diff --git a/app/lib/__tests__/db.server.test.ts b/app/lib/__tests__/db.server.test.ts
index 1ce1fd8..4f2193f 100644
--- a/app/lib/__tests__/db.server.test.ts
+++ b/app/lib/__tests__/db.server.test.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,324 @@
 import { describe, test, expect } from "vitest";
-import { needsTransaction } from "../db.server";
+import { needsTransaction, analyzeSQL } from "../db.server";
+
+describe("analyzeSQL - RETURNING clause detection", () => {
+  describe("SELECT queries", () => {
+    test("detects basic SELECT query", () => {
+      const sql = "SELECT * FROM users;";
+      const result = analyzeSQL(sql);
+      expect(result.isSelectQuery).toBe(true);
+      expect(result.hasReturning).toBe(false);
+      expect(result.shouldCaptureRows).toBe(true);
+    });
+
+    test("detects SELECT with WHERE clause", () => {
+      const sql = "SELECT id, name FROM users WHERE active = true;";
+      const result = analyzeSQL(sql);
+      expect(result.isSelectQuery).toBe(true);
+      expect(result.hasReturning).toBe(false);
+      expect(result.shouldCaptureRows).toBe(true);
+    });
+
+    test("detects multiline SELECT query", () => {
+      const sql = `
+        SELECT
+          id,
+          name,
+          email
+        FROM users
+        WHERE active = true;
+      `;
+      const result = analyzeSQL(sql);
+      expect(result.isSelectQuery).toBe(true);
+      expect(result.shouldCaptureRows).toBe(true);
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe("UPDATE with RETURNING", () => {
+    test("detects UPDATE with RETURNING *", () => {
+      const sql = "UPDATE charges SET amount = 500 WHERE id = 123 RETURNING *;";
+      const result = analyzeSQL(sql);
+      expect(result.isSelectQuery).toBe(false);
+      expect(result.hasReturning).toBe(true);
+      expect(result.shouldCaptureRows).toBe(true);
+    });
+
+    test("detects UPDATE with RETURNING specific columns", () => {
+      const sql =
+        "UPDATE charges SET amount = 500 WHERE id = 123 RETURNING id, amount, updated_at;";
+      const result = analyzeSQL(sql);
+      expect(result.isSelectQuery).toBe(false);
+      expect(result.hasReturning).toBe(true);
+      expect(result.shouldCaptureRows).toBe(true);
+    });
+
+    test("detects multiline UPDATE with RETURNING", () => {
+      const sql = `
+        UPDATE charges
+        SET
+          amount = 500,
+          campus_id = 'abc-123'
+        WHERE stripe_charge_id = 'ch_xyz'
+        RETURNING id, amount, campus_id, updated_at;
+      `;
+      const result = analyzeSQL(sql);
+      expect(result.isSelectQuery).toBe(false);
+      expect(result.hasReturning).toBe(true);
+      expect(result.shouldCaptureRows).toBe(true);
+    });
+
+    test("detects Cameron's backfill query with RETURNING", () => {
+      const sql = `
+        UPDATE charges
+        SET
+          amount = (se.stripe_event_data -> 'data' -> 'object' -> 'amount')::INTEGER,
+          campus_id = CASE
+            WHEN se.stripe_event_data -> 'data' -> 'object' -> 'metadata' -> 'campusId' IS NOT NULL
+            THEN SPLIT_PART(se.stripe_event_data -> 'data' -> 'object' -> 'metadata' ->> 'campusId', ':', 2)::UUID
+            ELSE NULL
+          END
+        FROM stripe_events se
+        WHERE se.stripe_event_data -> 'data' -> 'object' ->> 'id' = charges.stripe_charge_id
+          AND charges.amount IS NULL
+        RETURNING charges.id, charges.stripe_charge_id, charges.amount;
+      `;
+      const result = analyzeSQL(sql);
+      expect(result.isSelectQuery).toBe(false);
+      expect(result.hasReturning).toBe(true);
+      expect(result.shouldCaptureRows).toBe(true);
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe("INSERT with RETURNING", () => {
+    test("detects INSERT with RETURNING", () => {
+      const sql =
+        "INSERT INTO users (name, email) VALUES ('John', 'john@example.com') RETURNING id, created_at;";
+      const result = analyzeSQL(sql);
+      expect(result.isSelectQuery).toBe(false);
+      expect(result.hasReturning).toBe(true);
+      expect(result.shouldCaptureRows).toBe(true);
+    });
+
+    test("detects multiline INSERT with RETURNING *", () => {
+      const sql = `
+        INSERT INTO users (name, email, active)
+        VALUES ('Jane Doe', 'jane@example.com', true)
+        RETURNING *;
+      `;
+      const result = analyzeSQL(sql);
+      expect(result.isSelectQuery).toBe(false);
+      expect(result.hasReturning).toBe(true);
+      expect(result.shouldCaptureRows).toBe(true);
+    });
+
+    test("detects bulk INSERT with RETURNING", () => {
+      const sql = `
+        INSERT INTO test_table (name, value)
+        VALUES
+          ('test1', 100),
+          ('test2', 200),
+          ('test3', 300)
+        RETURNING id, name, value;
+      `;
+      const result = analyzeSQL(sql);
+      expect(result.hasReturning).toBe(true);
+      expect(result.shouldCaptureRows).toBe(true);
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe("DELETE with RETURNING", () => {
+    test("detects DELETE with RETURNING", () => {
+      const sql =
+        "DELETE FROM old_records WHERE created_at < '2020-01-01' RETURNING id, created_at;";
+      const result = analyzeSQL(sql);
+      expect(result.isSelectQuery).toBe(false);
+      expect(result.hasReturning).toBe(true);
+      expect(result.shouldCaptureRows).toBe(true);
+    });
+
+    test("detects DELETE with RETURNING *", () => {
+      const sql = "DELETE FROM temp_data WHERE processed = true RETURNING *;";
+      const result = analyzeSQL(sql);
+      expect(result.hasReturning).toBe(true);
+      expect(result.shouldCaptureRows).toBe(true);
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe("DML without RETURNING", () => {
+    test("UPDATE without RETURNING should not capture rows", () => {
+      const sql = "UPDATE charges SET amount = 500 WHERE id = 123;";
+      const result = analyzeSQL(sql);
+      expect(result.isSelectQuery).toBe(false);
+      expect(result.hasReturning).toBe(false);
+      expect(result.shouldCaptureRows).toBe(false);
+    });
+
+    test("INSERT without RETURNING should not capture rows", () => {
+      const sql = "INSERT INTO users (name) VALUES ('test');";
+      const result = analyzeSQL(sql);
+      expect(result.isSelectQuery).toBe(false);
+      expect(result.hasReturning).toBe(false);
+      expect(result.shouldCaptureRows).toBe(false);
+    });
+
+    test("DELETE without RETURNING should not capture rows", () => {
+      const sql = "DELETE FROM users WHERE id = 123;";
+      const result = analyzeSQL(sql);
+      expect(result.isSelectQuery).toBe(false);
+      expect(result.hasReturning).toBe(false);
+      expect(result.shouldCaptureRows).toBe(false);
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe("Edge cases with comments", () => {
+    test("ignores RETURNING in single-line comment", () => {
+      const sql = `
+        -- This query is not returning anything
+        UPDATE charges SET amount = 500 WHERE id = 123;
+      `;
+      const result = analyzeSQL(sql);
+      expect(result.hasReturning).toBe(false);
+      expect(result.shouldCaptureRows).toBe(false);
+    });
+
+    test("ignores RETURNING in multi-line comment", () => {
+      const sql = `
+        /*
+         * Note: We could use RETURNING here but chose not to
+         * for performance reasons
+         */
+        UPDATE charges SET amount = 500 WHERE id = 123;
+      `;
+      const result = analyzeSQL(sql);
+      expect(result.hasReturning).toBe(false);
+      expect(result.shouldCaptureRows).toBe(false);
+    });
+
+    test("detects RETURNING when also in comments", () => {
+      const sql = `
+        -- Update with RETURNING clause
+        UPDATE charges
+        SET amount = 500
+        WHERE id = 123
+        RETURNING id, amount; -- Return the updated row
+      `;
+      const result = analyzeSQL(sql);
+      expect(result.hasReturning).toBe(true);
+      expect(result.shouldCaptureRows).toBe(true);
+    });
+
+    test("handles mixed comments and RETURNING", () => {
+      const sql = `
+        /* Block comment */
+        UPDATE charges SET amount = 500 -- inline comment
+        WHERE id = 123
+        RETURNING *; -- return everything
+      `;
+      const result = analyzeSQL(sql);
+      expect(result.hasReturning).toBe(true);
+      expect(result.shouldCaptureRows).toBe(true);
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe("Case insensitivity", () => {
+    test("detects lowercase returning", () => {
+      const sql = "update charges set amount = 500 returning id;";
+      const result = analyzeSQL(sql);
+      expect(result.hasReturning).toBe(true);
+      expect(result.shouldCaptureRows).toBe(true);
+    });
+
+    test("detects mixed case ReTuRnInG", () => {
+      const sql = "UPDATE charges SET amount = 500 ReTuRnInG id;";
+      const result = analyzeSQL(sql);
+      expect(result.hasReturning).toBe(true);
+      expect(result.shouldCaptureRows).toBe(true);
+    });
+
+    test("detects lowercase select", () => {
+      const sql = "select * from users;";
+      const result = analyzeSQL(sql);
+      expect(result.isSelectQuery).toBe(true);
+      expect(result.shouldCaptureRows).toBe(true);
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe("Multi-statement queries", () => {
+    test("detects RETURNING in first statement", () => {
+      const sql = `
+        UPDATE table1 SET x = 1 RETURNING *;
+        UPDATE table2 SET y = 2;
+      `;
+      const result = analyzeSQL(sql);
+      expect(result.hasReturning).toBe(true);
+      expect(result.shouldCaptureRows).toBe(true);
+    });
+
+    test("detects RETURNING in second statement", () => {
+      const sql = `
+        UPDATE table1 SET x = 1;
+        UPDATE table2 SET y = 2 RETURNING *;
+      `;
+      const result = analyzeSQL(sql);
+      expect(result.hasReturning).toBe(true);
+      expect(result.shouldCaptureRows).toBe(true);
+    });
+
+    test("detects RETURNING in both statements", () => {
+      const sql = `
+        UPDATE table1 SET x = 1 RETURNING id;
+        UPDATE table2 SET y = 2 RETURNING id;
+      `;
+      const result = analyzeSQL(sql);
+      expect(result.hasReturning).toBe(true);
+      expect(result.shouldCaptureRows).toBe(true);
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe("Complex real-world queries", () => {
+    test("handles subqueries with RETURNING", () => {
+      const sql = `
+        UPDATE charges c
+        SET campus_id = (SELECT id FROM campuses WHERE is_default = true)
+        WHERE c.campus_id IS NULL
+        RETURNING c.id, c.campus_id;
+      `;
+      const result = analyzeSQL(sql);
+      expect(result.hasReturning).toBe(true);
+      expect(result.shouldCaptureRows).toBe(true);
+    });
+
+    test("handles CTE (WITH clause) with RETURNING", () => {
+      const sql = `
+        WITH updated_charges AS (
+          UPDATE charges SET processed = true WHERE amount > 100
+          RETURNING id, amount
+        )
+        SELECT * FROM updated_charges;
+      `;
+      const result = analyzeSQL(sql);
+      // This starts with WITH but contains RETURNING and SELECT
+      expect(result.hasReturning).toBe(true);
+      expect(result.shouldCaptureRows).toBe(true);
+    });
+
+    test("handles JOIN in UPDATE with RETURNING", () => {
+      const sql = `
+        UPDATE charges c
+        SET
+          amount = se.amount,
+          campus_id = se.campus_id
+        FROM stripe_events se
+        WHERE se.charge_id = c.stripe_charge_id
+          AND c.amount IS NULL
+        RETURNING c.id, c.amount, c.campus_id;
+      `;
+      const result = analyzeSQL(sql);
+      expect(result.hasReturning).toBe(true);
+      expect(result.shouldCaptureRows).toBe(true);
+    });
+  });
+});
 
 describe("needsTransaction", () => {
   test("single statement with semicolon returns false", () => {
diff --git a/app/lib/db.server.ts b/app/lib/db.server.ts
index 5f37f6c..5690c9b 100644
--- a/app/lib/db.server.ts
+++ b/app/lib/db.server.ts
@@ -54,6 +54,30 @@ export function needsTransaction(sql: string): boolean {
   return semicolons >= 2;
 }
 
+// Helper function to clean SQL and detect query characteristics
+export function analyzeSQL(sql: string): {
+  isSelectQuery: boolean;
+  hasReturning: boolean;
+  shouldCaptureRows: boolean;
+} {
+  // Remove comments and whitespace to detect query type properly
+  const sqlClean = sql
+    .replace(/--.*$/gm, "") // Remove single-line comments
+    .replace(/\/\*[\s\S]*?\*\//g, "") // Remove multi-line comments
+    .trim()
+    .toUpperCase();
+
+  const isSelectQuery = sqlClean.startsWith("SELECT");
+  const hasReturning = sqlClean.includes("RETURNING");
+  const shouldCaptureRows = isSelectQuery || hasReturning;
+
+  return {
+    isSelectQuery,
+    hasReturning,
+    shouldCaptureRows,
+  };
+}
+
 // Execute SQL against target database
 export async function executeSQL(
   target: "staging" | "production",
@@ -87,18 +111,11 @@ export async function executeSQL(
 
     const executionTime = Date.now() - start;
 
-    // Check if this is a SELECT query (has result rows)
-    // Remove comments and whitespace to detect SELECT queries properly
-    const sqlClean = sql
-      .replace(/--.*$/gm, "") // Remove single-line comments
-      .replace(/\/\*[\s\S]*?\*\//g, "") // Remove multi-line comments
-      .trim()
-      .toUpperCase();
-    const isSelectQuery = sqlClean.startsWith("SELECT");
-    const resultRows =
-      isSelectQuery && result.rows && result.rows.length > 0
-        ? result.rows
-        : undefined;
+    // Analyze SQL to determine if we should capture result rows
+    const { shouldCaptureRows: shouldCapture } = analyzeSQL(sql);
+    const shouldCaptureRows =
+      shouldCapture && result.rows && result.rows.length > 0;
+    const resultRows = shouldCaptureRows ? result.rows : undefined;
 
     // Limit result rows to prevent storing huge result sets (max 100 rows)
     const limitedRows =
@@ -106,11 +123,9 @@ export async function executeSQL(
         ? resultRows.slice(0, 100)
         : resultRows;
 
-    // For SELECT queries, use rows.length; for DML/DDL, use rowCount
-    const rowsAffected = isSelectQuery
-      ? result.rows
-        ? result.rows.length
-        : 0
+    // For SELECT/RETURNING queries, use rows.length; for DML/DDL, use rowCount
+    const rowsAffected = shouldCaptureRows
+      ? result.rows.length
       : result.rowCount || 0;
 
     return {