diff --git a/API_CHANGELOG.md b/API_CHANGELOG.md
index 71ecab85..ad5fb269 100644
--- a/API_CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/API_CHANGELOG.md
@@ -833,6 +833,8 @@ The format is based on [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.0.0/).
     - `DELETE /api/v1/payment-methods/{id}` — remove a saved method.
   - **Breaking:** the `nwc_connection_string` field on `GET`/`PATCH /api/v1/account` has been removed. Existing NWC connections are migrated into `user_payment_method` (provider `nwc`); manage NWC via the new payment-methods endpoints instead.
 
+- **Demo auto-admin requires an explicit runtime opt-in**: in builds with the `demo` feature, `GET /api/admin/v1/me/roles` no longer self-assigns the admin role unconditionally — it now also requires `LNVPS_DEMO_OPEN_ADMIN=1` in the worker's environment, and the binary warns at startup when the feature is compiled in. Demo deployments set the variable; any other deployment (including one that accidentally shipped with `--features demo`) refuses self-promotion. Set the variable in the demo environment to restore the old behavior.
+
 ## [0.4.0] - 2026-07-13
 
 ### Added
diff --git a/lnvps_api_admin/src/admin/roles.rs b/lnvps_api_admin/src/admin/roles.rs
index 5d54d2ff..46b424aa 100644
--- a/lnvps_api_admin/src/admin/roles.rs
+++ b/lnvps_api_admin/src/admin/roles.rs
@@ -537,8 +537,16 @@ async fn admin_get_my_roles(
 
     #[cfg(feature = "demo")]
     {
-        // assign admin role when no roles are found
-        if role_assignments.len() == 0 {
+        // Demo builds auto-assign the admin role to any authenticated key
+        // that lands here — deliberately, so a demo deployment needs no
+        // bootstrap step. Two conditions must BOTH hold: the `demo` feature
+        // is compiled in AND the operator exported LNVPS_DEMO_OPEN_ADMIN=1.
+        // A release build with `--features demo` that forgot the variable
+        // (or an attacker hitting a demo deployment that did not set it) is
+        // refused instead of self-promoting.
+        if role_assignments.len() == 0
+            && std::env::var("LNVPS_DEMO_OPEN_ADMIN").as_deref() == Ok("1")
+        {
             let roles = this.db.list_roles().await?;
             if let Some(admin_role) = roles.iter().find(|r| r.name == "admin") {
                 this.db
@@ -764,4 +772,48 @@ mod tests {
         // Ordinary roles are unaffected.
         assert!(check_role_revocation(1, 1, false, "read_only", 1).is_ok());
     }
+    /// Regression (audit LNVM-006): the demo auto-admin must require the
+    /// explicit `LNVPS_DEMO_OPEN_ADMIN=1` opt-in. Without the variable —
+    /// feature compiled in or not — an authenticated key with no roles is
+    /// reported as having none, never promoted. (The grant path itself needs
+    /// a database: MockDb's role functions are stubs, so only the refusal is
+    /// unit-testable here.)
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn demo_auto_admin_requires_the_explicit_opt_in() {
+        use lnvps_api_common::{
+            ChannelWorkCommander, MockDb, MockExchangeRate, VatClient, VmStateCache,
+        };
+        use lnvps_db::LNVpsDb;
+        use std::sync::Arc;
+
+        fn state(db: &Arc<dyn LNVpsDb>) -> crate::admin::RouterState {
+            crate::admin::RouterState {
+                node_control: None,
+                db: db.clone(),
+                work_commander: Arc::new(ChannelWorkCommander::new()),
+                feedback: None,
+                vm_state_cache: VmStateCache::new(),
+                exchange: Arc::new(MockExchangeRate::default()),
+                vat: VatClient::new(),
+            }
+        }
+
+        let db: Arc<dyn LNVpsDb> = Arc::new(MockDb::default());
+        let pubkey = [30u8; 32];
+        let user_id = db.upsert_user(&pubkey).await.unwrap();
+
+        let auth = AdminAuth {
+            user_id,
+            pubkey: pubkey.to_vec(),
+            permissions: Default::default(),
+            nip98_auth: None,
+        };
+        // single-threaded test body: env mutation is fine here
+        unsafe { std::env::remove_var("LNVPS_DEMO_OPEN_ADMIN") };
+        let res = admin_get_my_roles(auth, State(state(&db))).await.unwrap();
+        assert!(
+            res.0.data.is_empty(),
+            "a key with no roles must not be promoted without the opt-in"
+        );
+    }
 }
diff --git a/lnvps_api_admin/src/bin/admin_api.rs b/lnvps_api_admin/src/bin/admin_api.rs
index 38177281..7a5a48b3 100644
--- a/lnvps_api_admin/src/bin/admin_api.rs
+++ b/lnvps_api_admin/src/bin/admin_api.rs
@@ -138,6 +138,10 @@ async fn main() -> Result<(), Error> {
         Some(i) => i.parse()?,
         None => SocketAddr::new(IpAddr::from([0, 0, 0, 0]), 8001),
     };
+    #[cfg(feature = "demo")]
+    warn!(
+        "DEMO BUILD: /api/admin/v1/me/roles auto-assigns the admin role to any key when LNVPS_DEMO_OPEN_ADMIN=1 - never expose a demo build to the public internet"
+    );
     let listener = bind_address(ip).await?;
     info!("Listening on {}", ip);
     let router = admin_router(