect": counts.get("redirect", 0),
         "dead": counts.get("dead", 0),
-        "classified": classified,
+        "error": counts.get("error", 0),
+        "classifying": len(live),   # niche/type arrives shortly via background task
     }
 
 
diff --git a/app/static/beauty/index.html b/app/static/beauty/index.html
index 3b88147..1af2d6d 100644
--- a/app/static/beauty/index.html
+++ b/app/static/beauty/index.html
@@ -559,7 +559,7 @@ function app() {
       try {
         const chunks = [];
         for (let i=0; i<this.selected.length; i+=200) chunks.push(this.selected.slice(i,i+200));
-        let totals = {live:0,dead:0,parked:0,redirect:0,classified:0};
+        let totals = {live:0,dead:0,parked:0,redirect:0,error:0,classifying:0};
         for (const chunk of chunks) {
           const d = await fetch('/api/prescreen/batch', {
             method:'POST', headers:{'Content-Type':'application/json'},
@@ -567,9 +567,10 @@ function app() {
           }).then(r=>r.json());
           totals.live += d.live||0; totals.dead += d.dead||0;
           totals.parked += d.parked||0; totals.redirect += d.redirect||0;
-          totals.classified += d.classified||0;
+          totals.error += d.error||0; totals.classifying += d.classifying||0;
         }
-        this.notify(`✅ ${totals.live} live · ☠ ${totals.dead} dead · 🅿 ${totals.parked} parked · 🏷 ${totals.classified} classified`, 'success');
+        const cls = totals.classifying > 0 ? ` · 🏷 classifying ${totals.classifying} in background` : '';
+        this.notify(`✅ ${totals.live} live · ☠ ${totals.dead} dead · 🅿 ${totals.parked} parked${cls}`, 'success');
         this.selected = [];
         await this.loadDomains();
       } catch(e) { this.notify('Pre-screen failed: '+e.message, 'error'); }