diff --git a/paperprocessor.go b/paperprocessor.go
index 686521f..31527b8 100644
--- a/paperprocessor.go
+++ b/paperprocessor.go
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"io/ioutil"
 	"net/http"
+	"strings"
 	"time"
 )
 
@@ -184,7 +185,15 @@ Abstract: %s`, criteria, paper.Title, paper.Abstract)
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("invalid response format")
 	}
 
-	decision := string(bytes.TrimSpace(lines[0]))
+	decisionParts := bytes.SplitN(lines[0], []byte(":"), 2)
+	if len(decisionParts) != 2 {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("invalid decision format, expected 'DECISION: [VALUE]'")
+	}
+	decision := strings.ToUpper(string(bytes.TrimSpace(decisionParts[1])))
+	if decision != "ACCEPT" && decision != "REJECT" {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("invalid decision value: %s", decision)
+	}
+
 	explanation := string(bytes.TrimSpace(bytes.Join(lines[1:], []byte("\n"))))
 
 	return &decisionResult{