diff --git a/crates/manager-core/src/auth_api.rs b/crates/manager-core/src/auth_api.rs
index 44ecb28..6fd8a76 100644
--- a/crates/manager-core/src/auth_api.rs
+++ b/crates/manager-core/src/auth_api.rs
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ use axum::response::{IntoResponse, Json, Response};
 use axum::routing::{get, post};
 use axum::Router;
 use chrono::{DateTime, Duration as ChronoDuration, Utc};
-use picloud_shared::AdminUserId;
+use picloud_shared::{AdminUserId, InstanceRole};
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 use serde_json::json;
 
@@ -63,6 +63,8 @@ pub struct LoginResponse {
 pub struct AdminUserDto {
     pub id: AdminUserId,
     pub username: String,
+    pub instance_role: InstanceRole,
+    pub email: Option<String>,
 }
 
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -87,9 +89,11 @@ async fn login(State(state): State<AuthState>, Json(input): Json<LoginRequest>)
         }
     };
 
-    let (stored_hash, user_id, username, is_active) = match creds {
-        Some(c) => (c.password_hash, Some(c.id), c.username, c.is_active),
-        None => (DUMMY_HASH.to_string(), None, String::new(), false),
+    // username from creds is discarded — the re-fetch below carries the
+    // canonical row used in the response DTO.
+    let (stored_hash, user_id, is_active) = match creds {
+        Some(c) => (c.password_hash, Some(c.id), c.is_active),
+        None => (DUMMY_HASH.to_string(), None, false),
     };
 
     let password_ok = verify_password(&stored_hash, &input.password);
@@ -98,6 +102,18 @@ async fn login(State(state): State<AuthState>, Json(input): Json<LoginRequest>)
     }
     let user_id = user_id.unwrap();
 
+    // Re-fetch the full row so the login response carries the same
+    // shape /me does (instance_role, email). The credentials struct
+    // intentionally omits email; one extra query per login is fine.
+    let user_row = match state.users.get(user_id).await {
+        Ok(Some(row)) => row,
+        Ok(None) => return invalid_credentials(),
+        Err(err) => {
+            tracing::error!(?err, "admin_users lookup after login failed");
+            return internal_error();
+        }
+    };
+
     let token = generate_session_token();
     let expires_at = Utc::now()
         + ChronoDuration::from_std(state.ttl).unwrap_or_else(|_| ChronoDuration::hours(24));
@@ -130,8 +146,10 @@ async fn login(State(state): State<AuthState>, Json(input): Json<LoginRequest>)
         headers,
         Json(LoginResponse {
             user: AdminUserDto {
-                id: user_id,
-                username,
+                id: user_row.id,
+                username: user_row.username,
+                instance_role: user_row.instance_role,
+                email: user_row.email,
             },
             token: token.raw,
             expires_at,
@@ -171,6 +189,8 @@ async fn me(
         Ok(Some(row)) => Json(AdminUserDto {
             id: row.id,
             username: row.username,
+            instance_role: row.instance_role,
+            email: row.email,
         })
         .into_response(),
         Ok(None) => invalid_credentials(),
diff --git a/crates/picloud/tests/api.rs b/crates/picloud/tests/api.rs
index d183dbe..e1da44e 100644
--- a/crates/picloud/tests/api.rs
+++ b/crates/picloud/tests/api.rs
@@ -93,6 +93,27 @@ async fn healthz_responds_ok(pool: PgPool) {
     assert_eq!(r.text(), "ok");
 }
 
+// ============================================================================
+// Auth
+// ============================================================================
+
+#[ignore = "needs DATABASE_URL pointing at a running Postgres"]
+#[sqlx::test(migrations = "../manager-core/migrations")]
+async fn auth_me_returns_principal_with_role_and_email(pool: PgPool) {
+    let s = server(pool).await;
+    let r = s.get("/api/v1/admin/auth/me").await;
+    r.assert_status_ok();
+    let body: Value = r.json();
+    assert_eq!(body["username"], "test-admin");
+    assert_eq!(body["instance_role"], "owner");
+    // Seeded admin has no email — must round-trip as null, not be missing.
+    assert!(
+        body.get("email").map(Value::is_null).unwrap_or(false),
+        "email should be present and null, got: {body}"
+    );
+    assert!(body["id"].as_str().is_some());
+}
+
 // ============================================================================
 // Script CRUD
 // ============================================================================