diff --git a/openshorts/telegram_bot.py b/openshorts/telegram_bot.py
index af47911..bf70778 100644
--- a/openshorts/telegram_bot.py
+++ b/openshorts/telegram_bot.py
@@ -237,7 +237,11 @@ async def process_video(bot, url: str):
     env = os.environ.copy()
     env["NEXTCLOUD_TARGET"] = target
     env["PYTHONUNBUFFERED"] = "1"
+    # CRITICAL: Remove PYTHONPATH so the system protobuf doesn't conflict with
+    # the venv's protobuf used by mediapipe → fixes 'SymbolDatabase.GetPrototype' crash
+    env.pop("PYTHONPATH", None)
     log.info(f"[process] Temp output dir: {temp_output}")
+    log.info(f"[process] PYTHONPATH cleared from subprocess env (mediapipe safety)")
 
     # 4. Build command — main.py MUST run with the viral venv Python
     cmd = [