diff --git a/refer_landing_page/lib/adminApi.ts b/refer_landing_page/lib/adminApi.ts
index f911eaf..021a804 100644
--- a/refer_landing_page/lib/adminApi.ts
+++ b/refer_landing_page/lib/adminApi.ts
@@ -3,17 +3,31 @@
  * Preserves database IDs and handles authenticated mutating requests (POST, PUT, DELETE).
  */
 
+export function normalizeApiUrl(rawUrl?: string): string {
+  let url = (rawUrl || "").trim().replace(/\/+$/, "");
+  if (!url) {
+    return "/api/v1";
+  }
+  if (!url.endsWith("/api/v1")) {
+    url = `${url}/api/v1`;
+  }
+  return url;
+}
+
 export function getAdminApiBaseUrl(): string {
   if (typeof window !== "undefined") {
-    // Browser / CSR context: same-origin relative path by default.
-    return process.env.NEXT_PUBLIC_API_BASE_URL || "/api/v1";
+    // Browser / CSR context:
+    if (process.env.NEXT_PUBLIC_API_BASE_URL) {
+      return normalizeApiUrl(process.env.NEXT_PUBLIC_API_BASE_URL);
+    }
+    return "/api/v1";
   }
   // Server / build-time context: defensive fallback during static prerendering
-  return (
+  const raw =
     process.env.API_BASE_URL ||
     process.env.NEXT_PUBLIC_API_BASE_URL ||
-    "http://localhost:8080/api/v1"
-  );
+    "http://localhost:8080/api/v1";
+  return normalizeApiUrl(raw);
 }
 
 export interface AdminResearchProject {
diff --git a/refer_landing_page/lib/api.ts b/refer_landing_page/lib/api.ts
index e6f02cd..e439384 100644
--- a/refer_landing_page/lib/api.ts
+++ b/refer_landing_page/lib/api.ts
@@ -10,17 +10,31 @@ import type {
   DocStatus,
 } from "../content/types";
 
+export function normalizeApiUrl(rawUrl?: string): string {
+  let url = (rawUrl || "").trim().replace(/\/+$/, "");
+  if (!url) {
+    return "/api/v1";
+  }
+  if (!url.endsWith("/api/v1")) {
+    url = `${url}/api/v1`;
+  }
+  return url;
+}
+
 export function getApiBaseUrl(): string {
   if (typeof window !== "undefined") {
-    // Browser / CSR context: same-origin relative path by default.
-    return process.env.NEXT_PUBLIC_API_BASE_URL || "/api/v1";
+    // Browser / CSR context:
+    if (process.env.NEXT_PUBLIC_API_BASE_URL) {
+      return normalizeApiUrl(process.env.NEXT_PUBLIC_API_BASE_URL);
+    }
+    return "/api/v1";
   }
   // Server / build-time context: defensive fallback during static prerendering
-  return (
+  const raw =
     process.env.API_BASE_URL ||
     process.env.NEXT_PUBLIC_API_BASE_URL ||
-    "http://localhost:8080/api/v1"
-  );
+    "http://localhost:8080/api/v1";
+  return normalizeApiUrl(raw);
 }
 
 const FETCH_TIMEOUT_MS = 3000;