diff --git a/src/hooks/useStash.ts b/src/hooks/useStash.ts
index 2957a80..4659ca5 100644
--- a/src/hooks/useStash.ts
+++ b/src/hooks/useStash.ts
@@ -50,11 +50,17 @@ export function useStash() {
   const queryClient = useQueryClient();
   const { mutateAsync: createEvent } = useNostrPublish();
 
+  // Safely check if nip44 is available without throwing (some signers throw
+  // "Browser extension not available" when the getter is accessed with no login)
+  const hasNip44 = (() => {
+    try { return !!user?.signer?.nip44; } catch { return false; }
+  })();
+
   // Fetch and decrypt stash
   const { data: stash, isLoading, error } = useQuery({
     queryKey: ['stash', user?.pubkey],
     queryFn: async ({ signal }): Promise<Stash> => {
-      if (!user?.pubkey || !user.signer?.nip44) {
+      if (!user?.pubkey || !hasNip44) {
         return { items: [], updatedAt: 0 };
       }
 
@@ -76,7 +82,7 @@ export function useStash() {
 
       try {
         // Decrypt the content (encrypted to self)
-        const decrypted = await user.signer.nip44.decrypt(user.pubkey, event.content);
+        const decrypted = await user.signer!.nip44!.decrypt(user.pubkey, event.content);
         const stashData = JSON.parse(decrypted) as Stash;
         return stashData;
       } catch (err) {
@@ -84,18 +90,18 @@ export function useStash() {
         return { items: [], updatedAt: 0 };
       }
     },
-    enabled: !!user?.pubkey && !!user.signer?.nip44,
+    enabled: !!user?.pubkey && hasNip44,
     staleTime: 60000, // 1 minute
   });
 
   // Save stash (encrypt and publish)
   const saveStash = useCallback(async (newStash: Stash) => {
-    if (!user?.pubkey || !user.signer?.nip44) {
+    if (!user?.pubkey || !hasNip44) {
       throw new Error('Encryption not available');
     }
 
     // Encrypt to self
-    const encrypted = await user.signer.nip44.encrypt(user.pubkey, JSON.stringify(newStash));
+    const encrypted = await user.signer!.nip44!.encrypt(user.pubkey, JSON.stringify(newStash));
 
     // Publish as replaceable event
     await createEvent({