diff --git a/internal/service/component_batch.go b/internal/service/component_batch.go
index e6b3bd2..beb61c5 100644
--- a/internal/service/component_batch.go
+++ b/internal/service/component_batch.go
@@ -297,12 +297,16 @@ func (s *ComponentService) AddComponentBatch(ctx context.Context, projectID stri
 		"components", componentNames,
 	)
 
-	// 9. Create initial K8s deployments for components that need one
+	// 9. Ensure a JWT_SECRET exists for this project (required by skeleton service startup).
+	// Generated once per project on the first code component; reused for all subsequent components.
+	s.ensureProjectJWTSecret(ctx, projectID)
+
+	// 10. Create initial K8s deployments for components that need one
 	for _, comp := range codeComponents {
 		s.createInitialComponentDeployment(ctx, projectID, projectDomain, comp)
 	}
 
-	// 10. Combine infrastructure and code component results
+	// 11. Combine infrastructure and code component results
 	results = append(results, codeComponents...)
 
 	return results, nil