diff --git a/components/sidebar.tsx b/components/sidebar.tsx
index e9491851..035cf74f 100644
--- a/components/sidebar.tsx
+++ b/components/sidebar.tsx
@@ -57,10 +57,13 @@ export function Sidebar({ isOpen, onClose }: SidebarProps) {
     pathname
   });
 
-  // Redirect to signin if no session
+  // Show loading state while session is being checked
+  if (status === 'loading') {
+    return null;
+  }
+
+  // Show nothing if not authenticated (middleware will handle redirect)
   if (status === 'unauthenticated') {
-    console.log('No session, redirecting to signin');
-    router.push('/signin');
     return null;
   }
 
diff --git a/middleware.ts b/middleware.ts
index 4c34f904..a302d1b7 100644
--- a/middleware.ts
+++ b/middleware.ts
@@ -29,8 +29,13 @@ export default withAuth(
             return true;
           }
           
-          // Require authentication for protected API endpoints
-          return !!token;
+          // For protected API endpoints, check if the request has a valid session
+          if (!token) {
+            // Return 401 for API routes instead of redirecting
+            return false;
+          }
+          
+          return true;
         }
         
         // For all other routes, require a valid token