diff --git a/backend/routers/projects.py b/backend/routers/projects.py
index 498c68c..cab2a34 100644
--- a/backend/routers/projects.py
+++ b/backend/routers/projects.py
@@ -404,6 +404,26 @@ def _build_combined_location_data(
 # Project List & Overview
 # ============================================================================
 
+@router.get("/list-json")
+async def get_projects_list_json(db: Session = Depends(get_db)):
+    """JSON list of assignable projects (id, name, status) for pickers such as
+    the pending-deployment classify modal. Excludes deleted/archived/completed,
+    matching the default /list view. (The /list endpoint returns HTML cards, so
+    JSON consumers must use this one.)"""
+    projects = (
+        db.query(Project)
+        .filter(Project.status.notin_(["deleted", "archived", "completed"]))
+        .order_by(Project.name)
+        .all()
+    )
+    return JSONResponse({
+        "projects": [
+            {"id": p.id, "name": p.name, "status": p.status}
+            for p in projects
+        ]
+    })
+
+
 @router.get("/list", response_class=HTMLResponse)
 async def get_projects_list(
     request: Request,
diff --git a/templates/admin/pending_deployments.html b/templates/admin/pending_deployments.html
index 2157f52..1d22ffd 100644
--- a/templates/admin/pending_deployments.html
+++ b/templates/admin/pending_deployments.html
@@ -295,9 +295,10 @@ function closeClassifyModal() {
 
 async function _loadProjects() {
     try {
-        const r = await fetch('/api/projects/list');
+        // Must be the JSON endpoint — /api/projects/list returns HTML cards.
+        const r = await fetch('/api/projects/list-json');
         const data = r.ok ? await r.json() : { projects: [] };
-        // Endpoint shape varies; tolerate either { projects: [...] } or a flat array.
+        // Tolerate either { projects: [...] } or a flat array.
         _pdState.projectsCache = Array.isArray(data) ? data : (data.projects || []);
     } catch (e) {
         _pdState.projectsCache = [];