diff --git a/lib/directus.ts b/lib/directus.ts
index 14e915ab..27d73eec 100644
--- a/lib/directus.ts
+++ b/lib/directus.ts
@@ -166,6 +166,7 @@ export async function createSettingsItem(
   payload: any,
   bearer: string
 ): Promise<{ data: { id: string } }> {
+  // Note: callers are already using { data: ... } patterns when needed.
   return dxPOST<{ data: { id: string } }>(`/items/${collection}`, bearer, payload);
 }
 
@@ -211,7 +212,8 @@ export async function createDirectusUser(input: {
   ? input.email.trim()
   : `${input.username}@noemail.local`;
 
-  const res = await directusAdminFetch<{ data: { id: string } }>(`/users`, {
+  // System endpoint `/users` expects raw fields (no { data } wrapper).
+  const res = await directusAdminFetch<{ data?: { id?: string } }>(`/users`, {
     method: "POST",
     headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json" },
     body: JSON.stringify({
@@ -223,7 +225,9 @@ export async function createDirectusUser(input: {
     }),
   });
 
-  return { id: String(res?.data?.id) };
+  const id = res?.data?.id as string | undefined;
+  if (!id) throw new Error("User create succeeded but no id returned");
+  return { id: String(id) };
 }
 
 export async function emailForUsername(username: string): Promise<string | null> {