diff --git a/backend/main.py b/backend/main.py
index 9a96f91..c42e324 100644
--- a/backend/main.py
+++ b/backend/main.py
@@ -1644,11 +1644,14 @@ def my_contribution(user=Depends(get_current_user)):
         (f'%"from_user": "{display}"%',)
     ).fetchall()
     adopted_names = list(set(r["target_name"] for r in adopted_rows if r["target_name"]))
-    # pending: recipes still owned by user in public library
-    pending_rows = conn.execute(
-        "SELECT name FROM recipes WHERE owner_id = ?", (user["id"],)
-    ).fetchall()
-    pending_names = [r["name"] for r in pending_rows]
+    # pending: recipes still owned by user in public library (skip admin — admin owns all public recipes)
+    if user.get("role") == "admin":
+        pending_names = []
+    else:
+        pending_rows = conn.execute(
+            "SELECT name FROM recipes WHERE owner_id = ?", (user["id"],)
+        ).fetchall()
+        pending_names = [r["name"] for r in pending_rows]
     # rejected: unique recipe names rejected (not already adopted or pending)
     rejected_rows = conn.execute(
         "SELECT DISTINCT target_name FROM audit_log WHERE action = 'reject_recipe' AND detail LIKE ?",