diff --git a/server.py b/server.py
index 8b0e768..a88430c 100644
--- a/server.py
+++ b/server.py
@@ -32,12 +32,23 @@ from typing import Optional, List
 
 # ─── Config ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
-VALID_CATEGORIES = {"Furniture", "Appliances", "Utensils & Serveware", "Equipment", "Other"}
-VALID_STATUSES = {"active", "maintenance", "retired"}
 DB_PATH = os.environ.get("CANTEEN_DB_PATH", str(Path(__file__).parent / "assets.db"))
 UPLOADS_DIR = Path(os.environ.get("CANTEEN_UPLOADS_DIR", str(Path(__file__).parent / "uploads")))
 STATIC_DIR = Path(__file__).parent / "static"
 
+def _load_categories() -> set:
+    """Load valid category names from the categories lookup table."""
+    try:
+        conn = sqlite3.connect(DB_PATH)
+        names = {r[0] for r in conn.execute("SELECT name FROM categories").fetchall()}
+        conn.close()
+        return names if names else {"Other"}
+    except Exception:
+        return {"Furniture", "Appliances", "Utensils & Serveware", "Equipment", "Other"}
+
+VALID_CATEGORIES = _load_categories()
+VALID_STATUSES = {"active", "maintenance", "retired"}
+
 
 # ─── Database ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────