diff --git a/api/ask.php b/api/ask.php
index 3f5c6ce..f1207ae 100644
--- a/api/ask.php
+++ b/api/ask.php
@@ -12,6 +12,9 @@ $input = dbnToolsJsonInput(25000);
 $language = dbnToolsNormalizeLanguage($input['language'] ?? 'en');
 
 dbnToolsWithTelemetry('ask', $language, function () use ($input, $language): array {
-    $question = dbnToolsInjectDocContent($input, dbnToolsString($input, 'question', 4000));
+    $question = dbnToolsInjectDocContent($input, dbnToolsString($input, 'question', 4000, false));
+    if (mb_strlen(trim($question), 'UTF-8') < 5) {
+        dbnToolsAbort('Enter a question or select a document before running.', 422, 'empty_text');
+    }
     return (new DbnLegalToolsService())->ask($question, $language);
 });
diff --git a/api/redact.php b/api/redact.php
index 5f59acc..e9efa22 100644
--- a/api/redact.php
+++ b/api/redact.php
@@ -11,7 +11,10 @@ if ($ftRemaining >= 0) { header('X-Credits-Remaining: ' . $ftRemaining); }
 $input = dbnToolsJsonInput(400000);
 
 dbnToolsWithTelemetry('redact', '', function () use ($input): array {
-    $text     = dbnToolsInjectDocContent($input, dbnToolsString($input, 'text', 128000));
+    $text     = dbnToolsInjectDocContent($input, dbnToolsString($input, 'text', 128000, false));
+    if (mb_strlen(trim($text), 'UTF-8') < 10) {
+        dbnToolsAbort('Paste text, upload a file, or select a document before running.', 422, 'empty_text');
+    }
     $mode     = (string)($input['mode']     ?? 'standard');
     $region   = dbnToolsNormalizeRegion($input['region']   ?? 'nordic');
     $language = dbnToolsNormalizeLanguage($input['language'] ?? 'en');
diff --git a/api/summarize.php b/api/summarize.php
index 98f868a..62220d8 100644
--- a/api/summarize.php
+++ b/api/summarize.php
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ $emit = static function (string $event, array $payload): void {
 };
 
 try {
-    $text = dbnToolsInjectDocContent($input, dbnToolsString($input, 'text', 128000));
+    $text = dbnToolsInjectDocContent($input, dbnToolsString($input, 'text', 128000, false));
 
     if (mb_strlen(trim($text), 'UTF-8') < 50) {
         $emit('error', [
diff --git a/api/timeline.php b/api/timeline.php
index 8eb450d..7e92137 100644
--- a/api/timeline.php
+++ b/api/timeline.php
@@ -14,7 +14,10 @@ $input = dbnToolsJsonInput(400000);
 $language = dbnToolsNormalizeLanguage($input['language'] ?? 'en');
 
 dbnToolsWithTelemetry('timeline', $language, function () use ($input, $language, $ftUid): array {
-    $text = dbnToolsInjectDocContent($input, dbnToolsString($input, 'text', 128000));
+    $text = dbnToolsInjectDocContent($input, dbnToolsString($input, 'text', 128000, false));
+    if (mb_strlen(trim($text), 'UTF-8') < 10) {
+        dbnToolsAbort('Paste text, upload a file, or select a document before running.', 422, 'empty_text');
+    }
 
     $validEngines = ['azure_mini', 'azure_full', 'gpu'];
     $engine = in_array((string)($input['engine'] ?? ''), $validEngines, true)