diff --git a/client/lib/core/router/app_router.dart b/client/lib/core/router/app_router.dart
index 70378a0..5de2657 100644
--- a/client/lib/core/router/app_router.dart
+++ b/client/lib/core/router/app_router.dart
@@ -22,21 +22,38 @@ import '../../features/products/product_provider.dart';
 import '../../shared/models/recipe.dart';
 import '../../shared/models/saved_recipe.dart';
 
+// Notifies GoRouter when auth state changes without recreating the router.
+class _RouterNotifier extends ChangeNotifier {
+  _RouterNotifier(Ref ref) {
+    ref.listen<AuthState>(authProvider, (_, __) => notifyListeners());
+  }
+}
+
 final routerProvider = Provider<GoRouter>((ref) {
-  final authState = ref.watch(authProvider);
+  final notifier = _RouterNotifier(ref);
+  ref.onDispose(notifier.dispose);
 
   return GoRouter(
-    initialLocation: '/home',
+    initialLocation: '/loading',
+    refreshListenable: notifier,
     redirect: (context, state) {
+      // Use ref.read — this runs inside GoRouter, not inside a Riverpod build.
+      final authState = ref.read(authProvider);
       final isLoggedIn = authState.status == AuthStatus.authenticated;
       final isAuthRoute = state.matchedLocation.startsWith('/auth');
 
-      if (authState.status == AuthStatus.unknown) return null;
+      // Show splash until the stored-token check completes.
+      if (authState.status == AuthStatus.unknown) return '/loading';
       if (!isLoggedIn && !isAuthRoute) return '/auth/login';
       if (isLoggedIn && isAuthRoute) return '/home';
       return null;
     },
     routes: [
+      // Splash shown while auth status is unknown.
+      GoRoute(
+        path: '/loading',
+        builder: (_, __) => const _SplashScreen(),
+      ),
       GoRoute(
         path: '/auth/login',
         builder: (_, __) => const LoginScreen(),
@@ -118,6 +135,15 @@ final routerProvider = Provider<GoRouter>((ref) {
   );
 });
 
+class _SplashScreen extends StatelessWidget {
+  const _SplashScreen();
+
+  @override
+  Widget build(BuildContext context) => const Scaffold(
+        body: Center(child: CircularProgressIndicator()),
+      );
+}
+
 class _InvalidRoute extends StatelessWidget {
   const _InvalidRoute();