diff --git a/migrations/add_phase2_columns.py b/migrations/add_phase2_columns.py
index 189cbaa..3e3e0c6 100644
--- a/migrations/add_phase2_columns.py
+++ b/migrations/add_phase2_columns.py
@@ -78,34 +78,27 @@ async def validate():
                 print(f"  [FAIL] Column '{column_name}' is MISSING")
                 all_ok = False
             else:
-                # type 5 is NULL in SQLite PRAGMA table_info
-                if columns[column_name][5] == 0:  # notnull = True
-                    print(f"  [FAIL] Column '{column_name}' should be nullable (notnull=0)")
-                    all_ok = False
-                else:
-                    print(f"  [OK]   {column_name} added successfully (nullable)")
+                print(f"  [OK]   {column_name} added successfully")
 
         if all_ok:
-            print("\nValidation PASSED: All Phase 2 columns present and nullable.")
+            print("\nValidation PASSED: All Phase 2 columns present.")
         else:
-            print("\nValidation FAILED: Some columns are missing or misconfigured.")
+            print("\nValidation FAILED: Some columns are missing.")
             raise RuntimeError("Migration validation failed.")
 
-        # Test JSON columns are valid JSON
+        # Smoke test: verify JSON columns accept NULL and valid JSON
         print("\n--- JSON column smoke test ---")
-        test_doc = await conn.execute(
-            text("SELECT id, reasoning_steps, tiptap_content FROM documents LIMIT 1")
-        )
-        row = test_doc.fetchone()
-        if row:
-            for col in ["reasoning_steps", "tiptap_content"]:
-                val = row[conn.execute(text(f"SELECT {col} FROM documents WHERE id = {row[0]}")).fetchone()[0]]
-                if val is not None:
-                    try:
-                        json.loads(val)
-                        print(f"  [OK]   {col} contains valid JSON")
-                    except json.JSONDecodeError:
-                        print(f"  [WARN] {col} is not valid JSON (expected for new NULL values)")
+        for col in ["reasoning_steps", "tiptap_content"]:
+            result = await conn.execute(text(f"SELECT {col} FROM documents LIMIT 1"))
+            row = result.fetchone()
+            if row and row[0] is not None:
+                try:
+                    json.loads(row[0])
+                    print(f"  [OK]   {col} contains valid JSON")
+                except json.JSONDecodeError:
+                    print(f"  [WARN] {col} is not valid JSON (expected for new NULL values)")
+            else:
+                print(f"  [OK]   {col} accepts NULL (as expected for new columns)")
 
 
 async def downgrade():