diff --git a/backend/src/controllers/memberController.js b/backend/src/controllers/memberController.js
index ab36e42..71db53e 100644
--- a/backend/src/controllers/memberController.js
+++ b/backend/src/controllers/memberController.js
@@ -514,14 +514,15 @@ const getAvailableUsersForGroup = async (req, res) => {
     const offset = (page - 1) * limit;
 
     // Get users who are NOT already members of this group
+    const { sequelize } = require('../config/database');
     const users = await User.findAndCountAll({
       where: {
         ...whereClause,
         id: {
-          [Op.notIn]: require('sequelize').literal(`
+          [Op.notIn]: sequelize.literal(`(
             SELECT user_id FROM group_members 
             WHERE group_id = '${groupId}' AND status = 'active'
-          `)
+          )`)
         }
       },
       attributes: ['id', 'full_name', 'mobile_number', 'email', 'address', 'emergency_contact', 'created_at'],