diff --git a/convex/auth.config.ts b/convex/auth.config.ts
index 552efd9b..cf844f3b 100644
--- a/convex/auth.config.ts
+++ b/convex/auth.config.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,13 @@
+const jwtIssuerDomain = process.env.CLERK_JWT_ISSUER_DOMAIN;
+
+if (!jwtIssuerDomain) {
+  console.warn("CLERK_JWT_ISSUER_DOMAIN environment variable is not set");
+}
+
 export default {
   providers: [
     {
-      domain: process.env.CLERK_JWT_ISSUER_DOMAIN!,
+      domain: jwtIssuerDomain || "placeholder.convex.cloud",
       applicationID: "convex",
     },
   ],
diff --git a/convex/helpers.ts b/convex/helpers.ts
index 1d92f10c..bf1e8b30 100644
--- a/convex/helpers.ts
+++ b/convex/helpers.ts
@@ -3,8 +3,21 @@ import { QueryCtx, MutationCtx } from "./_generated/server";
 export async function getCurrentUserId(
   ctx: QueryCtx | MutationCtx
 ): Promise<string | null> {
-  const identity = await ctx.auth.getUserIdentity();
-  return identity?.subject || null;
+  try {
+    const identity = await ctx.auth.getUserIdentity();
+    if (!identity) {
+      console.warn("No user identity found in context");
+      return null;
+    }
+    if (!identity.subject) {
+      console.warn("User identity found but no subject field");
+      return null;
+    }
+    return identity.subject;
+  } catch (error) {
+    console.error("Error getting user identity:", error);
+    return null;
+  }
 }
 
 export async function requireAuth(
@@ -12,6 +25,11 @@ export async function requireAuth(
 ): Promise<string> {
   const userId = await getCurrentUserId(ctx);
   if (!userId) {
+    console.error("Authentication failed: No user ID found");
+    console.error("Context auth details:", {
+      hasAuth: !!ctx.auth,
+      hasGetUserIdentity: typeof ctx.auth?.getUserIdentity === 'function'
+    });
     throw new Error("Unauthorized");
   }
   return userId;
diff --git a/src/components/convex-provider.tsx b/src/components/convex-provider.tsx
index 5f0a32f4..6bee2b92 100644
--- a/src/components/convex-provider.tsx
+++ b/src/components/convex-provider.tsx
@@ -8,8 +8,7 @@ import type { ReactNode } from "react";
 const convexUrl = process.env.NEXT_PUBLIC_CONVEX_URL;
 
 const convexClient = new ConvexReactClient(
-  convexUrl || "https://placeholder.convex.cloud",
-  { expectAuth: false }
+  convexUrl || "https://placeholder.convex.cloud"
 );
 
 export function ConvexClientProvider({ children }: { children: ReactNode }) {