diff --git a/server/routes/auth.js b/server/routes/auth.js
index 59e4867..4a9103e 100644
--- a/server/routes/auth.js
+++ b/server/routes/auth.js
@@ -71,7 +71,8 @@ router.post('/register', async (req, res) => {
         try { appName = JSON.parse(brandingSetting.value).appName || appName; } catch {}
       }
 
-      await sendVerificationEmail(email.toLowerCase(), display_name, verifyUrl, appName);
+      sendVerificationEmail(email.toLowerCase(), display_name, verifyUrl, appName)
+        .catch(err => console.error('Verification mail failed (non-fatal):', err.message));
 
       return res.status(201).json({ needsVerification: true, message: 'Verification email has been sent' });
     }
@@ -163,7 +164,9 @@ router.post('/resend-verification', async (req, res) => {
       try { appName = JSON.parse(brandingSetting.value).appName || appName; } catch {}
     }
 
-    await sendVerificationEmail(email.toLowerCase(), user.display_name || user.name, verifyUrl, appName);
+    // Fire-and-forget — do not await so SMTP timeouts don't fail the request
+    sendVerificationEmail(email.toLowerCase(), user.display_name || user.name, verifyUrl, appName)
+      .catch(err => console.error('Resend verification mail failed (non-fatal):', err.message));
 
     res.json({ message: 'If an account exists, a new email has been sent.' });
   } catch (err) {