diff --git a/backend/pipeline/stages.py b/backend/pipeline/stages.py
index 8415d0f..36278cc 100644
--- a/backend/pipeline/stages.py
+++ b/backend/pipeline/stages.py
@@ -2388,7 +2388,11 @@ def fetch_creator_avatar(creator_id: str) -> dict:
     avatar_url/avatar_source/avatar_fetched_at columns if a confident
     match is found.  Returns a status dict.
     """
+    import sys
     from datetime import datetime, timezone
+    # Ensure /app is on sys.path for forked Celery workers
+    if "/app" not in sys.path:
+        sys.path.insert(0, "/app")
     from services.avatar import lookup_avatar
 
     session = _get_sync_session()