diff --git a/utils/api.ts b/utils/api.ts
index 2b941f9..4fc0419 100644
--- a/utils/api.ts
+++ b/utils/api.ts
@@ -12,6 +12,6 @@ export const fetchNotificationCount = async (): Promise<number> => {
   // FIX: requires backend to return 401 when not logged in (currently returns 200 even if not logged in)
   if (!response.ok) throw new Error(`HTTP ${response.status}`);
   const html = await response.text();
-  const match = html.match(/(\d+)/);
+  const match = html.match(/>(\d+\+?)</);
   return match ? parseInt(match[1], 10) : 0;
 };