diff --git a/backend/__tests__/integration/picpeakRestorePg.test.js b/backend/__tests__/integration/picpeakRestorePg.test.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..09e9f468
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/__tests__/integration/picpeakRestorePg.test.js
@@ -0,0 +1,190 @@
+/**
+ * PostgreSQL integration tests for the .picpeak restore robustness fixes.
+ * Gated: runs only when PICPEAK_PG_TEST_URL points at a throwaway Postgres DB,
+ * e.g.
+ *   PICPEAK_PG_TEST_URL="postgres://picpeak:picpeak_secure_pass_2024@127.0.0.1:7102/picpeak_restore_test" \
+ *     npx jest __tests__/integration/picpeakRestorePg.test.js
+ *
+ * Validates the Postgres-specific paths that SQLite can't exercise: identity
+ * sequences left stale by explicit-id inserts, pg_get_serial_sequence raising on
+ * id-less tables, reinject/role-recreate explicit-id inserts, and FK integrity.
+ */
+const knex = require('knex');
+const fs = require('fs');
+const os = require('os');
+const path = require('path');
+
+const PG_URL = process.env.PICPEAK_PG_TEST_URL;
+const maybe = PG_URL ? describe : describe.skip;
+
+maybe('picpeak restore on Postgres', () => {
+  let pgDb;
+  let svc;
+
+  beforeAll(async () => {
+    pgDb = knex({ client: 'pg', connection: PG_URL });
+
+    await pgDb.raw('DROP TABLE IF EXISTS role_permissions, events, admin_users, roles, permissions, app_settings CASCADE');
+    await pgDb.schema.createTable('roles', (t) => {
+      t.increments('id');
+      t.string('name', 50).notNullable().unique();
+      t.string('display_name', 100);
+      t.integer('priority').defaultTo(0);
+      t.boolean('is_system').defaultTo(false);
+    });
+    await pgDb.schema.createTable('permissions', (t) => {
+      t.increments('id');
+      t.string('name', 100).notNullable().unique();
+      t.string('display_name', 150);
+      t.string('category', 50);
+    });
+    await pgDb.schema.createTable('role_permissions', (t) => {
+      t.integer('role_id').notNullable().references('id').inTable('roles').onDelete('CASCADE');
+      t.integer('permission_id').notNullable().references('id').inTable('permissions').onDelete('CASCADE');
+      t.primary(['role_id', 'permission_id']);
+    });
+    await pgDb.schema.createTable('admin_users', (t) => {
+      t.increments('id');
+      t.string('username').notNullable().unique();
+      t.string('email').notNullable().unique();
+      t.string('password_hash');
+      t.boolean('is_active').defaultTo(true);
+      t.boolean('must_change_password').defaultTo(false);
+      t.integer('role_id').references('id').inTable('roles').onDelete('SET NULL');
+      t.integer('created_by').references('id').inTable('admin_users').onDelete('SET NULL');
+      t.boolean('two_factor_enabled').defaultTo(false);
+      t.string('two_factor_secret');
+      t.text('two_factor_recovery_codes');
+    });
+    await pgDb.schema.createTable('events', (t) => {
+      t.increments('id');
+      t.string('slug');
+      t.integer('created_by').references('id').inTable('admin_users').onDelete('SET NULL');
+    });
+    await pgDb.schema.createTable('app_settings', (t) => {
+      t.increments('id');
+      t.string('setting_key').notNullable().unique();
+      t.json('setting_value');
+      t.string('setting_type');
+      t.timestamp('updated_at').defaultTo(pgDb.fn.now());
+    });
+
+    jest.resetModules();
+    jest.doMock('../../knexfile', () => ({ client: 'pg' }));
+    jest.doMock('../../src/database/db', () => ({ db: pgDb }));
+    svc = require('../../src/services/picpeakImportService');
+  });
+
+  afterAll(async () => {
+    jest.dontMock('../../src/database/db');
+    jest.dontMock('../../knexfile');
+    if (pgDb) await pgDb.destroy();
+  });
+
+  beforeEach(async () => {
+    await pgDb('role_permissions').del();
+    await pgDb('events').del();
+    await pgDb('admin_users').del();
+    await pgDb('roles').del();
+    await pgDb('permissions').del();
+  });
+
+  test('resyncSequences fast-forwards stale sequences and skips id-less tables', async () => {
+    // Simulate a restore: explicit-id inserts leave the sequence at 1.
+    await pgDb('roles').insert([{ id: 5, name: 'super_admin', display_name: 'SA' }]);
+    await pgDb('admin_users').insert([{ id: 9, username: 'a', email: 'a@x.io', password_hash: 'h' }]);
+    await pgDb('permissions').insert([{ id: 3, name: 'events.create', display_name: 'C', category: 'events' }]);
+    await pgDb('role_permissions').insert([{ role_id: 5, permission_id: 3 }]); // id-less table
+
+    // Must not throw on role_permissions (no `id` column → pg_get_serial_sequence raises unguarded).
+    await expect(svc.resyncSequences(['roles', 'admin_users', 'permissions', 'role_permissions'])).resolves.toBeUndefined();
+
+    // Natural inserts (no explicit id) now avoid the restored ids.
+    const [adminId] = await pgDb('admin_users').insert({ username: 'b', email: 'b@x.io', password_hash: 'h' }).returning('id');
+    expect(Number(adminId.id || adminId)).toBe(10); // max(9)+1, no duplicate-key error
+    const [roleId] = await pgDb('roles').insert({ name: 'editor', display_name: 'Ed' }).returning('id');
+    expect(Number(roleId.id || roleId)).toBe(6);
+  });
+
+  test('reinjectCurrentAdmin insert branch works with a stale sequence (explicit max+1)', async () => {
+    await pgDb('admin_users').insert({ id: 9, username: 'backup', email: 'backup@x.io', password_hash: 'h' });
+    const operator = { id: 1, username: 'admin', email: 'op@x.io', password_hash: 'OP', is_active: true, created_by: 42 };
+
+    await pgDb.transaction((trx) => svc.reinjectCurrentAdmin(trx, operator));
+
+    const op = await pgDb('admin_users').where({ email: 'op@x.io' }).first();
+    expect(op.id).toBe(10);            // max(9)+1
+    expect(op.password_hash).toBe('OP');
+    expect(op.created_by).toBeNull();  // self-ref FK nulled so the insert can't dangle
+  });
+
+  test('preserveOperatorRole re-creates a missing role on Postgres and keeps FK integrity', async () => {
+    await pgDb('permissions').insert([{ id: 3, name: 'events.create', display_name: 'C', category: 'events' }]);
+    await pgDb('roles').insert([{ id: 2, name: 'viewer', display_name: 'V' }]);
+    await pgDb('admin_users').insert({ id: 1, username: 'admin', email: 'op@x.io', password_hash: 'h', role_id: null });
+    const snapshot = { role: { name: 'super_admin', display_name: 'SA', priority: 100, is_system: true }, permissions: ['events.create', 'missing.perm'] };
+
+    await pgDb.transaction((trx) => svc.preserveOperatorRole(trx, 1, snapshot));
+    await svc.resyncSequences(['roles']); // post-commit, mirrors importFromPicpeak
+
+    const role = await pgDb('roles').where({ name: 'super_admin' }).first();
+    expect(role).toBeTruthy();
+    const op = await pgDb('admin_users').where({ id: 1 }).first();
+    expect(op.role_id).toBe(role.id);  // FK valid, operator not downgraded
+    const grants = await pgDb('role_permissions').where({ role_id: role.id }).pluck('permission_id');
+    expect(grants).toEqual([3]);        // existing perm granted, missing.perm skipped
+  });
+
+  test('full replaceAllTables: cross-instance backup preserves the operator, role, FKs, and sequences', async () => {
+    // A backup from ANOTHER instance: omits the operator's email AND their
+    // super_admin role; uses explicit ids that leave sequences stale.
+    const staging = fs.mkdtempSync(path.join(os.tmpdir(), 'picpeak-pgtest-'));
+    const dataDir = path.join(staging, 'data');
+    fs.mkdirSync(dataDir);
+    const write = (t, rows) => fs.writeFileSync(path.join(dataDir, `${t}.ndjson`), rows.map((r) => JSON.stringify(r)).join('\n'));
+    write('roles', [{ id: 5, name: 'admin', display_name: 'Admin', priority: 50, is_system: true }]);
+    write('permissions', [{ id: 3, name: 'events.create', display_name: 'C', category: 'events' }]);
+    write('role_permissions', [{ role_id: 5, permission_id: 3 }]);
+    write('admin_users', [{ id: 9, username: 'backupadmin', email: 'backup@x.io', password_hash: 'h', role_id: 5, is_active: true }]);
+    write('events', [{ id: 2, slug: 'restored-ev', created_by: 9 }]);
+
+    const operator = { id: 1, username: 'admin', email: 'op@x.io', password_hash: 'OP', is_active: true, role_id: 999, created_by: null };
+    const roleSnapshot = { role: { name: 'super_admin', display_name: 'Super Admin', priority: 100, is_system: true }, permissions: ['events.create'] };
+    const tables = ['roles', 'permissions', 'role_permissions', 'admin_users', 'events'];
+
+    // replaceAllTables isn't exported, so drive its exact transaction sequence
+    // (suspend FKs, wipe, batchInsert, reinject, preserve role) through the
+    // exported units against real Postgres.
+    const importSvc = svc;
+    await pgDb.transaction(async (trx) => {
+      await trx.raw('SET session_replication_role = \'replica\'');
+      for (const t of tables) await trx(t).del();
+      for (const t of tables) {
+        const rows = fs.readFileSync(path.join(dataDir, `${t}.ndjson`), 'utf8').split('\n').filter(Boolean).map((l) => JSON.parse(l));
+        if (rows.length) await trx.batchInsert(t, rows, 100);
+      }
+      const opId = await importSvc.reinjectCurrentAdmin(trx, operator);
+      await importSvc.preserveOperatorRole(trx, opId, roleSnapshot);
+      await trx.raw('SET session_replication_role = \'origin\'');
+    });
+    await importSvc.resyncSequences(tables);
+
+    // Operator preserved (inserted, since email absent from backup).
+    const op = await pgDb('admin_users').where({ email: 'op@x.io' }).first();
+    expect(op).toBeTruthy();
+    expect(op.password_hash).toBe('OP');
+    // super_admin role re-created and the operator bound to it.
+    const sa = await pgDb('roles').where({ name: 'super_admin' }).first();
+    expect(sa).toBeTruthy();
+    expect(op.role_id).toBe(sa.id);
+    expect(await pgDb('role_permissions').where({ role_id: sa.id }).pluck('permission_id')).toEqual([3]);
+    // Restored event's created_by FK to the backup admin still valid.
+    const ev = await pgDb('events').where({ slug: 'restored-ev' }).first();
+    expect(ev.created_by).toBe(9);
+    // Sequences resynced → natural inserts don't collide.
+    const [newAdmin] = await pgDb('admin_users').insert({ username: 'fresh', email: 'fresh@x.io', password_hash: 'h' }).returning('id');
+    expect(Number(newAdmin.id || newAdmin)).toBeGreaterThan(op.id);
+
+    fs.rmSync(staging, { recursive: true, force: true });
+  });
+});
diff --git a/backend/__tests__/services/picpeakRolePreserve.test.js b/backend/__tests__/services/picpeakRolePreserve.test.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..81be6f07
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/__tests__/services/picpeakRolePreserve.test.js
@@ -0,0 +1,105 @@
+/**
+ * Tests for preserveOperatorRole — re-establishing the operator's authorization
+ * after a restore replaces the roles / permissions / role_permissions tables.
+ * Real in-memory SQLite so the joins and inserts behave as in production.
+ */
+const knex = require('knex');
+
+let db;
+let svc;
+
+beforeEach(async () => {
+  db = knex({ client: 'sqlite3', connection: { filename: ':memory:' }, useNullAsDefault: true });
+  await db.schema.createTable('roles', (t) => {
+    t.increments('id');
+    t.string('name').notNullable().unique();
+    t.string('display_name');
+    t.integer('priority').defaultTo(0);
+    t.boolean('is_system').defaultTo(false);
+  });
+  await db.schema.createTable('permissions', (t) => {
+    t.increments('id');
+    t.string('name').notNullable().unique();
+    t.string('display_name');
+    t.string('category');
+  });
+  await db.schema.createTable('role_permissions', (t) => {
+    t.integer('role_id').notNullable();
+    t.integer('permission_id').notNullable();
+    t.primary(['role_id', 'permission_id']);
+  });
+  await db.schema.createTable('admin_users', (t) => {
+    t.increments('id');
+    t.string('email');
+    t.integer('role_id');
+  });
+  jest.resetModules();
+  jest.doMock('../../knexfile', () => ({ client: 'sqlite3' }));
+  jest.doMock('../../src/database/db', () => ({ db }));
+  svc = require('../../src/services/picpeakImportService');
+});
+
+afterEach(async () => {
+  jest.dontMock('../../src/database/db');
+  jest.dontMock('../../knexfile');
+  await db.destroy();
+});
+
+test('captureOperatorRole returns the role + its permission names', async () => {
+  await db('roles').insert({ id: 1, name: 'super_admin', display_name: 'Super Admin', priority: 100 });
+  await db('permissions').insert([
+    { id: 1, name: 'events.create', display_name: 'Create', category: 'events' },
+    { id: 2, name: 'users.manage', display_name: 'Manage', category: 'users' },
+  ]);
+  await db('role_permissions').insert([{ role_id: 1, permission_id: 1 }, { role_id: 1, permission_id: 2 }]);
+
+  const snap = await svc.captureOperatorRole(1);
+  expect(snap.role.name).toBe('super_admin');
+  expect(snap.permissions.sort()).toEqual(['events.create', 'users.manage']);
+});
+
+test('preserveOperatorRole binds to a restored role of the same NAME (ids remapped)', async () => {
+  const snapshot = { role: { name: 'super_admin', display_name: 'Super Admin', priority: 100, is_system: true }, permissions: ['events.create'] };
+  // Simulate post-restore RBAC where super_admin now has a DIFFERENT id.
+  await db('roles').insert({ id: 7, name: 'super_admin', display_name: 'Super Admin (restored)', priority: 100 });
+  await db('admin_users').insert({ id: 3, email: 'op@example.com', role_id: null });
+
+  await db.transaction((trx) => svc.preserveOperatorRole(trx, 3, snapshot));
+
+  const op = await db('admin_users').where({ id: 3 }).first();
+  expect(op.role_id).toBe(7);                           // bound to restored super_admin by name
+  expect(await db('roles').count({ c: '*' }).first()).toEqual({ c: 1 }); // no duplicate role created
+});
+
+test('preserveOperatorRole re-creates the role + grants when the backup omits it', async () => {
+  const snapshot = {
+    role: { name: 'super_admin', display_name: 'Super Admin', priority: 100, is_system: true },
+    permissions: ['events.create', 'users.manage', 'gone.permission'],
+  };
+  // Post-restore RBAC WITHOUT super_admin; only some permissions exist.
+  await db('roles').insert({ id: 2, name: 'viewer', display_name: 'Viewer', priority: 10 });
+  await db('permissions').insert([
+    { id: 5, name: 'events.create', display_name: 'Create', category: 'events' },
+    { id: 6, name: 'users.manage', display_name: 'Manage', category: 'users' },
+  ]);
+  await db('admin_users').insert({ id: 3, email: 'op@example.com', role_id: null });
+
+  await db.transaction((trx) => svc.preserveOperatorRole(trx, 3, snapshot));
+
+  const recreated = await db('roles').where({ name: 'super_admin' }).first();
+  expect(recreated).toBeTruthy();                      // role re-created, not left missing
+  expect(recreated.id).toBe(3);                        // max(2)+1
+
+  const op = await db('admin_users').where({ id: 3 }).first();
+  expect(op.role_id).toBe(recreated.id);               // operator not locked out / downgraded
+
+  const grants = await db('role_permissions').where({ role_id: recreated.id }).pluck('permission_id');
+  expect(grants.sort()).toEqual([5, 6]);               // existing perms re-granted; 'gone.permission' skipped
+});
+
+test('preserveOperatorRole no-ops when the operator had no role', async () => {
+  await db('admin_users').insert({ id: 3, email: 'op@example.com', role_id: null });
+  await db.transaction((trx) => svc.preserveOperatorRole(trx, 3, null));
+  const op = await db('admin_users').where({ id: 3 }).first();
+  expect(op.role_id).toBeNull();
+});
diff --git a/backend/__tests__/utils/sessionCutoff.test.js b/backend/__tests__/utils/sessionCutoff.test.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2b0a5071
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/__tests__/utils/sessionCutoff.test.js
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+/**
+ * Unit tests for the global session cutoff (utils/sessionCutoff.js). Uses a
+ * real in-memory SQLite `app_settings` table so the read/write/parse path is
+ * exercised exactly as in production.
+ */
+const knex = require('knex');
+
+let db;
+let cutoff;
+
+beforeEach(async () => {
+  db = knex({ client: 'sqlite3', connection: { filename: ':memory:' }, useNullAsDefault: true });
+  await db.schema.createTable('app_settings', (t) => {
+    t.increments('id');
+    t.string('setting_key').notNullable().unique();
+    t.text('setting_value');
+    t.string('setting_type');
+    t.timestamp('updated_at');
+  });
+  jest.resetModules();
+  jest.doMock('../../src/database/db', () => ({ db }));
+  cutoff = require('../../src/utils/sessionCutoff');
+  cutoff._resetCache();
+});
+
+afterEach(async () => {
+  jest.dontMock('../../src/database/db');
+  await db.destroy();
+});
+
+test('no cutoff set → nothing is invalidated', async () => {
+  expect(await cutoff.getSessionsValidAfter()).toBe(0);
+  expect(await cutoff.isTokenBeforeCutoff({ iat: 1000 })).toBe(false);
+});
+
+test('token issued before the cutoff is rejected, at/after is accepted', async () => {
+  await cutoff.setSessionsValidAfter(2000);
+  expect(await cutoff.isTokenBeforeCutoff({ iat: 1999 })).toBe(true);   // pre-restore session
+  expect(await cutoff.isTokenBeforeCutoff({ iat: 2000 })).toBe(false);  // same second → kept
+  expect(await cutoff.isTokenBeforeCutoff({ iat: 2001 })).toBe(false);  // post-restore login
+});
+
+test('setSessionsValidAfter upserts a single row and refreshes the cache', async () => {
+  await cutoff.setSessionsValidAfter(1000);
+  await cutoff.setSessionsValidAfter(3000);
+  const rows = await db('app_settings').where('setting_key', 'security_sessions_valid_after');
+  expect(rows).toHaveLength(1);
+  cutoff._resetCache();
+  expect(await cutoff.getSessionsValidAfter()).toBe(3000);
+});
+
+test('a token without iat is never treated as before the cutoff', async () => {
+  await cutoff.setSessionsValidAfter(2000);
+  expect(await cutoff.isTokenBeforeCutoff({})).toBe(false);
+  expect(await cutoff.isTokenBeforeCutoff(null)).toBe(false);
+});
diff --git a/backend/package.json b/backend/package.json
index f9734117..9bb5a0ee 100644
--- a/backend/package.json
+++ b/backend/package.json
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
     "generate:watermarks": "node scripts/generate-watermarks.js",
     "test": "jest",
     "test:s3": "SKIP_S3_TESTS=false jest __tests__/integration/backup-s3",
+    "test:pg": "jest __tests__/integration/picpeakRestorePg",
     "lint": "eslint src/"
   },
   "dependencies": {
diff --git a/backend/src/__tests__/customerAuth.middleware.test.js b/backend/src/__tests__/customerAuth.middleware.test.js
index e39b9dde..649a2cc4 100644
--- a/backend/src/__tests__/customerAuth.middleware.test.js
+++ b/backend/src/__tests__/customerAuth.middleware.test.js
@@ -33,6 +33,13 @@ jest.mock('../utils/tokenRevocation', () => ({
   isTokenRevoked: jest.fn(),
 }));
 
+// The global session cutoff (added for .picpeak restore invalidation) queries
+// app_settings; stub it to "no cutoff" so it doesn't consume this suite's
+// one-shot db() mock. Its own behaviour is covered by utils/sessionCutoff.test.js.
+jest.mock('../utils/sessionCutoff', () => ({
+  isTokenBeforeCutoff: jest.fn().mockResolvedValue(false),
+}));
+
 jest.mock('../utils/tokenUtils', () => ({
   getCustomerTokenFromRequest: jest.fn(),
 }));
diff --git a/backend/src/middleware/auth.js b/backend/src/middleware/auth.js
index ccb49903..ed6faba5 100644
--- a/backend/src/middleware/auth.js
+++ b/backend/src/middleware/auth.js
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ const jwt = require('jsonwebtoken');
 const { db } = require('../database/db');
 const { formatBoolean } = require('../utils/dbCompat');
 const { isTokenRevoked } = require('../utils/tokenRevocation');
+const { isTokenBeforeCutoff } = require('../utils/sessionCutoff');
 const logger = require('../utils/logger');
 const { getAdminTokenFromRequest, getGalleryTokenFromRequest } = require('../utils/tokenUtils');
 
@@ -38,6 +39,13 @@ async function adminAuth(req, res, next) {
       });
       return res.status(401).json({ error: 'Token has been revoked', code: 'TOKEN_REVOKED' });
     }
+
+    // Reject any session issued before the global cutoff (set by a .picpeak
+    // restore, which can reassign admin ids). Forces every pre-restore admin
+    // session to re-authenticate against the restored data.
+    if (await isTokenBeforeCutoff(decoded)) {
+      return res.status(401).json({ error: 'Session invalidated', code: 'SESSION_INVALIDATED' });
+    }
     
     // Verify token type
     if (decoded.type !== 'admin') {
@@ -157,7 +165,12 @@ async function galleryAuth(req, res, next) {
     if (await isTokenRevoked(decoded)) {
       return res.status(401).json({ error: 'Session has been invalidated', code: 'TOKEN_REVOKED' });
     }
-    
+
+    // Reject sessions issued before the global restore cutoff.
+    if (await isTokenBeforeCutoff(decoded)) {
+      return res.status(401).json({ error: 'Session invalidated', code: 'SESSION_INVALIDATED' });
+    }
+
     // Verify token type
     if (decoded.type !== 'gallery') {
       return res.status(403).json({ error: 'Invalid access token' });
@@ -221,6 +234,11 @@ async function photoAuth(req, res, next) {
       return res.status(401).json({ error: 'Token has been revoked', code: 'TOKEN_REVOKED' });
     }
 
+    // Reject sessions issued before the global restore cutoff.
+    if (await isTokenBeforeCutoff(decoded)) {
+      return res.status(401).json({ error: 'Session invalidated', code: 'SESSION_INVALIDATED' });
+    }
+
     // Allow both admin and gallery tokens
     if (decoded.type === 'admin') {
       const admin = await db('admin_users')
diff --git a/backend/src/middleware/customerAuth.js b/backend/src/middleware/customerAuth.js
index e1b9c545..1ce58c2e 100644
--- a/backend/src/middleware/customerAuth.js
+++ b/backend/src/middleware/customerAuth.js
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ const jwt = require('jsonwebtoken');
 const { db } = require('../database/db');
 const { formatBoolean } = require('../utils/dbCompat');
 const { isTokenRevoked } = require('../utils/tokenRevocation');
+const { isTokenBeforeCutoff } = require('../utils/sessionCutoff');
 const logger = require('../utils/logger');
 const { getCustomerTokenFromRequest } = require('../utils/tokenUtils');
 
@@ -61,6 +62,11 @@ async function customerAuth(req, res, next) {
       return res.status(401).json({ error: 'Token has been revoked', code: 'TOKEN_REVOKED' });
     }
 
+    // Reject sessions issued before the global restore cutoff.
+    if (await isTokenBeforeCutoff(decoded)) {
+      return res.status(401).json({ error: 'Session invalidated', code: 'SESSION_INVALIDATED' });
+    }
+
     if (decoded.type !== 'customer') {
       logger.warn('[customerAuth] wrong token type', {
         url: req.originalUrl,
diff --git a/backend/src/routes/adminBackup.js b/backend/src/routes/adminBackup.js
index 409d14a8..46673bc3 100644
--- a/backend/src/routes/adminBackup.js
+++ b/backend/src/routes/adminBackup.js
@@ -197,18 +197,15 @@ router.post('/picpeak/import', adminAuth, requirePermission('backup.restore'), p
     // letting a crafted .picpeak take over every admin account (GHSA-qxfx-4493-4v8f).
     const result = await importFromPicpeak({ picpeakPath, currentAdminId: req.admin && req.admin.id });
 
-    // The restore rewrote admin_users, so ids may have shifted. The operator's
-    // current JWT is bound only to the pre-restore admin id (adminAuth trusts
-    // `decoded.id` — IP is logged, not enforced, and the backup controls
-    // password_changed_at), which could now resolve to a DIFFERENT restored
-    // account and silently grant its permissions. Force a fresh login instead
-    // of trusting the old session: revoke the token and clear the cookie.
-    // Clearing the cookie is the guarantee — it drops the operator's browser
-    // session unconditionally. Revocation is the extra layer that also kills a
-    // Bearer-header copy of the JWT; revokeToken() swallows DB errors and
-    // returns false, so check the result and log loudly if the denylist write
-    // didn't land (the operator should still re-login, which the cookie clear
-    // forces).
+    // The restore rewrote admin_users, so ids may have shifted. importFromPicpeak
+    // already stamped a GLOBAL session cutoff (see setSessionsValidAfter), so
+    // every JWT issued before the restore — admin, customer, gallery — now fails
+    // auth. Here we additionally give the importing admin an immediate, clean
+    // logout: revoke this token and clear the cookie so their browser drops the
+    // session at once rather than on the next 401. Cookie clear is the
+    // unconditional guarantee; revokeToken() swallows DB errors and returns
+    // false, so check the result and log loudly if the denylist write didn't
+    // land (the operator still re-logs-in, which the cookie clear forces).
     let tokenRevoked = false;
     try {
       if (req.token) {
diff --git a/backend/src/services/picpeakImportService.js b/backend/src/services/picpeakImportService.js
index 27ac33a0..8cd054a4 100644
--- a/backend/src/services/picpeakImportService.js
+++ b/backend/src/services/picpeakImportService.js
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ const { db } = require('../database/db');
 const knexConfig = require('../../knexfile');
 const { getStoragePath } = require('../config/storage');
 const { hasColumnCached } = require('../utils/schemaCache');
+const { setSessionsValidAfter } = require('../utils/sessionCutoff');
 const logger = require('../utils/logger');
 const { PICPEAK_FORMAT_VERSION, EXCLUDED_TABLES, listDataTables } = require('./picpeakExportService');
 
@@ -105,7 +106,7 @@ function parseNdjson(filePath) {
 //     preserved, its own FKs stay valid) to free the username;
 //   - only when no row has the operator's email do we insert a fresh row.
 async function reinjectCurrentAdmin(trx, currentAdmin) {
-  if (!currentAdmin) return;
+  if (!currentAdmin) return null;
 
   const emailMatch = await trx('admin_users')
     .whereRaw('lower(email) = lower(?)', [currentAdmin.email])
@@ -135,6 +136,7 @@ async function reinjectCurrentAdmin(trx, currentAdmin) {
       if (field in currentAdmin) authUpdate[field] = currentAdmin[field];
     }
     await trx('admin_users').where({ id: emailMatch.id }).update(authUpdate);
+    return emailMatch.id;
   } else {
     // The operator's email isn't in the backup, so nothing restored references
     // their id — a fresh row can't dangle a reference TO the operator. Null the
@@ -149,6 +151,84 @@ async function reinjectCurrentAdmin(trx, currentAdmin) {
     const maxRow = await trx('admin_users').max({ m: 'id' }).first();
     snapshot.id = (Number(maxRow && maxRow.m) || 0) + 1;
     await trx('admin_users').insert(snapshot);
+    return snapshot.id;
+  }
+}
+
+// Capture the operator's role and its granted permission NAMES before the wipe,
+// so preserveOperatorRole() can re-establish the operator's authorization after
+// the RBAC tables are replaced. Permission NAMES (not ids) are captured because
+// the restored permissions table reassigns ids. Returns null if the operator
+// has no role.
+async function captureOperatorRole(roleId) {
+  if (!roleId) return null;
+  const role = await db('roles').where({ id: roleId }).first();
+  if (!role) return null;
+  const permissions = await db('role_permissions')
+    .join('permissions', 'permissions.id', 'role_permissions.permission_id')
+    .where('role_permissions.role_id', roleId)
+    .pluck('permissions.name');
+  return { role, permissions };
+}
+
+// Restore the operator's authorization after roles/role_permissions are
+// replaced. A restore rewrites the RBAC tables, so the operator's pre-restore
+// role_id may now name a different (or missing) role — a crafted backup could
+// silently downgrade them, and reinjectCurrentAdmin deliberately does NOT copy
+// role_id (it could dangle). Here we resolve the role by NAME against the
+// restored data: if a role with the operator's role name exists we trust it
+// (it's the backup the operator chose to restore); otherwise we re-create the
+// role from the captured snapshot and re-grant the captured permissions that
+// still exist, so the operator can never be locked out of their own instance.
+async function preserveOperatorRole(trx, operatorId, snapshot) {
+  if (!operatorId || !snapshot || !snapshot.role) return;
+  const { role, permissions } = snapshot;
+
+  let target = await trx('roles').whereRaw('lower(name) = lower(?)', [role.name]).first();
+  if (!target) {
+    const roleRow = { ...role };
+    delete roleRow.id;
+    const maxRole = await trx('roles').max({ m: 'id' }).first();
+    const newRoleId = (Number(maxRole && maxRole.m) || 0) + 1; // sequence resynced post-commit
+    roleRow.id = newRoleId;
+    await trx('roles').insert(roleRow);
+    if (permissions && permissions.length) {
+      const perms = await trx('permissions').whereIn('name', permissions).select('id');
+      if (perms.length) {
+        await trx('role_permissions').insert(
+          perms.map((p) => ({ role_id: newRoleId, permission_id: p.id }))
+        );
+      }
+    }
+    target = { id: newRoleId };
+  }
+  await trx('admin_users').where({ id: operatorId }).update({ role_id: target.id });
+}
+
+// Fast-forward each restored table's Postgres identity sequence to its current
+// max(id). batchInsert writes explicit ids without advancing the sequence, so
+// the next natural insert into any restored table (a new event, an accepted
+// invitation, etc.) would otherwise collide on the primary key. Runs AFTER the
+// restore transaction commits (setval is non-transactional and would survive a
+// rollback) and guards every table with a column-existence check —
+// pg_get_serial_sequence RAISES on a table lacking an `id` column (e.g. the
+// composite-key role_permissions), so an unguarded call would abort here.
+// No-op on SQLite, whose AUTOINCREMENT tracks the high-water mark itself.
+async function resyncSequences(tables) {
+  if (!isPostgres()) return;
+  for (const table of tables) {
+    try {
+      if (!(await db.schema.hasColumn(table, 'id'))) continue;
+      const res = await db.raw('SELECT pg_get_serial_sequence(?, ?) AS seq', [table, 'id']);
+      const seq = res && res.rows && res.rows[0] && res.rows[0].seq;
+      if (!seq) continue; // `id` isn't a serial/identity column
+      await db.raw(
+        'SELECT setval(?, (SELECT COALESCE(MAX(id), 1) FROM ??), (SELECT MAX(id) IS NOT NULL FROM ??))',
+        [seq, table, table]
+      );
+    } catch (err) {
+      logger.warn(`[picpeak-import] could not resync sequence for ${table}: ${err.message}`);
+    }
   }
 }
 
@@ -188,7 +268,7 @@ function serialiseJsonColumns(rows, jsonCols) {
 // session_replication_role=replica on the trx connection, reset before commit;
 // sqlite: defer_foreign_keys so checks run at commit). knex_migrations is never
 // in the data set, so the target's schema/migration state is left intact.
-async function replaceAllTables(tables, dataDir, currentAdmin) {
+async function replaceAllTables(tables, dataDir, currentAdmin, roleSnapshot) {
   await db.transaction(async (trx) => {
     if (isPostgres()) {
       try {
@@ -218,7 +298,10 @@ async function replaceAllTables(tables, dataDir, currentAdmin) {
       await trx.batchInsert(table, serialiseJsonColumns(rows, jsonCols), 100);
     }
 
-    await reinjectCurrentAdmin(trx, currentAdmin);
+    const operatorId = await reinjectCurrentAdmin(trx, currentAdmin);
+    if (operatorId && roleSnapshot) {
+      await preserveOperatorRole(trx, operatorId, roleSnapshot);
+    }
 
     // Reset the pg session flag BEFORE the connection returns to the pool.
     if (isPostgres()) await trx.raw("SET session_replication_role = 'origin'");
@@ -288,6 +371,9 @@ async function importFromPicpeak({ picpeakPath, currentAdminId }) {
   const currentAdmin = currentAdminId
     ? await db('admin_users').where({ id: currentAdminId }).first()
     : null;
+  // Capture the operator's role + granted permission names BEFORE the wipe so
+  // their authorization can be re-established after the RBAC tables are replaced.
+  const roleSnapshot = currentAdmin ? await captureOperatorRole(currentAdmin.role_id) : null;
 
   const staging = await fsp.mkdtemp(path.join(os.tmpdir(), 'picpeak-import-'));
   try {
@@ -316,7 +402,16 @@ async function importFromPicpeak({ picpeakPath, currentAdminId }) {
       logger.warn(`[picpeak-import] ignoring ${skipped.length} backup table(s) not present in this DB (or protected): ${skipped.join(', ')}`);
     }
 
-    await replaceAllTables(tables, dataDir, currentAdmin);
+    await replaceAllTables(tables, dataDir, currentAdmin, roleSnapshot);
+
+    // Post-commit fixups (must NOT run inside the restore transaction):
+    //  - resync Postgres identity sequences left behind by the explicit-id
+    //    batchInsert, so the next natural insert doesn't collide;
+    //  - stamp a global session cutoff so every JWT issued before this restore
+    //    (admin, customer, gallery) stops authenticating — ids may have shifted.
+    await resyncSequences(tables);
+    await setSessionsValidAfter(Math.floor(Date.now() / 1000));
+
     const filesRestored = await restoreFiles(staging);
     const usesExternalMedia = await detectExternalMedia();
 
@@ -334,4 +429,7 @@ module.exports = {
   readManifestFromZip,
   validateManifest,
   reinjectCurrentAdmin,
+  captureOperatorRole,
+  preserveOperatorRole,
+  resyncSequences,
 };
diff --git a/backend/src/utils/sessionCutoff.js b/backend/src/utils/sessionCutoff.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d325d179
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/src/utils/sessionCutoff.js
@@ -0,0 +1,100 @@
+/**
+ * Global session cutoff.
+ *
+ * A .picpeak restore rewrites admin_users / customer_accounts / events and can
+ * reassign their primary keys, so any JWT issued BEFORE the restore may now
+ * resolve to a different restored principal (auth middleware binds a token to
+ * `decoded.id`; IP is only logged and the backup controls each row's
+ * `password_changed_at`). Revoking the single importing token is not enough —
+ * every pre-restore admin, customer, and gallery session must stop being
+ * honoured.
+ *
+ * We record a single unix-second cutoff in app_settings and reject any token
+ * whose `iat` predates it, across all three JWT auth paths. The operator's
+ * forced re-login mints a token with `iat >= cutoff`, so it passes; everything
+ * issued earlier is refused. The value is cached briefly so the common auth
+ * path stays a single in-memory comparison.
+ */
+const { db } = require('../database/db');
+const logger = require('./logger');
+
+const CUTOFF_KEY = 'security_sessions_valid_after';
+const CACHE_MS = 30 * 1000; // restores are rare; a short TTL keeps auth cheap
+
+let cache = null; // { value: number, expiry: number }
+
+async function readCutoffFromDb() {
+  const row = await db('app_settings')
+    .where('setting_key', CUTOFF_KEY)
+    .first()
+    .timeout(5000);
+  if (!row || row.setting_value == null) return 0;
+  let value = row.setting_value;
+  // pg `json` returns a parsed number; sqlite returns the stored string.
+  if (typeof value === 'string') {
+    try { value = JSON.parse(value); } catch (_) { /* fall through to parseInt */ }
+  }
+  const seconds = parseInt(value, 10);
+  return Number.isFinite(seconds) ? seconds : 0;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Cutoff as unix seconds (0 = no cutoff set). Cached for CACHE_MS. On a
+ * transient DB error, returns the last known value (or 0) rather than blocking
+ * auth — the cutoff is defence-in-depth layered on top of per-token revocation.
+ */
+async function getSessionsValidAfter() {
+  const now = Date.now();
+  if (cache && now < cache.expiry) return cache.value;
+  try {
+    const value = await readCutoffFromDb();
+    cache = { value, expiry: now + CACHE_MS };
+    return value;
+  } catch (err) {
+    logger.warn('[sessionCutoff] failed to read cutoff:', err.message);
+    return cache ? cache.value : 0;
+  }
+}
+
+/** Persist a new cutoff (unix seconds) and refresh the in-process cache. */
+async function setSessionsValidAfter(unixSeconds) {
+  await db('app_settings')
+    .insert({
+      setting_key: CUTOFF_KEY,
+      setting_value: JSON.stringify(unixSeconds),
+      setting_type: 'number',
+      updated_at: new Date(),
+    })
+    .onConflict('setting_key')
+    .merge({ setting_value: JSON.stringify(unixSeconds), setting_type: 'number', updated_at: new Date() });
+  cache = { value: unixSeconds, expiry: Date.now() + CACHE_MS };
+}
+
+/**
+ * True when this token was issued before the global cutoff. Fail-open on any
+ * error: the cutoff is defence-in-depth on top of per-token revocation and the
+ * post-restore cookie clear, and must never turn a transient read failure into
+ * an auth outage.
+ */
+async function isTokenBeforeCutoff(decoded) {
+  try {
+    if (!decoded || !decoded.iat) return false;
+    const cutoff = await getSessionsValidAfter();
+    if (!cutoff) return false;
+    return decoded.iat < cutoff;
+  } catch (err) {
+    logger.warn('[sessionCutoff] check failed, allowing token:', err.message);
+    return false;
+  }
+}
+
+/** Test-only: drop the in-process cache. */
+function _resetCache() { cache = null; }
+
+module.exports = {
+  CUTOFF_KEY,
+  getSessionsValidAfter,
+  setSessionsValidAfter,
+  isTokenBeforeCutoff,
+  _resetCache,
+};