diff --git a/app/app.json b/app/app.json
index 3b6ab44..75800ba 100644
--- a/app/app.json
+++ b/app/app.json
@@ -3,14 +3,14 @@
     "name": "BigBrainParking",
     "slug": "bigbrainparking",
     "scheme": "bigbrainparking",
-    "version": "0.1.5",
+    "version": "0.1.6",
     "orientation": "portrait",
     "userInterfaceStyle": "automatic",
     "newArchEnabled": true,
     "icon": "./assets/icon.png",
     "android": {
       "package": "top.mowden.bigbrainparking",
-      "versionCode": 5,
+      "versionCode": 6,
       "edgeToEdgeEnabled": true,
       "adaptiveIcon": {
         "foregroundImage": "./assets/adaptive-icon.png",
diff --git a/app/src/auth/AuthContext.tsx b/app/src/auth/AuthContext.tsx
index 3b5e098..7f31272 100644
--- a/app/src/auth/AuthContext.tsx
+++ b/app/src/auth/AuthContext.tsx
@@ -37,18 +37,28 @@ export function AuthProvider({ children }: { children: React.ReactNode }) {
     };
   }, []);
 
-  // On launch: bootstrap (seeds SessionId + feature flags) and probe for an
-  // existing token by attempting an authenticated read.
+  // On launch: bootstrap (seeds SessionId + feature flags), then verify any
+  // stored token BEFORE showing the app. A stale/expired token doesn't 401 —
+  // /api/User just returns an empty body, so getUserDetail() resolves to
+  // undefined without throwing. Require real user data to count as signed in,
+  // and clear the dead token otherwise, so an expired session lands on the
+  // login screen at open instead of failing later on the map.
   useEffect(() => {
     (async () => {
       try {
         const v = await ps.getApplicationValidity();
         setValidity(v);
         const existing = await ps.tokens.getAuthToken();
-        if (existing) {
-          await ps.getUserDetail(); // 401 throws -> treated as signed out
+        if (!existing) {
+          setStatus('signedOut');
+          return;
+        }
+        const user = await ps.getUserDetail().catch(() => null);
+        const valid = !!(user && (user.PersonalPhone || user.PersonalEmailAddress));
+        if (valid) {
           setStatus('signedIn');
         } else {
+          await ps.logoutLocal(); // drop the dead token so the login screen is clean
           setStatus('signedOut');
         }
       } catch {