diff --git a/data_juicer/core/data/ray_dataset.py b/data_juicer/core/data/ray_dataset.py
index 7c68b1e987..97953939c2 100644
--- a/data_juicer/core/data/ray_dataset.py
+++ b/data_juicer/core/data/ray_dataset.py
@@ -445,9 +445,16 @@ def _read_stream(self, f: "pyarrow.NativeFile", path: str):
             while True:
                 try:
                     batch = reader.read_next_batch()
-                    table = pyarrow.Table.from_batches([batch], schema=schema)
                     if schema is None:
-                        schema = table.schema
+                        schema = batch.schema
+                    elif not schema.equals(batch.schema):
+                        try:
+                            schema = pyarrow.unify_schemas([schema, batch.schema])
+                        except (pyarrow.lib.ArrowInvalid, pyarrow.lib.ArrowTypeError) as e:
+                            raise ValueError(
+                                f"Schema incompatibility in {path}: {e}. " f"Cannot unify {schema} with {batch.schema}"
+                            ) from e
+                    table = pyarrow.Table.from_batches([batch], schema=schema)
                     yield table
                 except StopIteration:
                     return
diff --git a/tests/core/data/test_ray_dataset.py b/tests/core/data/test_ray_dataset.py
index b440503ca0..4c850fb83b 100644
--- a/tests/core/data/test_ray_dataset.py
+++ b/tests/core/data/test_ray_dataset.py
@@ -303,5 +303,27 @@ def test_get(self):
         self.assertIsInstance(row["score"], int)
 
 
+  
+      @TEST_TAG("ray")
+      def test_read_json_stream_schema_evolution(self):
+          """Regression test for #936: null -> concrete type schema evolution."""
+          from data_juicer.core.data.ray_dataset import read_json_stream
+          import pyarrow.json as js
+  
+          jsonl_path = os.path.join(self.tmp_dir, "schema_evolution.jsonl")
+          rows = [{"id": i, "meta": {"url": None}} for i in range(30)]
+          rows.append({"id": 999, "meta": {"url": "https://example.com"}})
+          with open(jsonl_path, "w") as f:
+              for row in rows:
+                  f.write(json.dumps(row, ensure_ascii=False) + "\n")
+  
+          read_options = js.ReadOptions(use_threads=False, block_size=256)
+          dataset = read_json_stream(
+              jsonl_path, override_num_blocks=1, read_options=read_options
+          )
+          result = dataset.take_all()
+          self.assertEqual(len(result), 31)
+          self.assertEqual(result[-1]["id"], 999)
+          self.assertEqual(result[-1]["meta"]["url"], "https://example.com")
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     unittest.main()