diff --git a/backend/novasonic-server.js b/backend/novasonic-server.js
index 28d0f11..a339efc 100644
--- a/backend/novasonic-server.js
+++ b/backend/novasonic-server.js
@@ -190,9 +190,10 @@ app.post('/api/spotify/track-artwork', async (req, res) => {
 });
 
 // ─── ITUNES METADATA LOOKUP (must be before the proxy route) ─────────────────
-app.get('/api/itunes/lookup', async (req, res) => {
+app.get('/api/itunes/lookup', async (req, res, next) => {
   const { artist, title } = req.query;
-  if (!artist || !title) return res.status(400).json({ error: 'artist and title required' });
+  // ID-based lookups (?id=...) are not for track meta — let them fall through to the proxy.
+  if (!artist || !title) return next();
   try {
     const meta = await lookupItunesTrackMeta(artist, title);
     if (!meta.album && !meta.genre && !meta.year) return res.json({ found: false });