diff --git a/.github/workflows/backend-ci.yml b/.github/workflows/backend-ci.yml
index 2b9ecba..dcb9bf8 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/backend-ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/backend-ci.yml
@@ -36,7 +36,8 @@ jobs:
       - name: Run pylint (backend only on changed files)
         run: |
           source venv/bin/activate
-          changed_files=$(git diff --name-only HEAD^..HEAD | grep '\.py$' || true)
+          # Compare against the remote main branch to handle the first commit
+          changed_files=$(git diff --name-only origin/main...HEAD | grep '\.py$' || true)
           if [ -n "$changed_files" ]; then
             pylint $changed_files --exit-zero | tee pylint.log
           else