diff --git a/src/lib/settings.ts b/src/lib/settings.ts
index 15a6069..b03ab43 100644
--- a/src/lib/settings.ts
+++ b/src/lib/settings.ts
@@ -44,17 +44,26 @@ export type Settings = Record<SettingsKey, string>;
 // ── Getters ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
 export async function getSettings(): Promise<Settings> {
-  const rows = await prisma.settings.findMany();
-  const stored: Record<string, string> = {};
-  for (const row of rows) stored[row.key] = row.value;
-  return Object.fromEntries(
-    Object.entries(SETTINGS_DEFAULTS).map(([k, v]) => [k, stored[k] ?? v])
-  ) as Settings;
+  try {
+    const rows = await prisma.settings.findMany();
+    const stored: Record<string, string> = {};
+    for (const row of rows) stored[row.key] = row.value;
+    return Object.fromEntries(
+      Object.entries(SETTINGS_DEFAULTS).map(([k, v]) => [k, stored[k] ?? v])
+    ) as Settings;
+  } catch {
+    // DB unavailable at build time — return defaults
+    return { ...SETTINGS_DEFAULTS } as Settings;
+  }
 }
 
 export async function getSetting(key: SettingsKey): Promise<string> {
-  const row = await prisma.settings.findUnique({ where: { key } });
-  return row?.value ?? SETTINGS_DEFAULTS[key];
+  try {
+    const row = await prisma.settings.findUnique({ where: { key } });
+    return row?.value ?? SETTINGS_DEFAULTS[key];
+  } catch {
+    return SETTINGS_DEFAULTS[key];
+  }
 }
 
 // ── Convenience helpers ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────