diff --git a/.env.local.example b/.env.local.example
index aaee842..26d2648 100644
--- a/.env.local.example
+++ b/.env.local.example
@@ -40,6 +40,16 @@ N8N_INGEST_SECRET=replace-with-output-of-openssl-rand-hex-32
 # The Delivery Note OCR workflow in n8n imports docs/n8n/delivery-note-ocr-workflow.json
 # and calls POST {MEGA_NEXT_URL}/api/delivery-notes/{id}/ocr-result with this header.
 
+# ── Delivery-note batch pipeline (Task 10+) ────────────────────────
+# Customer VAT number the pipeline uses to check the printed
+# identity block on every slip. Suppliers print it on every weighbridge
+# ticket; mismatches get marked needs_attention.
+MEGA_CUSTOMER_VAT_NO=4280307796
+
+# How many dn_batches rows the /api/dn-batches/tick route claims per
+# cron hit. Tune for your batch size / model latency.
+DN_TICK_BATCH_SIZE=3
+
 # Public URL of the n8n instance (used by your local Codex MCP config).
 N8N_MCP_URL=https://wfdash.n8n.apphub.co.za/mcp-server/http
 
diff --git a/src/app/api/dn-batches/tick/route.test.ts b/src/app/api/dn-batches/tick/route.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fc2365f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/app/api/dn-batches/tick/route.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,640 @@
+/**
+ * Tests for POST /api/dn-batches/tick.
+ *
+ * The orchestrator (runBatch) is mocked at the module boundary so we
+ * can assert on the route's behaviour without standing up any of the
+ * pipeline. PocketBase is mocked in the same shape every other route
+ * test uses: a name-keyed collection dispatch + recording mocks.
+ *
+ * What the route is responsible for (and what we test here):
+ *   1. Auth: rejects without x-ingest-secret, accepts the right one.
+ *   2. Reclaim: at the start, finds analysing batches with stale
+ *      claimed_at and either resets them to inbox (attempts < MAX) or
+ *      parks them at needs_attention (attempts >= MAX).
+ *   3. List: pulls every dn_batches row with status='inbox', in
+ *      created order, capped by DN_TICK_BATCH_SIZE.
+ *   4. Claim: compare-and-set on status — only the winner of the race
+ *      runs the batch, the loser is recorded as skipped:'not_claimed'.
+ *   5. Run: delegates to the orchestrator and merges its result.
+ *   6. Failure: catches throws from runBatch, increments attempts,
+ *      writes last_error (truncated) and claimed_at="", parks as
+ *      needs_attention after MAX_ATTEMPTS, otherwise puts it back in
+ *      inbox for the next tick.
+ *   7. Response: { ok, claimed, results } with one entry per candidate
+ *      (skipped, success, or error).
+ *
+ * Defaults used by every test unless overridden:
+ *   - one inbox candidate with id=ID, status='inbox'
+ *   - runBatch resolves to { status:'processed', notesDetected:1,
+ *     notesPromoted:1, checks:[{ id:'pages_accounted', passed:true }] }
+ *   - no stale analysing batches (the reclaim query returns [])
+ *
+ * Helper structure mirrors purchase-orders/process-batch/route.test.ts.
+ */
+import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
+
+/* ------------------------------------------------------------------ */
+/* Hoisted mocks — vi.mock factories run before module imports, so     */
+/* every constant the factory touches must be hoisted too.                */
+/* ------------------------------------------------------------------ */
+
+const { dnBatchesGetFullList, dnBatchesGetOne, dnBatchesUpdate, runBatchMock, viPbAdmin } =
+  vi.hoisted(() => ({
+    dnBatchesGetFullList: vi.fn(),
+    dnBatchesGetOne: vi.fn(),
+    dnBatchesUpdate: vi.fn(),
+    runBatchMock: vi.fn(),
+    viPbAdmin: vi.fn(),
+  }));
+
+/**
+ * The route calls getFullList twice: first for the reclaim query
+ * (filter has status='analysing' && claimed_at<...), then for the
+ * inbox list (filter has status='inbox'). We route them by inspecting
+ * the filter string — keeps individual tests focused on the shape
+ * they care about.
+ */
+function makePb() {
+  return {
+    authStore: { token: "test-admin-token" },
+    collection: (name: string) => {
+      if (name !== "dn_batches") {
+        throw new Error(`unexpected collection in test: ${name}`);
+      }
+      return {
+        getFullList: dnBatchesGetFullList,
+        getOne: dnBatchesGetOne,
+        update: dnBatchesUpdate,
+      };
+    },
+  };
+}
+
+vi.mock("@/lib/pb", () => ({
+  pbAdmin: viPbAdmin,
+}));
+
+vi.mock("@/lib/dn-pipeline/run", () => ({
+  runBatch: runBatchMock,
+}));
+
+import { pbAdmin } from "@/lib/pb";
+import { POST } from "./route";
+
+const ID = "abcdefghijklmno";
+
+function makeRequest(opts: { headers?: Record<string, string> } = {}): Request {
+  return new Request("http://x/api/dn-batches/tick", {
+    method: "POST",
+    headers: { ...opts.headers },
+  });
+}
+
+function postWithValidAuth(): Request {
+  return makeRequest({ headers: { "x-ingest-secret": "test-secret" } });
+}
+
+/** Read every dn_batches.update payload, in order. */
+function allUpdates(): Array<{ id: string; data: Record<string, unknown> }> {
+  return dnBatchesUpdate.mock.calls.map((c) => ({
+    id: c[0] as string,
+    data: c[1] as Record<string, unknown>,
+  }));
+}
+
+/** Read the getFullList call index by filter prefix. */
+function callIndex(prefix: string): number {
+  return dnBatchesGetFullList.mock.calls.findIndex(
+    (c) => (c[0] as { filter?: string }).filter?.startsWith(prefix),
+  );
+}
+
+/* ------------------------------------------------------------------ */
+/* Lifecycle                                                           */
+/* ------------------------------------------------------------------ */
+
+beforeEach(() => {
+  vi.stubEnv("N8N_INGEST_SECRET", "test-secret");
+  vi.stubEnv("POCKETBASE_ADMIN_EMAIL", "test@example.com");
+  vi.stubEnv("POCKETBASE_ADMIN_PASSWORD", "test-password");
+  vi.stubEnv("DN_TICK_BATCH_SIZE", "3");
+
+  dnBatchesGetFullList.mockReset();
+  dnBatchesGetOne.mockReset();
+  dnBatchesUpdate.mockReset();
+  runBatchMock.mockReset();
+
+  viPbAdmin.mockReset();
+  viPbAdmin.mockResolvedValue(makePb() as never);
+
+  // Default: no stale claims, one inbox candidate.
+  dnBatchesGetFullList.mockImplementation(
+    async (opts: { filter?: string } = {}) => {
+      if (opts.filter?.includes("status='analysing'")) return [];
+      if (opts.filter?.includes("status='inbox'")) return [{ id: ID }];
+      throw new Error(`unexpected getFullList filter in test: ${opts.filter}`);
+    },
+  );
+  dnBatchesGetOne.mockImplementation(async (id: string, opts: { fields?: string } = {}) => {
+    if (opts.fields?.startsWith("status,claimed_at")) return { id, status: "analysing" };
+    if (opts.fields === "status") return { id, status: "inbox" };
+    if (opts.fields === "attempts") return { id, attempts: 0 };
+    throw new Error(`unexpected getOne in test: id=${id} fields=${opts.fields}`);
+  });
+  dnBatchesUpdate.mockResolvedValue({ id: ID });
+
+  runBatchMock.mockResolvedValue({
+    status: "processed",
+    notesDetected: 1,
+    notesPromoted: 1,
+    checks: [{ id: "pages_accounted", passed: true, reason: "ok" }],
+  });
+});
+
+afterEach(() => {
+  vi.unstubAllEnvs();
+});
+
+/* ------------------------------------------------------------------ */
+/* Tests                                                               */
+/* ------------------------------------------------------------------ */
+
+describe("POST /api/dn-batches/tick — auth", () => {
+  it("returns 401 when x-ingest-secret is missing", async () => {
+    const res = await POST(makeRequest());
+    expect(res.status).toBe(401);
+    expect(await res.json()).toEqual({ error: "unauthorized" });
+    expect(dnBatchesGetFullList).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(runBatchMock).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it("returns 401 when x-ingest-secret is wrong", async () => {
+    const res = await POST(makeRequest({ headers: { "x-ingest-secret": "wrong" } }));
+    expect(res.status).toBe(401);
+    expect(await res.json()).toEqual({ error: "unauthorized" });
+    expect(dnBatchesGetFullList).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+});
+
+describe("POST /api/dn-batches/tick — reclaim", () => {
+  it("runs the stale-claim query before listing the inbox", async () => {
+    await POST(postWithValidAuth());
+    expect(callIndex("status='analysing' && claimed_at <")).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(0);
+    // The reclaim call comes before the inbox list.
+    const reclaim = callIndex("status='analysing' && claimed_at <");
+    const inbox = callIndex("status='inbox'");
+    expect(reclaim).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(0);
+    expect(inbox).toBeGreaterThan(reclaim);
+  });
+
+  it("uses a 10-minute stale cutoff", async () => {
+    const before = Date.now();
+    await POST(postWithValidAuth());
+    const after = Date.now();
+    const reclaimCall = dnBatchesGetFullList.mock.calls.find(
+      (c) => (c[0] as { filter?: string }).filter?.startsWith("status='analysing'"),
+    );
+    expect(reclaimCall).toBeDefined();
+    const filter = (reclaimCall![0] as { filter: string }).filter;
+    const m = /claimed_at < "([^"]+)"/.exec(filter);
+    expect(m).not.toBeNull();
+    const cutoff = Date.parse(m![1]);
+    // cutoff is `now - 10min`, so it should be between `before - 10min`
+    // and `after - 10min`.
+    expect(cutoff).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(before - 10 * 60 * 1000 - 50);
+    expect(cutoff).toBeLessThanOrEqual(after - 10 * 60 * 1000 + 50);
+  });
+
+  it("resets a stale analysing batch to inbox and bumps attempts (attempts<3)", async () => {
+    dnBatchesGetFullList.mockImplementation(
+      async (opts: { filter?: string } = {}) => {
+        if (opts.filter?.includes("status='analysing'"))
+          return [{ id: "stale1", attempts: 1 }];
+        if (opts.filter?.includes("status='inbox'")) return [{ id: ID }];
+        return [];
+      },
+    );
+
+    const res = await POST(postWithValidAuth());
+    expect(res.status).toBe(200);
+
+    const stale = allUpdates().find((u) => u.id === "stale1");
+    expect(stale).toBeDefined();
+    expect(stale!.data.attempts).toBe(2);
+    expect(stale!.data.status).toBe("inbox");
+    expect(stale!.data.claimed_at).toBe("");
+    expect(stale!.data.last_error).toMatch(/reclaimed/);
+  });
+
+  it("parks a stale analysing batch at needs_attention when attempts hit MAX_ATTEMPTS", async () => {
+    dnBatchesGetFullList.mockImplementation(
+      async (opts: { filter?: string } = {}) => {
+        if (opts.filter?.includes("status='analysing'"))
+          return [{ id: "stale3", attempts: 2 }]; // +1 = 3 → MAX_ATTEMPTS
+        if (opts.filter?.includes("status='inbox'")) return [];
+        return [];
+      },
+    );
+
+    const res = await POST(postWithValidAuth());
+    expect(res.status).toBe(200);
+
+    const stale = allUpdates().find((u) => u.id === "stale3");
+    expect(stale).toBeDefined();
+    expect(stale!.data.attempts).toBe(3);
+    expect(stale!.data.status).toBe("needs_attention");
+  });
+
+  it("does not 500 when the reclaim query itself fails", async () => {
+    dnBatchesGetFullList.mockImplementation(
+      async (opts: { filter?: string } = {}) => {
+        if (opts.filter?.includes("status='analysing'"))
+          throw new Error("PB down");
+        if (opts.filter?.includes("status='inbox'")) return [{ id: ID }];
+        return [];
+      },
+    );
+
+    const res = await POST(postWithValidAuth());
+    expect(res.status).toBe(200);
+    // The inbox tick still runs.
+    expect(runBatchMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+  });
+});
+
+describe("POST /api/dn-batches/tick — list failure", () => {
+  it("returns 500 with error=list_failed when the inbox list throws", async () => {
+    dnBatchesGetFullList.mockImplementation(
+      async (opts: { filter?: string } = {}) => {
+        if (opts.filter?.includes("status='analysing'")) return [];
+        if (opts.filter?.includes("status='inbox'"))
+          throw new Error("PB outage");
+        return [];
+      },
+    );
+
+    const res = await POST(postWithValidAuth());
+    expect(res.status).toBe(500);
+    expect(await res.json()).toEqual({ error: "list_failed" });
+    expect(runBatchMock).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+});
+
+describe("POST /api/dn-batches/tick — happy path", () => {
+  it("claims and runs every candidate up to DN_TICK_BATCH_SIZE", async () => {
+    dnBatchesGetFullList.mockImplementation(
+      async (opts: { filter?: string } = {}) => {
+        if (opts.filter?.includes("status='inbox'"))
+          return [{ id: "a1" }, { id: "a2" }, { id: "a3" }];
+        return [];
+      },
+    );
+
+    const res = await POST(postWithValidAuth());
+    expect(res.status).toBe(200);
+
+    const body = await res.json();
+    expect(body.ok).toBe(true);
+    expect(body.claimed).toBe(3);
+    expect(body.results).toHaveLength(3);
+    expect(runBatchMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(3);
+    expect(runBatchMock.mock.calls[0][1]).toBe("a1");
+    expect(runBatchMock.mock.calls[1][1]).toBe("a2");
+    expect(runBatchMock.mock.calls[2][1]).toBe("a3");
+  });
+
+  it("uses the DN_TICK_BATCH_SIZE env var as the cap", async () => {
+    vi.stubEnv("DN_TICK_BATCH_SIZE", "2");
+    dnBatchesGetFullList.mockImplementation(
+      async (opts: { filter?: string } = {}) => {
+        if (opts.filter?.includes("status='inbox'"))
+          return [{ id: "a1" }, { id: "a2" }, { id: "a3" }];
+        return [];
+      },
+    );
+
+    const res = await POST(postWithValidAuth());
+    const body = await res.json();
+    expect(body.claimed).toBe(2);
+    expect(runBatchMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2);
+    expect(body.results.map((r: { id: string }) => r.id)).toEqual(["a1", "a2"]);
+  });
+
+  it("defaults DN_TICK_BATCH_SIZE to 3 when env is unset", async () => {
+    vi.stubEnv("DN_TICK_BATCH_SIZE", "");
+    dnBatchesGetFullList.mockImplementation(
+      async (opts: { filter?: string } = {}) => {
+        if (opts.filter?.includes("status='inbox'"))
+          return [
+            { id: "a1" },
+            { id: "a2" },
+            { id: "a3" },
+            { id: "a4" },
+            { id: "a5" },
+          ];
+        return [];
+      },
+    );
+
+    const res = await POST(postWithValidAuth());
+    const body = await res.json();
+    expect(body.claimed).toBe(3);
+    expect(runBatchMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(3);
+  });
+
+  it("does nothing when there are no inbox candidates", async () => {
+    dnBatchesGetFullList.mockImplementation(
+      async (opts: { filter?: string } = {}) => {
+        if (opts.filter?.includes("status='inbox'")) return [];
+        return [];
+      },
+    );
+
+    const res = await POST(postWithValidAuth());
+    const body = await res.json();
+    expect(res.status).toBe(200);
+    expect(body).toEqual({ ok: true, claimed: 0, results: [] });
+    expect(runBatchMock).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it("strips checks from the success results", async () => {
+    const res = await POST(postWithValidAuth());
+    const body = await res.json();
+    expect(body.results[0]).toEqual({
+      id: ID,
+      status: "processed",
+      notesDetected: 1,
+      notesPromoted: 1,
+      // checks is intentionally removed — operators see the checks on
+      // the batch record itself, not in the tick log.
+    });
+    expect(body.results[0]).not.toHaveProperty("checks");
+  });
+});
+
+describe("POST /api/dn-batches/tick — compare-and-set claim", () => {
+  it("skips a candidate whose re-read after PATCH shows a status other than 'analysing'", async () => {
+    // claim() reads status='inbox' (passes pre-check), PATCHes to
+    // 'analysing', then re-reads — if the re-read returns anything
+    // other than 'analysing', we lost the compare-and-set. We model
+    // that here by returning a stale 'inbox' on the post-PATCH read.
+    dnBatchesGetOne.mockImplementation(
+      async (id: string, opts: { fields?: string } = {}) => {
+        if (opts.fields === "status") return { id, status: "inbox" };
+        if (opts.fields?.startsWith("status,claimed_at"))
+          return { id, status: "inbox" }; // CAS lost — not analysing
+        if (opts.fields === "attempts") return { id, attempts: 0 };
+        throw new Error(`unexpected getOne: ${id} ${opts.fields}`);
+      },
+    );
+
+    const res = await POST(postWithValidAuth());
+    const body = await res.json();
+    expect(res.status).toBe(200);
+    expect(body.results).toEqual([{ id: ID, skipped: "not_claimed" }]);
+    expect(runBatchMock).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it("skips a candidate whose status was already moved off 'inbox' before we even PATCHed it", async () => {
+    // The first getOne for status=inbox returns something else (e.g.
+    // a duplicate tick raced us). claim() short-circuits to false.
+    dnBatchesGetOne.mockImplementation(
+      async (id: string, opts: { fields?: string } = {}) => {
+        if (opts.fields === "status") return { id, status: "analysing" };
+        if (opts.fields === "attempts") return { id, attempts: 0 };
+        throw new Error(`unexpected getOne: ${id} ${opts.fields}`);
+      },
+    );
+
+    const res = await POST(postWithValidAuth());
+    const body = await res.json();
+    expect(res.status).toBe(200);
+    expect(body.results).toEqual([{ id: ID, skipped: "not_claimed" }]);
+    // The claim PATCH must never have fired.
+    expect(dnBatchesUpdate).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it("runs the batch when the claim succeeds (re-read shows analysing)", async () => {
+    // Default mocks already give us: status='inbox' on the pre-check,
+    // status='analysing' on the post-PATCH re-read. This test just
+    // asserts that the default path produces a real run.
+    const res = await POST(postWithValidAuth());
+    const body = await res.json();
+    expect(body.results[0].id).toBe(ID);
+    expect(body.results[0].status).toBe("processed");
+    expect(runBatchMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+  });
+
+  it("skips when the PATCH itself throws (claim failure short-circuits)", async () => {
+    dnBatchesUpdate.mockRejectedValueOnce(new Error("PB patch failed"));
+
+    const res = await POST(postWithValidAuth());
+    const body = await res.json();
+    expect(res.status).toBe(200);
+    expect(body.results).toEqual([{ id: ID, skipped: "not_claimed" }]);
+    expect(runBatchMock).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+});
+
+describe("POST /api/dn-batches/tick — run failures", () => {
+  it("increments attempts, writes last_error and clears claimed_at on a thrown error", async () => {
+    runBatchMock.mockRejectedValueOnce(new Error("model exploded"));
+    // After the throw, the route re-reads attempts on the same id.
+    dnBatchesGetOne.mockImplementation(
+      async (id: string, opts: { fields?: string } = {}) => {
+        if (opts.fields === "status") return { id, status: "inbox" };
+        if (opts.fields?.startsWith("status,claimed_at"))
+          return { id, status: "analysing" };
+        if (opts.fields === "attempts") return { id, attempts: 1 };
+        throw new Error(`unexpected getOne: ${id} ${opts.fields}`);
+      },
+    );
+
+    const res = await POST(postWithValidAuth());
+    const body = await res.json();
+    expect(res.status).toBe(200);
+    expect(body.results).toEqual([
+      { id: ID, error: "model exploded", attempts: 2 },
+    ]);
+
+    const failure = allUpdates().find(
+      (u) =>
+        u.id === ID &&
+        typeof u.data.last_error === "string" &&
+        !u.data.last_error.includes("reclaimed"),
+    );
+    expect(failure).toBeDefined();
+    expect(failure!.data.attempts).toBe(2);
+    expect(failure!.data.last_error).toBe("model exploded");
+    expect(failure!.data.claimed_at).toBe("");
+    expect(failure!.data.status).toBe("inbox"); // attempts<MAX → back in queue
+  });
+
+  it("parks a failing batch at needs_attention after MAX_ATTEMPTS", async () => {
+    runBatchMock.mockRejectedValueOnce(new Error("permanent failure"));
+    dnBatchesGetOne.mockImplementation(
+      async (id: string, opts: { fields?: string } = {}) => {
+        if (opts.fields === "status") return { id, status: "inbox" };
+        if (opts.fields?.startsWith("status,claimed_at"))
+          return { id, status: "analysing" };
+        if (opts.fields === "attempts") return { id, attempts: 2 };
+        throw new Error(`unexpected getOne: ${id} ${opts.fields}`);
+      },
+    );
+
+    const res = await POST(postWithValidAuth());
+    const body = await res.json();
+    expect(body.results[0].attempts).toBe(3);
+
+    const failure = allUpdates().find(
+      (u) =>
+        u.id === ID &&
+        typeof u.data.last_error === "string" &&
+        !u.data.last_error.includes("reclaimed"),
+    );
+    expect(failure!.data.status).toBe("needs_attention");
+    expect(failure!.data.attempts).toBe(3);
+  });
+
+  it("truncates last_error to 2000 characters", async () => {
+    const longMsg = "x".repeat(3000);
+    runBatchMock.mockRejectedValueOnce(new Error(longMsg));
+    dnBatchesGetOne.mockImplementation(
+      async (id: string, opts: { fields?: string } = {}) => {
+        if (opts.fields === "status") return { id, status: "inbox" };
+        if (opts.fields?.startsWith("status,claimed_at"))
+          return { id, status: "analysing" };
+        if (opts.fields === "attempts") return { id, attempts: 0 };
+        throw new Error(`unexpected getOne: ${id} ${opts.fields}`);
+      },
+    );
+
+    const res = await POST(postWithValidAuth());
+    expect(res.status).toBe(200);
+
+    const failure = allUpdates().find(
+      (u) =>
+        u.id === ID &&
+        typeof u.data.last_error === "string" &&
+        !u.data.last_error.includes("reclaimed"),
+    );
+    expect(failure!.data.last_error).toHaveLength(2000);
+  });
+
+  it("falls back to 0 attempts and still parks the batch if the post-throw attempts read fails", async () => {
+    runBatchMock.mockRejectedValueOnce(new Error("oops"));
+    dnBatchesGetOne.mockImplementation(
+      async (id: string, opts: { fields?: string } = {}) => {
+        if (opts.fields === "status") return { id, status: "inbox" };
+        if (opts.fields?.startsWith("status,claimed_at"))
+          return { id, status: "analysing" };
+        // attempts read throws, the route's catch returns { attempts: 0 }.
+        if (opts.fields === "attempts") throw new Error("PB read failed");
+        throw new Error(`unexpected getOne: ${id} ${opts.fields}`);
+      },
+    );
+
+    const res = await POST(postWithValidAuth());
+    expect(res.status).toBe(200);
+
+    const failure = allUpdates().find(
+      (u) =>
+        u.id === ID &&
+        typeof u.data.last_error === "string" &&
+        !u.data.last_error.includes("reclaimed"),
+    );
+    expect(failure!.data.attempts).toBe(1);
+    // 1 < 3 → back to inbox; we still know the row exists.
+    expect(failure!.data.status).toBe("inbox");
+  });
+
+  it("coerces non-Error throws into a string message", async () => {
+    runBatchMock.mockRejectedValueOnce("just a string");
+    dnBatchesGetOne.mockImplementation(
+      async (id: string, opts: { fields?: string } = {}) => {
+        if (opts.fields === "status") return { id, status: "inbox" };
+        if (opts.fields?.startsWith("status,claimed_at"))
+          return { id, status: "analysing" };
+        if (opts.fields === "attempts") return { id, attempts: 0 };
+        throw new Error(`unexpected getOne: ${id} ${opts.fields}`);
+      },
+    );
+
+    const res = await POST(postWithValidAuth());
+    const body = await res.json();
+    expect(body.results[0].error).toBe("just a string");
+  });
+});
+
+describe("POST /api/dn-batches/tick — admin auth is awaited", () => {
+  it("awaits pbAdmin before doing any PocketBase calls", async () => {
+    let resolveAdmin!: (pb: unknown) => void;
+    viPbAdmin.mockImplementationOnce(
+      () =>
+        new Promise((resolve) => {
+          resolveAdmin = resolve;
+        }),
+    );
+
+    const inflight = POST(postWithValidAuth());
+    // No PB calls have happened yet — the route is awaiting pbAdmin.
+    expect(dnBatchesGetFullList).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    resolveAdmin(makePb());
+    const res = await inflight;
+    expect(res.status).toBe(200);
+  });
+});
+
+describe("POST /api/dn-batches/tick — response shape", () => {
+  it("returns ok=true, claimed and a results array on success", async () => {
+    const res = await POST(postWithValidAuth());
+    const body = await res.json();
+    expect(body).toMatchObject({
+      ok: true,
+      claimed: 1,
+    });
+    expect(Array.isArray(body.results)).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it("mixes skipped + success + error entries in the results array", async () => {
+    dnBatchesGetFullList.mockImplementation(
+      async (opts: { filter?: string } = {}) => {
+        if (opts.filter?.includes("status='inbox'"))
+          return [{ id: "a1" }, { id: "a2" }, { id: "a3" }];
+        return [];
+      },
+    );
+    // a1: claim succeeds → success
+    // a2: pre-claim getOne sees 'analysing' → skipped
+    // a3: claim succeeds but runBatch throws → error
+    dnBatchesGetOne.mockImplementation(
+      async (id: string, opts: { fields?: string } = {}) => {
+        if (id === "a2" && opts.fields === "status")
+          return { id, status: "analysing" };
+        if (opts.fields === "status") return { id, status: "inbox" };
+        if (opts.fields?.startsWith("status,claimed_at"))
+          return { id, status: "analysing" };
+        if (opts.fields === "attempts") return { id, attempts: 0 };
+        throw new Error(`unexpected getOne: ${id} ${opts.fields}`);
+      },
+    );
+    runBatchMock.mockImplementation(async (pb: unknown, id: string) => {
+      if (id === "a3") throw new Error("model timeout");
+      return {
+        status: "processed",
+        notesDetected: 1,
+        notesPromoted: 1,
+        checks: [],
+      };
+    });
+
+    const res = await POST(postWithValidAuth());
+    const body = await res.json();
+    expect(body.claimed).toBe(3);
+    expect(body.results).toEqual([
+      { id: "a1", status: "processed", notesDetected: 1, notesPromoted: 1 },
+      { id: "a2", skipped: "not_claimed" },
+      { id: "a3", error: "model timeout", attempts: 1 },
+    ]);
+  });
+});
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/app/api/dn-batches/tick/route.ts b/src/app/api/dn-batches/tick/route.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..897ca2b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/app/api/dn-batches/tick/route.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,114 @@
+import { NextResponse } from "next/server";
+import { pbAdmin } from "@/lib/pb";
+import { runBatch } from "@/lib/dn-pipeline/run";
+
+export const dynamic = "force-dynamic";
+export const runtime = "nodejs";
+export const maxDuration = 300;
+
+/** A batch claimed longer ago than this is assumed dead and reclaimed. */
+const STALE_CLAIM_MS = 10 * 60 * 1000;
+const MAX_ATTEMPTS = 3;
+
+/**
+ * POST /api/dn-batches/tick
+ *
+ * The only thing n8n calls. Claims up to DN_TICK_BATCH_SIZE inbox
+ * batches and runs each through the pipeline.
+ *
+ * Claiming is compare-and-set on `status`: we PATCH inbox → analysing
+ * and re-read. PocketBase has no transactions, so a losing racer sees a
+ * status that is no longer `inbox` and skips the batch rather than
+ * double-processing it.
+ */
+export async function POST(request: Request) {
+  const secret = request.headers.get("x-ingest-secret");
+  if (!secret || secret !== process.env.N8N_INGEST_SECRET) {
+    return NextResponse.json({ error: "unauthorized" }, { status: 401 });
+  }
+
+  const pb = await pbAdmin();
+  const limit = Number(process.env.DN_TICK_BATCH_SIZE || 3);
+  const results: Record<string, unknown>[] = [];
+
+  await reclaimStale(pb);
+
+  let candidates: { id: string }[] = [];
+  try {
+    candidates = await pb.collection("dn_batches").getFullList({
+      filter: `status='inbox'`,
+      fields: "id",
+      sort: "created",
+    });
+  } catch (err) {
+    console.error("[dn-tick] list failed", err);
+    return NextResponse.json({ error: "list_failed" }, { status: 500 });
+  }
+
+  for (const c of candidates.slice(0, limit)) {
+    const claimed = await claim(pb, c.id);
+    if (!claimed) {
+      results.push({ id: c.id, skipped: "not_claimed" });
+      continue;
+    }
+    try {
+      const r = await runBatch(pb, c.id);
+      results.push({ id: c.id, ...r, checks: undefined });
+    } catch (err) {
+      const message = err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err);
+      console.error("[dn-tick] run failed", { id: c.id, message });
+      const current = await pb
+        .collection("dn_batches")
+        .getOne(c.id, { fields: "attempts" })
+        .catch(() => ({ attempts: 0 }));
+      const attempts = ((current as { attempts?: number }).attempts ?? 0) + 1;
+      await pb.collection("dn_batches").update(c.id, {
+        attempts,
+        last_error: message.slice(0, 2000),
+        claimed_at: "",
+        // Give up after MAX_ATTEMPTS rather than looping forever and
+        // spending model calls on a document that will never parse.
+        status: attempts >= MAX_ATTEMPTS ? "needs_attention" : "inbox",
+      });
+      results.push({ id: c.id, error: message, attempts });
+    }
+  }
+
+  return NextResponse.json({ ok: true, claimed: results.length, results });
+}
+
+async function claim(pb: Awaited<ReturnType<typeof pbAdmin>>, id: string): Promise<boolean> {
+  try {
+    const before = await pb.collection("dn_batches").getOne(id, { fields: "status" });
+    if ((before as { status?: string }).status !== "inbox") return false;
+    await pb.collection("dn_batches").update(id, {
+      status: "analysing",
+      claimed_at: new Date().toISOString(),
+    });
+    const after = await pb.collection("dn_batches").getOne(id, { fields: "status,claimed_at" });
+    return (after as { status?: string }).status === "analysing";
+  } catch {
+    return false;
+  }
+}
+
+async function reclaimStale(pb: Awaited<ReturnType<typeof pbAdmin>>): Promise<void> {
+  const cutoff = new Date(Date.now() - STALE_CLAIM_MS).toISOString();
+  try {
+    const stuck = await pb.collection("dn_batches").getFullList({
+      filter: `status='analysing' && claimed_at < "${cutoff}"`,
+      fields: "id,attempts",
+    });
+    for (const s of stuck) {
+      const attempts = ((s as { attempts?: number }).attempts ?? 0) + 1;
+      await pb.collection("dn_batches").update(s.id, {
+        attempts,
+        status: attempts >= MAX_ATTEMPTS ? "needs_attention" : "inbox",
+        claimed_at: "",
+        last_error: "reclaimed after a stalled run",
+      });
+    }
+  } catch (err) {
+    console.warn("[dn-tick] reclaim failed", err);
+  }
+}
\ No newline at end of file