diff --git a/src/app/api/compare/route.ts b/src/app/api/compare/route.ts
index 97dde78..8e057a4 100644
--- a/src/app/api/compare/route.ts
+++ b/src/app/api/compare/route.ts
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ export async function POST(request: Request) {
     id,
     userId: "system",
     title,
-    query: query || null,
+    query: query ?? title,
     slug,
     status: "researching",
   });