diff --git a/server-rs/crates/api-server/src/editor_project.rs b/server-rs/crates/api-server/src/editor_project.rs
index 481188301..aebeb5965 100644
--- a/server-rs/crates/api-server/src/editor_project.rs
+++ b/server-rs/crates/api-server/src/editor_project.rs
@@ -6292,6 +6292,7 @@ pub(crate) async fn enqueue_editor_background_removal_for_owner(
     mut payload: EditorBackgroundRemovalRequest,
     external_idempotency_key: Option<&str>,
 ) -> Result<ExternalGenerationJobRecord, AppError> {
+    normalize_editor_background_removal_options(&mut payload)?;
     let external_request_identity = external_idempotency_key
         .map(|idempotency_key| {
             external_api_editor_generation_request_identity(
@@ -6403,6 +6404,59 @@ pub(crate) async fn enqueue_editor_background_removal_for_owner(
     }
 }
 
+fn normalize_editor_background_removal_options(
+    payload: &mut EditorBackgroundRemovalRequest,
+) -> Result<(), AppError> {
+    let mode = payload
+        .background_mode
+        .take()
+        .map(|value| value.trim().to_ascii_lowercase())
+        .filter(|value| !value.is_empty())
+        .unwrap_or_else(|| "complex".to_string());
+    if mode != "complex" && mode != "flat" {
+        return Err(
+            AppError::from_status(StatusCode::BAD_REQUEST).with_details(json!({
+                "provider": "editor-background-removal",
+                "field": "backgroundMode",
+                "message": "backgroundMode must be complex or flat",
+            })),
+        );
+    }
+    let color = payload
+        .screen_color
+        .take()
+        .map(|value| value.trim().to_string())
+        .filter(|value| !value.is_empty());
+    if mode == "complex" && color.is_some() {
+        return Err(
+            AppError::from_status(StatusCode::BAD_REQUEST).with_details(json!({
+                "provider": "editor-background-removal",
+                "field": "screenColor",
+                "message": "screenColor is only supported when backgroundMode is flat",
+            })),
+        );
+    }
+    if let Some(color) = color.as_deref()
+        && color != "auto"
+        && !(color.len() == 7
+            && color.starts_with('#')
+            && color[1..]
+                .chars()
+                .all(|character| character.is_ascii_hexdigit()))
+    {
+        return Err(
+            AppError::from_status(StatusCode::BAD_REQUEST).with_details(json!({
+                "provider": "editor-background-removal",
+                "field": "screenColor",
+                "message": "screenColor must be auto or #RRGGBB",
+            })),
+        );
+    }
+    payload.background_mode = Some(mode);
+    payload.screen_color = color;
+    Ok(())
+}
+
 fn resolve_editor_background_removal_canvas_target(
     project_id: Option<&str>,
     target_layer_id: Option<&str>,