diff --git a/server/src/curfu/gene_services.py b/server/src/curfu/gene_services.py
index 7cdbca89..f6d7ee6d 100644
--- a/server/src/curfu/gene_services.py
+++ b/server/src/curfu/gene_services.py
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ def __init__(self, suggestions_file: Path | None = None) -> None:
     @staticmethod
     def get_normalized_gene(
         term: str, normalizer: QueryHandler
-    ) -> tuple[str, str, str | str | None]:
+    ) -> tuple[str, str, str | None]:
         """Get normalized ID given gene symbol/label/alias.
 
         :param term: user-entered gene term
diff --git a/server/src/curfu/routers/utilities.py b/server/src/curfu/routers/utilities.py
index 7bd39d66..c221fe1c 100644
--- a/server/src/curfu/routers/utilities.py
+++ b/server/src/curfu/routers/utilities.py
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ def get_mane_transcripts(request: Request, term: str) -> dict:
     normalized = request.app.state.fusor.gene_normalizer.normalize(term)
     if normalized.match_type == gene_schemas.MatchType.NO_MATCH:
         return {"warnings": [f"Normalization error: {term}"], "transcripts": None}
-    if not normalized.gene.id.replace("normalize.gene.", "").lower().startswith("hgnc"):
+    if not normalized.normalized_id.startswith("hgnc"):
         return {"warnings": [f"No HGNC symbol: {term}"], "transcripts": None}
     symbol = normalized.gene.label
     transcripts = request.app.state.fusor.cool_seq_tool.mane_transcript_mappings.get_gene_mane_data(