diff --git a/app/worker.py b/app/worker.py
index cc8181f..733f761 100644
--- a/app/worker.py
+++ b/app/worker.py
@@ -1686,6 +1686,10 @@ def _normalize_video_file(path: Path, info: dict[str, str]) -> Path:
     if current_codec == VIDEO_NORMALIZE_CODEC and ext_match:
         return path
 
+    if current_codec.startswith("av1") or current_codec in {"libaom-av1", "av01"}:
+        print(f"[normalize] skip: {path.name} already AV1; leaving as-is", flush=True)
+        return path
+
     encoder = _resolve_video_encoder(VIDEO_NORMALIZE_CODEC)
     final_path = path if ext_match else path.with_suffix(VIDEO_NORMALIZE_EXTENSION)
     tmp_path = final_path.parent / f"{final_path.stem}.tmp{VIDEO_NORMALIZE_EXTENSION}"