diff --git a/src/app/api/user/comparisons/route.ts b/src/app/api/user/comparisons/route.ts
index d46356f..cb7b2d6 100644
--- a/src/app/api/user/comparisons/route.ts
+++ b/src/app/api/user/comparisons/route.ts
@@ -1,22 +1,46 @@
 import { db } from "@/lib/db";
-import { comparisons, comparisonItems } from "@/lib/db/schema";
-import { eq, desc, sql, inArray } from "drizzle-orm";
-import { auth } from "@/lib/auth";
+import { comparisons, comparisonItems, sessions, users } from "@/lib/db/schema";
+import { eq, desc, sql, inArray, and, gt } from "drizzle-orm";
 import { headers } from "next/headers";
 
 export async function GET(request: Request) {
-  const session = await auth.api.getSession({ headers: await headers() });
-
-  if (!session?.user) {
+  // Bypass auth.api.getSession() — Drizzle queryWithCache bug (#12)
+  const hdrs = await headers();
+  const cookieHeader = hdrs.get("cookie") ?? "";
+  const tokenMatch = cookieHeader
+    .split(";")
+    .find((c) => c.trim().startsWith("better-auth.session_token="));
+  const token = tokenMatch?.split("=")?.[1]?.trim();
+  if (!token) {
     return Response.json({ error: "Unauthorized" }, { status: 401 });
   }
 
+  const sessionRows = await db
+    .select()
+    .from(sessions)
+    .where(and(eq(sessions.token, token), gt(sessions.expiresAt, new Date())))
+    .limit(1);
+  if (!sessionRows.length) {
+    return Response.json({ error: "Unauthorized" }, { status: 401 });
+  }
+
+  const userRows = await db
+    .select()
+    .from(users)
+    .where(eq(users.id, sessionRows[0].userId))
+    .limit(1);
+  if (!userRows.length) {
+    return Response.json({ error: "Unauthorized" }, { status: 401 });
+  }
+
+  const userId = userRows[0].id;
+
   const { searchParams } = new URL(request.url);
   const page = Math.max(1, Number(searchParams.get("page")) || 1);
   const limit = Math.min(100, Math.max(1, Number(searchParams.get("limit")) || 20));
   const offset = (page - 1) * limit;
 
-  const where = eq(comparisons.userId, session.user.id);
+  const where = eq(comparisons.userId, userId);
 
   const [result, countResult] = await Promise.all([
     db
diff --git a/src/app/api/user/stats/route.ts b/src/app/api/user/stats/route.ts
index b152dec..f5601e9 100644
--- a/src/app/api/user/stats/route.ts
+++ b/src/app/api/user/stats/route.ts
@@ -1,23 +1,47 @@
 import { db } from "@/lib/db";
-import { comparisons } from "@/lib/db/schema";
-import { eq, sql } from "drizzle-orm";
-import { auth } from "@/lib/auth";
+import { comparisons, sessions, users } from "@/lib/db/schema";
+import { eq, sql, and, gt } from "drizzle-orm";
 import { headers } from "next/headers";
 
 export async function GET() {
-  const session = await auth.api.getSession({ headers: await headers() });
-
-  if (!session?.user) {
+  // Bypass auth.api.getSession() — Drizzle queryWithCache bug (#12)
+  const hdrs = await headers();
+  const cookieHeader = hdrs.get("cookie") ?? "";
+  const tokenMatch = cookieHeader
+    .split(";")
+    .find((c) => c.trim().startsWith("better-auth.session_token="));
+  const token = tokenMatch?.split("=")?.[1]?.trim();
+  if (!token) {
     return Response.json({ error: "Unauthorized" }, { status: 401 });
   }
 
+  const sessionRows = await db
+    .select()
+    .from(sessions)
+    .where(and(eq(sessions.token, token), gt(sessions.expiresAt, new Date())))
+    .limit(1);
+  if (!sessionRows.length) {
+    return Response.json({ error: "Unauthorized" }, { status: 401 });
+  }
+
+  const userRows = await db
+    .select()
+    .from(users)
+    .where(eq(users.id, sessionRows[0].userId))
+    .limit(1);
+  if (!userRows.length) {
+    return Response.json({ error: "Unauthorized" }, { status: 401 });
+  }
+
+  const userId = userRows[0].id;
+
   const result = await db
     .select({
       totalComparisons: sql<number>`count(*)`,
       totalViews: sql<number>`coalesce(sum(${comparisons.viewCount}), 0)`,
     })
     .from(comparisons)
-    .where(eq(comparisons.userId, session.user.id));
+    .where(eq(comparisons.userId, userId));
 
   return Response.json(result[0]);
 }
diff --git a/src/middleware.ts b/src/middleware.ts
index c88a27c..2bce440 100644
--- a/src/middleware.ts
+++ b/src/middleware.ts
@@ -1,9 +1,15 @@
 import { NextRequest, NextResponse } from "next/server";
-import { auth } from "@/lib/auth";
 
 const publicPaths = ["/", "/explore", "/sign-in", "/sign-up", "/api/auth"];
 const protectedPaths = ["/compare", "/profile"];
 
+function hasSessionCookie(headers: Headers): boolean {
+  const cookieHeader = headers.get("cookie") ?? "";
+  return cookieHeader
+    .split(";")
+    .some((c) => c.trim().startsWith("better-auth.session_token="));
+}
+
 export async function middleware(request: NextRequest) {
   const { pathname } = request.nextUrl;
 
@@ -15,6 +21,11 @@ export async function middleware(request: NextRequest) {
     return NextResponse.next();
   }
 
+  // API routes handle their own auth — skip middleware session check
+  if (pathname.startsWith("/api/")) {
+    return NextResponse.next();
+  }
+
   const isPublic = publicPaths.some(
     (path) => pathname === path || pathname.startsWith(path + "/"),
   );
@@ -27,11 +38,9 @@ export async function middleware(request: NextRequest) {
     return NextResponse.next();
   }
 
-  const session = await auth.api.getSession({
-    headers: request.headers,
-  });
-
-  if (!session && isProtected) {
+  // Cookie-presence check only — real auth happens in route handlers.
+  // auth.api.getSession() bypassed due to Drizzle queryWithCache bug (#12).
+  if (!hasSessionCookie(request.headers) && isProtected) {
     const signInUrl = new URL("/sign-in", request.url);
     signInUrl.searchParams.set("callbackUrl", pathname);
     return NextResponse.redirect(signInUrl);