diff --git a/frontend/src/components/NotificationBell.jsx b/frontend/src/components/NotificationBell.jsx
index f25cc29..7ab893f 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/NotificationBell.jsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/NotificationBell.jsx
@@ -41,7 +41,13 @@ function NotificationBell({ onShowToast }) {
       setNotifications(data);
       setUnreadCount(data.filter((n) => !n.is_read).length);
     } catch (error) {
-      // Silent fail for polling
+      // If unauthorized (401), user is not logged in - don't show errors
+      if (error.message.includes("401") || error.message.includes("Unauthorized") || error.message.includes("User not found")) {
+        setNotifications([]);
+        setUnreadCount(0);
+        return;
+      }
+      // Silent fail for other polling errors
       console.error("Failed to load notifications", error);
     }
   };
diff --git a/frontend/src/notificationApi.js b/frontend/src/notificationApi.js
index 6ae055a..295ae86 100644
--- a/frontend/src/notificationApi.js
+++ b/frontend/src/notificationApi.js
@@ -16,6 +16,9 @@ export async function getNotifications(unreadOnly = false) {
   });
 
   if (!response.ok) {
+    if (response.status === 401) {
+      throw new Error("Unauthorized");
+    }
     const errorData = await response.json().catch(() => ({ detail: "Failed to fetch notifications" }));
     throw new Error(errorData.detail || "Failed to fetch notifications");
   }