app/auth/callback/page.tsx

@@ -26,10 +26,17 @@ function AuthCallbackContent() {
     try {
       result = await exchangeAuthCode(code, codeVerifier, redirectUri)
     } catch {
-      // * Stale build — cached JS has old Server Action hashes. Hard reload to fix.
+      // * Stale build — cached JS has old Server Action hashes. Hard reload once to fix.
+      const key = 'pulse_reload_for_stale_build'
+      if (!sessionStorage.getItem(key)) {
+        sessionStorage.setItem(key, '1')
         window.location.reload()
         return
       }
+      sessionStorage.removeItem(key)
+      setError('Something went wrong. Please try logging in again.')
+      return
+    }
     if (result.success && result.user) {
       // * Fetch full profile (including display_name) before navigating so header shows correct name on first paint
       try {

lib/auth/context.tsx

@@ -135,12 +135,21 @@ export function AuthProvider({ children }: { children: React.ReactNode }) {
         let session: Awaited<ReturnType<typeof getSessionAction>> = null
         try {
           session = await getSessionAction()
+          sessionStorage.removeItem('pulse_reload_for_stale_build')
         } catch {
           // * Stale build — browser has cached JS with old Server Action hashes.
-          // * Force a hard reload to fetch fresh bundles from the server.
+          // * Force a hard reload once to fetch fresh bundles. Guard prevents infinite loop.
+          const key = 'pulse_reload_for_stale_build'
+          if (!sessionStorage.getItem(key)) {
+            sessionStorage.setItem(key, '1')
             window.location.reload()
             return
           }
+          sessionStorage.removeItem(key)
+          // * Reload didn't fix it — treat as no session
+          setLoading(false)
+          return
+        }
 
         // * 2. If no access_token but refresh_token may exist, try refresh (fixes 15-min inactivity logout)
         if (!session && typeof window !== 'undefined') {
@@ -153,9 +162,16 @@ export function AuthProvider({ children }: { children: React.ReactNode }) {
             try {
               session = await getSessionAction()
             } catch {
+              const key = 'pulse_reload_for_stale_build'
+              if (!sessionStorage.getItem(key)) {
+                sessionStorage.setItem(key, '1')
                 window.location.reload()
                 return
               }
+              sessionStorage.removeItem(key)
+              setLoading(false)
+              return
+            }
           }
         }