diff --git a/container/agent-runner/src/db/messages-in.ts b/container/agent-runner/src/db/messages-in.ts
index b3e713d..8192350 100644
--- a/container/agent-runner/src/db/messages-in.ts
+++ b/container/agent-runner/src/db/messages-in.ts
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ export function getPendingMessages(): MessageInRow[] {
     .prepare(
       `SELECT * FROM messages_in
        WHERE status = 'pending'
-         AND (process_after IS NULL OR process_after <= datetime('now'))
+         AND (process_after IS NULL OR datetime(process_after) <= datetime('now'))
        ORDER BY timestamp ASC`,
     )
     .all() as MessageInRow[];
diff --git a/src/db/session-db.ts b/src/db/session-db.ts
index 32cd8f4..8327123 100644
--- a/src/db/session-db.ts
+++ b/src/db/session-db.ts
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ export function countDueMessages(db: Database.Database): number {
       .prepare(
         `SELECT COUNT(*) as count FROM messages_in
        WHERE status = 'pending'
-         AND (process_after IS NULL OR process_after <= datetime('now'))`,
+         AND (process_after IS NULL OR datetime(process_after) <= datetime('now'))`,
       )
       .get() as { count: number }
   ).count;