diff --git a/hbd/server/http.py b/hbd/server/http.py
index 25d0a24..34294b9 100644
--- a/hbd/server/http.py
+++ b/hbd/server/http.py
@@ -389,10 +389,14 @@ async def start(
 
         ej = journal_mod.get_events_journal(config)
         if ej.enabled and ej.journal_path.is_file():
-            events, more = journal_mod.read_events(
-                ej.journal_dir, ej.journal_file,
-                limit=limit, before=before, host=host_f, level=level_f, q=q_f,
-                predicate=visible,
+            # File scan can be large; keep it off the loop that services UDP/WS
+            events, more = await asyncio.get_running_loop().run_in_executor(
+                None,
+                lambda: journal_mod.read_events(
+                    ej.journal_dir, ej.journal_file,
+                    limit=limit, before=before, host=host_f, level=level_f, q=q_f,
+                    predicate=visible,
+                ),
             )
         else:
             # Journal disabled or not yet written: serve the in-memory ring
diff --git a/hbd/server/journal.py b/hbd/server/journal.py
index 3450c65..5b25030 100644
--- a/hbd/server/journal.py
+++ b/hbd/server/journal.py
@@ -379,6 +379,8 @@ def filter_events(
     q_l = q.lower() if q else None
     out: List[Dict[str, Any]] = []
     for ev in events:
+        if not isinstance(ev, dict):
+            continue
         ts = ev.get('ts')
         if before is not None and (not isinstance(ts, (int, float)) or ts >= before):
             continue
diff --git a/hbd/server/notify.py b/hbd/server/notify.py
index e53aa1c..c5b9f27 100644
--- a/hbd/server/notify.py
+++ b/hbd/server/notify.py
@@ -142,8 +142,8 @@ def _journal_event(msg: dict):
     if _loop is None or not _loop.is_running():
         return
     from . import journal as journal_mod
-    ej = journal_mod.get_events_journal()
-    if not ej.enabled:
+    ej = journal_mod._events_journal_instance
+    if ej is None or not ej.enabled:
         return
     try:
         asyncio.run_coroutine_threadsafe(ej.log_event(msg), _loop)
diff --git a/tests/test_events_journal.py b/tests/test_events_journal.py
index 444409e..2de05b2 100644
--- a/tests/test_events_journal.py
+++ b/tests/test_events_journal.py
@@ -220,6 +220,18 @@ def test_filter_events_over_in_memory_ring():
     assert more is True
 
 
+def test_filter_events_skips_non_dict_entries():
+    ring = [
+        {"ts": 1.0, "host": "h", "level": "INFO", "service": None, "message": "a"},
+        "legacy string entry",
+        None,
+        {"ts": 2.0, "host": "h", "level": "INFO", "service": None, "message": "b"},
+    ]
+    events, more = journal.filter_events(reversed(ring), limit=10)
+    assert [e["ts"] for e in events] == [2.0, 1.0]
+    assert more is False
+
+
 # ---- eventlog wiring --------------------------------------------------------