diff --git a/src/components/LogoutOnUnload.tsx b/src/components/LogoutOnUnload.tsx
index 47d4879..84dc3ea 100644
--- a/src/components/LogoutOnUnload.tsx
+++ b/src/components/LogoutOnUnload.tsx
@@ -1,17 +1,40 @@
 'use client';
 
-import { useEffect } from 'react';
+import { useEffect, useRef } from 'react';
 import { useCart } from '@/lib/cartStore';
 
 /**
  * Logs out the user when they close/leave the page
  * Works for both admin and customer sessions
+ * Skips logout when navigating to external checkout (Stripe, etc)
  */
 export default function LogoutOnUnload() {
   const clearCart = useCart((s) => s.clear);
+  const isCheckingOut = useRef(false);
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    // Mark when checkout is being initiated
+    const origFetch = window.fetch;
+    window.fetch = function(...args) {
+      const url = typeof args[0] === 'string' ? args[0] : (args[0] as Request).url;
+      if (url?.includes('/api/checkout')) {
+        isCheckingOut.current = true;
+      }
+      return origFetch.apply(this, args);
+    };
+
+    return () => {
+      window.fetch = origFetch;
+    };
+  }, []);
 
   useEffect(() => {
     const handleUnload = () => {
+      // Don't logout if we're in the middle of checkout (navigating to Stripe)
+      if (isCheckingOut.current) {
+        return;
+      }
+
       // Clear cart on logout
       clearCart();
       // Use sendBeacon to reliably send logout even when page is closing