diff --git a/api/next.php b/api/next.php
index 4067fd6..96f8fe9 100644
--- a/api/next.php
+++ b/api/next.php
@@ -3,12 +3,11 @@
 require_once __DIR__ . '/../includes/config.php';
 require_once __DIR__ . '/../includes/functions.php';
 require_once __DIR__ . '/../includes/jsondb.php';
-require_once __DIR__ . '/../includes/srs_queue.php';
 require_once __DIR__ . '/../includes/auth.php';
 
 requireLogin();
 
-header('Content-Type: application/json; charset=utf-8');
+header('Content-Type: application/json');
 
 $user = $_SESSION['user'];
 
@@ -18,25 +17,33 @@ $list = $_GET['list'] ?? '';
 $file = listPath($user, $lang, $list);
 $data = JsonDB::read($file);
 
-if (!isset($data['words']) || !is_array($data['words'])) {
-    echo json_encode(['error' => 'list_not_found']);
+if (!isset($data['words'])) {
+    echo json_encode(['error' => 'no_list']);
     exit;
 }
 
 $words = $data['words'];
-
 $today = date('Y-m-d');
 
+/**
+ * 1. eerst due words
+ */
 $due = array_filter($words, function ($w) use ($today) {
     return !isset($w['nextReview']) || $w['nextReview'] <= $today;
 });
 
+/**
+ * 2. fallback als alles “not due”
+ */
 if (count($due) === 0) {
     $due = $words;
 }
 
-// pak altijd eerste uit gesorteerde set (stabiel gedrag)
+/**
+ * 3. BELANGRIJK: shuffle zodat het niet altijd hetzelfde eerste item is
+ */
 $due = array_values($due);
+shuffle($due);
 
 $word = $due[0];