diff --git a/internal/storage/sqlite/epics.go b/internal/storage/sqlite/epics.go
index ccf4e1fc..d226bad0 100644
--- a/internal/storage/sqlite/epics.go
+++ b/internal/storage/sqlite/epics.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package sqlite
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"database/sql"
 
 	"github.com/steveyegge/beads/internal/types"
 )
@@ -49,11 +50,12 @@ func (s *SQLiteStorage) GetEpicsEligibleForClosure(ctx context.Context) ([]*type
 	for rows.Next() {
 		var epic types.Issue
 		var totalChildren, closedChildren int
+		var assignee sql.NullString
 
 		err := rows.Scan(
 			&epic.ID, &epic.Title, &epic.Description, &epic.Design,
 			&epic.AcceptanceCriteria, &epic.Notes, &epic.Status,
-			&epic.Priority, &epic.IssueType, &epic.Assignee,
+			&epic.Priority, &epic.IssueType, &assignee,
 			&epic.EstimatedMinutes, &epic.CreatedAt, &epic.UpdatedAt,
 			&epic.ClosedAt, &epic.ExternalRef,
 			&totalChildren, &closedChildren,
@@ -62,6 +64,11 @@ func (s *SQLiteStorage) GetEpicsEligibleForClosure(ctx context.Context) ([]*type
 			return nil, err
 		}
 
+		// Convert sql.NullString to string
+		if assignee.Valid {
+			epic.Assignee = assignee.String
+		}
+
 		eligibleForClose := false
 		if totalChildren > 0 && closedChildren == totalChildren {
 			eligibleForClose = true