diff --git a/scripts/banlist_metrics.py b/scripts/banlist_metrics.py
index 9ca86c1..2055082 100644
--- a/scripts/banlist_metrics.py
+++ b/scripts/banlist_metrics.py
@@ -112,16 +112,21 @@ def write_chart(snaps: List[Snapshot], image_path: str) -> None:
     ax.set_ylabel("IP count")
     ax.grid(True, linestyle=":", linewidth=0.5)
 
-    # Reduce x-axis label crowding
+    # Reduce x-axis label crowding; keep ticks but rotate labels for readability
     try:
         locator = mdates.AutoDateLocator(minticks=4, maxticks=8)
         formatter = mdates.ConciseDateFormatter(locator)
         ax.xaxis.set_major_locator(locator)
         ax.xaxis.set_major_formatter(formatter)
     except Exception:
-        # Fallback: rotate labels if ConciseDateFormatter isn't available
+        pass
+
+    # Always rotate for readability regardless of formatter availability
+    try:
+        fig.autofmt_xdate(rotation=45, ha="right")
+    except Exception:
         for label in ax.get_xticklabels():
-            label.set_rotation(30)
+            label.set_rotation(45)
             label.set_horizontalalignment("right")
 
     # Add slight horizontal margins to prevent clipping at edges