diff --git a/frontend/src/App.jsx b/frontend/src/App.jsx
index 1cc3f49..d15faa1 100644
--- a/frontend/src/App.jsx
+++ b/frontend/src/App.jsx
@@ -66,6 +66,7 @@ const siteGateEnabled = siteGateSetting == null
 const staticDataBase = (import.meta.env.VITE_STATIC_DATA_BASE || '/data').replace(/\/+$/, '')
 const staticDataEnabled = String(import.meta.env.VITE_STATIC_DATA || 'false').toLowerCase() === 'true'
 const missingStaticDataPaths = new Set()
+const turnstileRequiredEvent = 'tssbot:turnstile-required'
 
 const BLOCKED_PLAYER_UIDS = new Set(['165569402', '86157459', '33536334', '41808996', '3651161'])
 const BLOCKED_TEAM_NAMES = new Set(['TPC'])
@@ -135,6 +136,15 @@ function dataSource(apiPath, staticPath = null) {
   return { apiPath, staticPath }
 }
 
+function turnstileSessionRequiredMessage(error) {
+  return error === 'Turnstile session required' || error === 'Site session required'
+}
+
+function promptTurnstileSession(detail) {
+  if (typeof window === 'undefined' || !turnstileSiteKey) return
+  window.dispatchEvent(new CustomEvent(turnstileRequiredEvent, { detail }))
+}
+
 const publicDataSources = {
   teams: dataSource(apiEndpoints.teams, staticDataPath('leaderboard-teams.json')),
   players: dataSource(apiEndpoints.players, staticDataPath('leaderboard-players.json')),
@@ -161,6 +171,10 @@ async function fetchJson(path, signal) {
     const error = new Error(body?.error || `Request failed with ${response.status}`)
     error.status = response.status
     error.path = path
+    error.detail = body?.detail
+    if (response.status === 403 && turnstileSessionRequiredMessage(body?.error)) {
+      promptTurnstileSession({ path, error: body?.error, detail: body?.detail })
+    }
     throw error
   }
 
@@ -1307,10 +1321,10 @@ function SiteGate({ onVerified }) {
     >
       <div className="flex w-full max-w-sm flex-col items-center gap-4 rounded-md border border-border bg-fury-white p-6 text-center text-text shadow-[0_24px_70px_rgba(0,0,0,0.24)]">
         <h1 id="site-gate-title" className="text-lg font-semibold">
-          Verifying you are human
+          Start a protected session
         </h1>
         <p className="text-sm text-text-soft">
-          This quick check protects the site from automated abuse. It usually clears itself.
+          Complete this Turnstile check to continue using protected site data.
         </p>
         <TurnstileWidget
           siteKey={turnstileSiteKey}
@@ -1330,15 +1344,15 @@ function SiteGate({ onVerified }) {
 }
 
 function App() {
-  if (!siteGateEnabled) return <AppContent />
-  return <GatedAppContent />
+  if (!turnstileSiteKey) return <AppContent />
+  return <GatedAppContent enforceInitialGate={siteGateEnabled} />
 }
 
-function GatedAppContent() {
+function GatedAppContent({ enforceInitialGate }) {
   const embeddedGateState = document
     .querySelector('meta[name="tss-turnstile-session"]')
     ?.getAttribute('content')
-  const initialGateState = turnstileSiteKey
+  const initialGateState = enforceInitialGate
     ? ['verified', 'required'].includes(embeddedGateState)
       ? embeddedGateState
       : 'checking'
@@ -1346,7 +1360,7 @@ function GatedAppContent() {
   const [gateState, setGateState] = useState(initialGateState)
 
   useEffect(() => {
-    if (!turnstileSiteKey || gateState !== 'checking') return undefined
+    if (!enforceInitialGate || gateState !== 'checking') return undefined
     let cancelled = false
     fetch('/api/turnstile/session', { headers: { Accept: 'application/json' } })
       .then((response) => (response.ok ? response.json() : { verified: false }))
@@ -1360,7 +1374,16 @@ function GatedAppContent() {
     return () => {
       cancelled = true
     }
-  }, [gateState])
+  }, [enforceInitialGate, gateState])
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    function handleTurnstileRequired() {
+      setGateState('required')
+    }
+
+    window.addEventListener(turnstileRequiredEvent, handleTurnstileRequired)
+    return () => window.removeEventListener(turnstileRequiredEvent, handleTurnstileRequired)
+  }, [])
 
   if (gateState === 'checking') {
     return <div className="fixed inset-0 bg-bg" aria-hidden="true" />