diff --git a/frontend/src/components/stories/StoryCard.tsx b/frontend/src/components/stories/StoryCard.tsx
index 8c9659c..e3730a3 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/stories/StoryCard.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/stories/StoryCard.tsx
@@ -8,6 +8,27 @@ import { storyApi, getImageUrl } from '../../lib/api';
 import Button from '../ui/Button';
 import TagDisplay from '../tags/TagDisplay';
 
+// Detects systemic image load failures (e.g. wrong library ID) and reloads the page.
+// Guards against infinite loops: max 2 auto-reloads per session.
+const imageErrorTracker = {
+  errors: [] as number[],
+  reload() {
+    const count = parseInt(sessionStorage.getItem('storycove-reload-count') || '0');
+    if (count < 2) {
+      sessionStorage.setItem('storycove-reload-count', String(count + 1));
+      window.location.reload();
+    }
+  },
+  report() {
+    const now = Date.now();
+    this.errors = this.errors.filter(t => now - t < 3000);
+    this.errors.push(now);
+    if (this.errors.length >= 3) {
+      this.reload();
+    }
+  }
+};
+
 interface StoryCardProps {
   story: Story;
   viewMode: 'grid' | 'list';
@@ -91,6 +112,7 @@ export default function StoryCard({
                     height={80}
                     className="w-full h-full object-cover"
                     unoptimized
+                    onError={() => imageErrorTracker.report()}
                   />
                 ) : (
                   <div className="w-full h-full flex items-center justify-center theme-text text-xs">
@@ -209,6 +231,7 @@ export default function StoryCard({
               height={400}
               className="w-full h-full object-cover group-hover:scale-105 transition-transform duration-200"
               unoptimized
+              onError={() => imageErrorTracker.report()}
             />
           ) : (
             <div className="w-full h-full flex items-center justify-center theme-text text-6xl">
diff --git a/frontend/src/contexts/AuthContext.tsx b/frontend/src/contexts/AuthContext.tsx
index d6273cf..f613355 100644
--- a/frontend/src/contexts/AuthContext.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/contexts/AuthContext.tsx
@@ -38,7 +38,10 @@ export function AuthProvider({ children }: { children: React.ReactNode }) {
         // If authenticated, also load current library for image URLs
         if (authenticated) {
           try {
-            const response = await fetch('/api/libraries/current');
+            const token = localStorage.getItem('auth-token');
+            const response = await fetch('/api/libraries/current', {
+              headers: token ? { 'Authorization': `Bearer ${token}` } : {}
+            });
             if (response.ok) {
               const library = await response.json();
               setCurrentLibraryId(library.id);
@@ -75,7 +78,10 @@ export function AuthProvider({ children }: { children: React.ReactNode }) {
       
       // Load current library after successful login
       try {
-        const response = await fetch('/api/libraries/current');
+        const token = localStorage.getItem('auth-token');
+        const response = await fetch('/api/libraries/current', {
+          headers: token ? { 'Authorization': `Bearer ${token}` } : {}
+        });
         if (response.ok) {
           const library = await response.json();
           setCurrentLibraryId(library.id);