diff --git a/backend/routes/settings.py b/backend/routes/settings.py
index 41f672eb..9ce6616c 100644
--- a/backend/routes/settings.py
+++ b/backend/routes/settings.py
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ async def update_capture_settings_endpoint(
     patch: models.CaptureSettingsUpdate,
     db: Session = Depends(get_db),
 ):
-    return settings_service.update_capture_settings(db, patch.model_dump(exclude_none=True))
+    return settings_service.update_capture_settings(db, patch.model_dump(exclude_unset=True))
 
 
 @router.get("/generation", response_model=models.GenerationSettingsResponse)
@@ -33,4 +33,4 @@ async def update_generation_settings_endpoint(
     patch: models.GenerationSettingsUpdate,
     db: Session = Depends(get_db),
 ):
-    return settings_service.update_generation_settings(db, patch.model_dump(exclude_none=True))
+    return settings_service.update_generation_settings(db, patch.model_dump(exclude_unset=True))
diff --git a/backend/services/settings.py b/backend/services/settings.py
index 4171ac97..bf938ba2 100644
--- a/backend/services/settings.py
+++ b/backend/services/settings.py
@@ -38,6 +38,24 @@ def _get_or_create_generation_row(db: Session) -> DBGenerationSettings:
     return row
 
 
+def _apply_patch(row: Any, patch: dict[str, Any]) -> None:
+    """Apply a partial update to a settings row.
+
+    Values explicitly set to ``None`` are honored only for columns where the
+    schema allows it — clearing ``default_playback_voice_id`` works, but a
+    ``None`` for a non-nullable field is dropped rather than crashing the
+    request. Unknown keys are ignored.
+    """
+    columns = type(row).__table__.columns
+    for key, value in patch.items():
+        col = columns.get(key)
+        if col is None:
+            continue
+        if value is None and not col.nullable:
+            continue
+        setattr(row, key, value)
+
+
 def get_capture_settings(db: Session) -> DBCaptureSettings:
     """Return the capture settings row, creating it with defaults if missing."""
     return _get_or_create_capture_row(db)
@@ -45,9 +63,7 @@ def get_capture_settings(db: Session) -> DBCaptureSettings:
 
 def update_capture_settings(db: Session, patch: dict[str, Any]) -> DBCaptureSettings:
     row = _get_or_create_capture_row(db)
-    for key, value in patch.items():
-        if value is not None and hasattr(row, key):
-            setattr(row, key, value)
+    _apply_patch(row, patch)
     db.commit()
     db.refresh(row)
     return row
@@ -60,9 +76,7 @@ def get_generation_settings(db: Session) -> DBGenerationSettings:
 
 def update_generation_settings(db: Session, patch: dict[str, Any]) -> DBGenerationSettings:
     row = _get_or_create_generation_row(db)
-    for key, value in patch.items():
-        if value is not None and hasattr(row, key):
-            setattr(row, key, value)
+    _apply_patch(row, patch)
     db.commit()
     db.refresh(row)
     return row