diff --git a/deepdoc/parser/mineru_parser.py b/deepdoc/parser/mineru_parser.py
index 90c33573c..b369f9122 100644
--- a/deepdoc/parser/mineru_parser.py
+++ b/deepdoc/parser/mineru_parser.py
@@ -539,6 +539,21 @@ class MinerUParser(RAGFlowPdfParser):
                 if nested_alt.exists():
                     subdir = nested_alt.parent
                     json_file = nested_alt
+                else:
+                    # Try vlm subdirectory (for vlm-http-client backend)
+                    vlm_path = output_dir / "vlm" / f"{file_stem}_content_list.json"
+                    self.logger.info(f"[MinerU] Trying vlm subdirectory: {vlm_path}")
+                    attempted.append(vlm_path)
+                    if vlm_path.exists():
+                        subdir = vlm_path.parent
+                        json_file = vlm_path
+                    else:
+                        vlm_safe = output_dir / "vlm" / f"{safe_stem}_content_list.json"
+                        self.logger.info(f"[MinerU] Trying vlm subdirectory with sanitized name: {vlm_safe}")
+                        attempted.append(vlm_safe)
+                        if vlm_safe.exists():
+                            subdir = vlm_safe.parent
+                            json_file = vlm_safe
 
         if not json_file:
             parse_subdir = None