diff --git a/backend/app/auth.py b/backend/app/auth.py
index e82fc30..dcf0d88 100644
--- a/backend/app/auth.py
+++ b/backend/app/auth.py
@@ -73,6 +73,8 @@ READ_SCOPE = f"{WRITE_SCOPE}.readonly"
 BASE_SCOPES = "openid email profile"
 READ_SCOPES = f"{BASE_SCOPES} {READ_SCOPE}"
 WRITE_SCOPES = f"{BASE_SCOPES} {READ_SCOPE} {WRITE_SCOPE}"
+# The YouTube grants (read ⊂ write). A sign-in must never silently drop one of these — see _store_token.
+_YOUTUBE_SCOPES = frozenset({READ_SCOPE, WRITE_SCOPE})
 
 log = logging.getLogger("siftlode.auth")
 
@@ -387,6 +389,18 @@ def _store_token(db: Session, user: User, token: dict) -> None:
     include_granted_scopes=true means `scope` is the union of everything granted, so this
     reflects read/write upgrades correctly."""
     tok = user.token or OAuthToken(user=user)
+    old = set((tok.scopes or "").split())
+    new = set((token.get("scope") or "").split())
+    # A plain re-sign-in requests only BASE_SCOPES, and Google can hand back a FRESH base-only
+    # access+refresh token. Adopting it would DESTROY a previously-granted YouTube read/write grant —
+    # can_read/can_write flip to false and the feed demands a reconnect (the exact bug users hit on a
+    # logout→login). The OLD refresh token stays valid on Google's side, so when this exchange would
+    # NARROW our YouTube scopes, keep the WHOLE existing grant (refresh token, access token, scopes)
+    # untouched. The grant only shrinks on a full disconnect (purge_user deletes the token row); an
+    # externally-revoked scope surfaces later as a YouTube API 403 → reconnect, not through this write.
+    if (old & _YOUTUBE_SCOPES) - new:
+        db.add(tok)
+        return
     if token.get("refresh_token"):
         tok.refresh_token_enc = encrypt(token["refresh_token"])
     # Encrypt the access token at rest too (it's a live ~1h bearer credential), matching the
@@ -394,15 +408,8 @@ def _store_token(db: Session, user: User, token: dict) -> None:
     tok.access_token = encrypt(token.get("access_token"))
     expires_at = token.get("expires_at")
     tok.expiry = datetime.fromtimestamp(expires_at, tz=timezone.utc) if expires_at else None
-    # UNION the scopes, never narrow them. A plain sign-in requests only BASE_SCOPES, and Google's
-    # returned `scope` can list just those rather than the union of everything granted — so writing it
-    # verbatim would DROP a previously-granted YouTube read/write scope on every re-login, wrongly
-    # flipping can_read to false (the feed asks to reconnect). The underlying grant (refresh token)
-    # survives such a login, so we keep the broadest set we've seen. Scopes only shrink when the whole
-    # grant is torn down (purge_user deletes the token row); an externally-revoked scope surfaces as a
-    # YouTube API 403 → the reconnect prompt, not via this field.
-    returned = (token.get("scope") or BASE_SCOPES).split()
-    tok.scopes = " ".join(sorted(set((tok.scopes or "").split()) | set(returned)))
+    # Union (never narrow): a broader-or-equal exchange may still list only the newly-added scope.
+    tok.scopes = " ".join(sorted(old | new)) or BASE_SCOPES
     db.add(tok)