diff --git a/apps/web/app/api/bounties/[id]/claim/route.ts b/apps/web/app/api/bounties/[id]/claim/route.ts
index b3a5185..a8e2047 100644
--- a/apps/web/app/api/bounties/[id]/claim/route.ts
+++ b/apps/web/app/api/bounties/[id]/claim/route.ts
@@ -62,16 +62,15 @@ export async function POST(req: NextRequest, { params }: { params: Promise<{ id:
   }
 
   // Mark bounty as claimed — atomic WHERE prevents race conditions
-  await db.sql`
+  const claimed = await db.sql`
     UPDATE bounties
     SET status = 'claimed', coupon_id = ${coupon_id}, claimer_did = ${did},
         updated_at = ${new Date().toISOString()}
     WHERE id = ${bountyId} AND status = 'funded'
+    RETURNING id
   `;
 
-  // Verify the claim succeeded (handles concurrent claim race)
-  const verify = await db.sql`SELECT claimer_did FROM bounties WHERE id = ${bountyId}`;
-  if (verify.length && verify[0].claimer_did !== did) {
+  if (!claimed.length) {
     return NextResponse.json({ error: 'Bounty was already claimed by another user' }, { status: 409 });
   }
 
diff --git a/test/bounty-claim-race.test.mjs b/test/bounty-claim-race.test.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..535cf57
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/bounty-claim-race.test.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+import { test } from 'node:test';
+import assert from 'node:assert/strict';
+import { readFileSync } from 'node:fs';
+
+const source = readFileSync(
+  new URL('../apps/web/app/api/bounties/[id]/claim/route.ts', import.meta.url),
+  'utf8'
+);
+
+test('a funded bounty is reserved atomically before payout', () => {
+  assert.match(
+    source,
+    /UPDATE bounties[\s\S]*WHERE id = \$\{bountyId\} AND status = 'funded'[\s\S]*RETURNING id/
+  );
+  assert.match(source, /if \(!claimed\.length\)/);
+  assert.doesNotMatch(source, /SELECT claimer_did FROM bounties/);
+
+  const reservation = source.indexOf('const claimed = await db.sql');
+  const payout = source.indexOf('prepare-tx');
+  assert.ok(reservation >= 0 && reservation < payout, 'reservation must happen before payout');
+});