diff --git a/src/app/api/circles/[id]/invite/route.ts b/src/app/api/circles/[id]/invite/route.ts
index 37a10dd..c942c3d 100644
--- a/src/app/api/circles/[id]/invite/route.ts
+++ b/src/app/api/circles/[id]/invite/route.ts
@@ -8,26 +8,26 @@ export async function POST(
   _req: Request,
   { params }: { params: Promise<{ id: string }> }
 ) {
-  const auth = await requireFamily();
-  if (!auth.success) return NextResponse.json({ error: auth.error }, { status: auth.status });
-
-  const familyId = auth.session!.familyId!;
-  const { id: circleId } = await params;
-
-  // Only admins can create invites
-  const rows = await sql.unsafe(
-    `SELECT role FROM circle_members WHERE circle_id = $1 AND family_id = $2`,
-    [circleId, familyId]
-  );
-  if (!rows[0] || rows[0].role !== "admin") {
-    return NextResponse.json({ error: "Only circle admins can create invites" }, { status: 403 });
-  }
-
-  // Cryptographically random 32-byte token (64 hex chars) — unguessable
-  const token     = randomBytes(32).toString("hex");
-  const expiresAt = new Date(Date.now() + 7 * 24 * 60 * 60 * 1000); // 7 days
-
   try {
+    const auth = await requireFamily();
+    if (!auth.success) return NextResponse.json({ error: auth.error }, { status: auth.status });
+
+    const familyId = auth.session!.familyId!;
+    const { id: circleId } = await params;
+
+    // Only admins can create invites
+    const rows = await sql.unsafe(
+      `SELECT role FROM circle_members WHERE circle_id = $1 AND family_id = $2`,
+      [circleId, familyId]
+    );
+    if (!rows[0] || rows[0].role !== "admin") {
+      return NextResponse.json({ error: "Only circle admins can create invites" }, { status: 403 });
+    }
+
+    // Cryptographically random 32-byte token (64 hex chars) — unguessable
+    const token     = randomBytes(32).toString("hex");
+    const expiresAt = new Date(Date.now() + 7 * 24 * 60 * 60 * 1000); // 7 days
+
     const [invite] = await sql.unsafe(
       `INSERT INTO circle_invites (circle_id, token, created_by, expires_at)
        VALUES ($1, $2, $3, $4)