diff --git a/processing/annotate.py b/processing/annotate.py
index 2d32949..731fa78 100644
--- a/processing/annotate.py
+++ b/processing/annotate.py
@@ -67,7 +67,10 @@ def build_updates(llm_model: str, df: pd.DataFrame, entries: pd.DataFrame) -> pd
 
 
         if idx % BATCH_SIZE == 0 or idx == len(entries):
-            df.update(pd.DataFrame.from_dict(dict(updates), orient="index"))
+            update_df = pd.DataFrame.from_dict(dict(updates), orient="index")
+            update_df = update_df['annotated'].astype('Int8').fillna(0)
+
+            df.update(update_df)
             save_checkpoint(df)
             updates.clear()  # avoid re-applying same updates