diff --git a/src/services/pdfService.js b/src/services/pdfService.js
index c9a2d30..37fe5c3 100644
--- a/src/services/pdfService.js
+++ b/src/services/pdfService.js
@@ -97,10 +97,9 @@ function formatMicrLine(routingNo, accountNo, checkNo) {
  */
 function generateCheckPdf(account, checks, fields) {
   return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
+    console.log(`[pdf] MICR font path: ${MICR_FONT_PATH}`);
     const hasMicrFont = fs.existsSync(MICR_FONT_PATH);
-    if (!hasMicrFont) {
-      console.warn(`MICR font not found at ${MICR_FONT_PATH}. MICR line will use fallback font.`);
-    }
+    console.log(`[pdf] MICR font exists: ${hasMicrFont}`);
 
     const doc = new PDFDocument({
       size: [
@@ -112,7 +111,14 @@ function generateCheckPdf(account, checks, fields) {
     });
 
     if (hasMicrFont) {
-      doc.registerFont('MICR', MICR_FONT_PATH);
+      try {
+        doc.registerFont('MICR', MICR_FONT_PATH);
+        console.log('[pdf] MICR font registered successfully');
+      } catch (err) {
+        console.error(`[pdf] MICR font registration failed: ${err.message}`);
+      }
+    } else {
+      console.warn(`[pdf] MICR font not found — falling back to Courier`);
     }
 
     const buffers = [];
@@ -206,10 +212,15 @@ function generateCheckPdf(account, checks, fields) {
       const micrPos = pt(0.3, MICR_Y_IN);
 
       if (hasMicrFont) {
-        doc.font('MICR').fontSize(12).fillColor('#000000')
-           .text(micrLine, micrPos.x, micrPos.y, { lineBreak: false });
+        try {
+          doc.font('MICR').fontSize(12).fillColor('#000000')
+             .text(micrLine, micrPos.x, micrPos.y, { lineBreak: false });
+        } catch (err) {
+          console.error(`[pdf] Failed to render MICR font on slot ${slot}: ${err.message}`);
+          doc.font('Courier').fontSize(10).fillColor('#000000')
+             .text(micrLine, micrPos.x, micrPos.y, { lineBreak: false });
+        }
       } else {
-        // Fallback: Courier approximation (will not scan, but useful for dev)
         doc.font('Courier').fontSize(10).fillColor('#000000')
            .text(micrLine, micrPos.x, micrPos.y, { lineBreak: false });
       }