diff --git a/nfoguard-web/api/web_routes.py b/nfoguard-web/api/web_routes.py
index 6c304a2..4b41b20 100644
--- a/nfoguard-web/api/web_routes.py
+++ b/nfoguard-web/api/web_routes.py
@@ -1136,8 +1136,8 @@ async def get_populate_status():
 def register_web_routes(app, dependencies):
     """Register all web API routes with FastAPI app"""
     from fastapi import Request, Response
-    
-    # Dashboard and stats endpoints  
+
+    # Dashboard and stats endpoints
     @app.get("/api/dashboard")
     async def api_dashboard():
         return await get_dashboard_stats(dependencies)
@@ -1259,8 +1259,14 @@ def register_web_routes(app, dependencies):
 
     # Database population endpoints
     @app.post("/admin/populate-database")
-    async def api_populate_database(background_tasks: BackgroundTasks, media_type: str = "both"):
+    async def api_populate_database(request: Request, background_tasks: BackgroundTasks):
         """Populate database from Radarr/Sonarr"""
+        try:
+            data = await request.json()
+            media_type = data.get("media_type", "both")
+        except Exception:
+            # Fallback to query parameter if JSON parsing fails
+            media_type = request.query_params.get("media_type", "both")
         return await populate_database(background_tasks, media_type, dependencies)
 
     @app.get("/api/populate/status")