diff --git a/deploy/services/upload.py b/deploy/services/upload.py
index 960a5fc..c34f155 100644
--- a/deploy/services/upload.py
+++ b/deploy/services/upload.py
@@ -92,12 +92,20 @@ def store_document(filename: str, file_data: bytes, contract_id: str = "",
     if contract_id:
         try:
             supplements.delete_by_document(contract_id, filename)
-        except Exception:
-            pass
+        except Exception as e:
+            import logging
+            logging.getLogger(__name__).warning("delete_by_document failed: %s", e)
 
     doc = documents.insert(filename, mime, b64, batch_id=batch_id, zip_source=zip_source,
                            content_hash=content_hash)
 
+    parsed = parse_file(filename, file_data)
+    if parsed and parsed.get("status") == "parsed":
+        documents.set_parsed(doc["id"], parsed["elements"])
+    elif parsed and parsed.get("status") == "error":
+        documents.set_error(doc["id"], parsed.get("error", "parse failed"))
+        return {"ok": False, "error": f"parse failed: {parsed.get('error')}", "doc_id": doc["id"]}
+
     if not contract_id:
         from datetime import datetime
         now = datetime.now()
@@ -109,12 +117,6 @@ def store_document(filename: str, file_data: bytes, contract_id: str = "",
 
     supplements.insert(contract_id, doc["id"], supp_type)
 
-    parsed = parse_file(filename, file_data)
-    if parsed and parsed.get("status") == "parsed":
-        documents.set_parsed(doc["id"], parsed["elements"])
-    elif parsed and parsed.get("status") == "error":
-        documents.set_error(doc["id"], parsed.get("error", "parse failed"))
-
     return {
         "ok": True,
         "doc_id": doc["id"],
@@ -122,6 +124,7 @@ def store_document(filename: str, file_data: bytes, contract_id: str = "",
         "filename": filename,
         "size": len(file_data),
         "parsed": parsed,
+        "warning": "file may be unreadable" if not parsed or not parsed.get("element_count") else None,
     }