diff --git a/client/contexts/AuthContext.tsx b/client/contexts/AuthContext.tsx
index 683254d0..fada6c2c 100644
--- a/client/contexts/AuthContext.tsx
+++ b/client/contexts/AuthContext.tsx
@@ -30,11 +30,43 @@ interface AuthContextType {
 }
 
 const AuthContext = createContext<AuthContextType | undefined>(undefined);
+let warnedMissingProvider = false;
+
+const missingProviderFallback: AuthContextType = {
+  user: null,
+  profile: null,
+  roles: [],
+  session: null,
+  loading: true,
+  profileComplete: false,
+  signIn: async () => {
+    throw new Error("AuthProvider is not mounted. Please ensure your app is wrapped with <AuthProvider>.");
+  },
+  signUp: async () => {
+    throw new Error("AuthProvider is not mounted. Please ensure your app is wrapped with <AuthProvider>.");
+  },
+  signInWithOAuth: async () => {
+    throw new Error("AuthProvider is not mounted. Please ensure your app is wrapped with <AuthProvider>.");
+  },
+  signOut: async () => {
+    throw new Error("AuthProvider is not mounted. Please ensure your app is wrapped with <AuthProvider>.");
+  },
+  updateProfile: async () => {
+    throw new Error("AuthProvider is not mounted. Please ensure your app is wrapped with <AuthProvider>.");
+  },
+  refreshProfile: async () => {
+    throw new Error("AuthProvider is not mounted. Please ensure your app is wrapped with <AuthProvider>.");
+  },
+};
 
 export const useAuth = () => {
   const context = useContext(AuthContext);
   if (context === undefined) {
-    throw new Error("useAuth must be used within an AuthProvider");
+    if (!warnedMissingProvider) {
+      console.warn("useAuth called without an AuthProvider. Falling back to safe defaults.");
+      warnedMissingProvider = true;
+    }
+    return missingProviderFallback;
   }
   return context;
 };