diff --git a/middleware.ts b/middleware.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f227e2f41
--- /dev/null
+++ b/middleware.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+import { NextRequest, NextResponse } from "next/server";
+
+/**
+ * Middleware to ensure payment callback paths are never blocked by auth.
+ *
+ * DuluPay sends server-to-server GET/POST callbacks without any session
+ * cookie.  Without this middleware, the request may be intercepted and
+ * redirected to the login page (HTTP 307), causing payment notifications
+ * to fail silently and points never being credited.
+ */
+export function middleware(_request: NextRequest) {
+  return NextResponse.next();
+}
+
+export const config = {
+  matcher: ["/api/payment/:path*"],
+};