diff --git a/src/main/automation/automation-conditions.ts b/src/main/automation/automation-conditions.ts
index c7ce40f0..12f3fdc4 100644
--- a/src/main/automation/automation-conditions.ts
+++ b/src/main/automation/automation-conditions.ts
@@ -10,39 +10,37 @@ export function matchesEventConfig(
   if (sourceDepartment && ctx.department && sourceDepartment !== ctx.department) {
     return false;
   }
-  try {
-    const conditions = JSON.parse(configJson) as Record<string, unknown>;
-    if (Object.keys(conditions).length === 0) return true;
-    if (conditions.status && ctx.newStatus && conditions.status !== ctx.newStatus) return false;
-    if (conditions.previousStatus && ctx.previousStatus && conditions.previousStatus !== ctx.previousStatus) return false;
-    if (conditions.priority) {
-      try {
-        const task = ctx.taskId ? db.getTask(ctx.taskId) : null;
-        if (task && task.priority !== conditions.priority) return false;
-        // If task was deleted, skip this condition instead of rejecting the rule.
-      } catch {
-        // Entity missing — treat as condition not applicable, continue matching.
-      }
+  // Surface malformed condition JSON to the caller (automation service) so the
+  // operator sees it in logs instead of silently filtering out the rule.
+  const conditions = JSON.parse(configJson) as Record<string, unknown>;
+  if (Object.keys(conditions).length === 0) return true;
+  if (conditions.status && ctx.newStatus && conditions.status !== ctx.newStatus) return false;
+  if (conditions.previousStatus && ctx.previousStatus && conditions.previousStatus !== ctx.previousStatus) return false;
+  if (conditions.priority) {
+    try {
+      const task = ctx.taskId ? db.getTask(ctx.taskId) : null;
+      if (task && task.priority !== conditions.priority) return false;
+      // If task was deleted, skip this condition instead of rejecting the rule.
+    } catch {
+      // Entity missing — treat as condition not applicable, continue matching.
     }
-    if (typeof conditions.budgetThresholdPct === "number" && ctx.agentId) {
-      try {
-        const agent = db.getAgent(ctx.agentId);
-        if (agent.budgetMonthlyUsd > 0) {
-          const utilization = agent.spentMonthlyUsd / agent.budgetMonthlyUsd;
-          if (utilization < (conditions.budgetThresholdPct as number) / 100) return false;
-        }
-        // If budget is 0 (unlimited), skip budget condition instead of rejecting.
-      } catch {
-        // Agent missing — treat as condition not applicable, continue matching.
-      }
-    }
-    if (conditions.taskId && ctx.taskId && conditions.taskId !== ctx.taskId) return false;
-    if (conditions.projectId && ctx.projectId && conditions.projectId !== ctx.projectId) return false;
-    if (conditions.agentId && ctx.agentId && conditions.agentId !== ctx.agentId) return false;
-    return true;
-  } catch {
-    return false;
   }
+  if (typeof conditions.budgetThresholdPct === "number" && ctx.agentId) {
+    try {
+      const agent = db.getAgent(ctx.agentId);
+      if (agent.budgetMonthlyUsd > 0) {
+        const utilization = agent.spentMonthlyUsd / agent.budgetMonthlyUsd;
+        if (utilization < (conditions.budgetThresholdPct as number) / 100) return false;
+      }
+      // If budget is 0 (unlimited), skip budget condition instead of rejecting.
+    } catch {
+      // Agent missing — treat as condition not applicable, continue matching.
+    }
+  }
+  if (conditions.taskId && ctx.taskId && conditions.taskId !== ctx.taskId) return false;
+  if (conditions.projectId && ctx.projectId && conditions.projectId !== ctx.projectId) return false;
+  if (conditions.agentId && ctx.agentId && conditions.agentId !== ctx.agentId) return false;
+  return true;
 }
 
 export function matchesConditions(