diff --git a/src/actions/setup.ts b/src/actions/setup.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8026d48
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/actions/setup.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+"use server";
+
+import bcrypt from "bcryptjs";
+import { prisma } from "@/lib/prisma";
+
+export interface CreateFirstUserState {
+  error?: string;
+  success?: boolean;
+}
+
+// Bootstrap-only: only works while the users table is empty, so this can't
+// be used to create accounts once the real admin user exists.
+export async function createFirstUser(
+  _prevState: CreateFirstUserState,
+  formData: FormData
+): Promise<CreateFirstUserState> {
+  const email = String(formData.get("email") || "").toLowerCase().trim();
+  const password = String(formData.get("password") || "");
+  const name = String(formData.get("name") || "").trim();
+
+  if (!email || !password) {
+    return { error: "Email and password are required." };
+  }
+  if (password.length < 8) {
+    return { error: "Password must be at least 8 characters long." };
+  }
+
+  const existingCount = await prisma.user.count();
+  if (existingCount > 0) {
+    return { error: "An account already exists. This setup page is disabled." };
+  }
+
+  const hashedPassword = await bcrypt.hash(password, 12);
+
+  await prisma.user.create({
+    data: {
+      email,
+      password: hashedPassword,
+      name: name || null,
+      role: "ADMIN",
+    },
+  });
+
+  return { success: true };
+}
diff --git a/src/app/signup/page.tsx b/src/app/signup/page.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c158973
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/app/signup/page.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+import { prisma } from "@/lib/prisma";
+import { SignupForm } from "@/components/auth/signup-form";
+import { Film } from "lucide-react";
+
+export const dynamic = "force-dynamic";
+
+export const metadata = {
+  title: "Set up account — xBid",
+};
+
+export default async function SignupPage() {
+  const userCount = await prisma.user.count();
+
+  return (
+    <div className="flex min-h-screen w-full items-center justify-center bg-background px-4">
+      <div className="w-full max-w-sm space-y-6">
+        <div className="flex flex-col items-center gap-3 text-center">
+          <div className="flex h-10 w-10 items-center justify-center rounded-lg bg-amber-500">
+            <Film className="h-5 w-5 text-black" />
+          </div>
+          <div>
+            <h1 className="text-lg font-semibold tracking-tight">
+              x<span className="text-amber-500">Bid</span>
+            </h1>
+            <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">
+              {userCount > 0 ? "Setup already complete" : "Create your account"}
+            </p>
+          </div>
+        </div>
+
+        {userCount > 0 ? (
+          <p className="text-center text-sm text-muted-foreground">
+            An account already exists, so this setup page is disabled.{" "}
+            <a href="/login" className="text-amber-500 underline">
+              Go to sign in
+            </a>
+            .
+          </p>
+        ) : (
+          <SignupForm />
+        )}
+      </div>
+    </div>
+  );
+}
diff --git a/src/components/auth/signup-form.tsx b/src/components/auth/signup-form.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..49e7ed5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/components/auth/signup-form.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+"use client";
+
+import { useActionState } from "react";
+import { Button } from "@/components/ui/button";
+import { Input } from "@/components/ui/input";
+import { Label } from "@/components/ui/label";
+import { Card, CardContent } from "@/components/ui/card";
+import { createFirstUser, type CreateFirstUserState } from "@/actions/setup";
+
+const initialState: CreateFirstUserState = {};
+
+export function SignupForm() {
+  const [state, action, pending] = useActionState(createFirstUser, initialState);
+
+  if (state.success) {
+    return (
+      <Card>
+        <CardContent className="space-y-4 text-center">
+          <p className="text-sm">
+            Account created. You can delete the signup page now — sign in at{" "}
+            <a href="/login" className="text-amber-500 underline">
+              /login
+            </a>
+            .
+          </p>
+        </CardContent>
+      </Card>
+    );
+  }
+
+  return (
+    <Card>
+      <CardContent>
+        <form action={action} className="space-y-4">
+          <div className="space-y-1.5">
+            <Label htmlFor="name">Name (optional)</Label>
+            <Input id="name" name="name" autoComplete="name" />
+          </div>
+          <div className="space-y-1.5">
+            <Label htmlFor="email">Email</Label>
+            <Input id="email" name="email" type="email" autoComplete="email" required />
+          </div>
+          <div className="space-y-1.5">
+            <Label htmlFor="password">Password</Label>
+            <Input
+              id="password"
+              name="password"
+              type="password"
+              autoComplete="new-password"
+              required
+              minLength={8}
+            />
+          </div>
+          {state.error && <p className="text-sm text-destructive">{state.error}</p>}
+          <Button type="submit" className="w-full" disabled={pending}>
+            {pending ? "Creating…" : "Create account"}
+          </Button>
+        </form>
+      </CardContent>
+    </Card>
+  );
+}
diff --git a/src/proxy.ts b/src/proxy.ts
index 8f1b757..37e68e5 100644
--- a/src/proxy.ts
+++ b/src/proxy.ts
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import { NextResponse } from "next/server";
 import type { NextRequest } from "next/server";
 import { getToken } from "next-auth/jwt";
 
-const PUBLIC_PATHS = ["/login"];
+const PUBLIC_PATHS = ["/login", "/signup"];
 
 export default async function proxy(request: NextRequest) {
   const { pathname } = request.nextUrl;