diff --git a/backend/operator_auth.py b/backend/operator_auth.py
index 93b5cc6..1069003 100644
--- a/backend/operator_auth.py
+++ b/backend/operator_auth.py
@@ -185,6 +185,10 @@ async def operator_gate(request: Request, call_next):
     if not OPERATOR_AUTH_ENABLED:
         return await call_next(request)
 
+    # CORS preflight carries no auth and must reach CORSMiddleware, not the gate.
+    if request.method == "OPTIONS":
+        return await call_next(request)
+
     path = request.url.path
     if _is_exempt(path):
         return await call_next(request)
diff --git a/backend/routers/operator_users.py b/backend/routers/operator_users.py
index 4a3531d..6d58b9f 100644
--- a/backend/routers/operator_users.py
+++ b/backend/routers/operator_users.py
@@ -12,9 +12,21 @@ from backend.operator_auth import (
     require_role, create_operator, reset_operator_password,
     set_operator_active, set_operator_role,
 )
+import backend.operator_auth as operator_auth
 from backend.utils.timezone import format_local_datetime
 
-router = APIRouter(tags=["operator-users"])
+
+def _require_auth_enabled():
+    """The operator-management surface does not exist while operator auth is
+    disabled — otherwise these net-new endpoints would be world-open with the
+    flag off (the default), letting anyone pre-seed a superadmin. Read the flag
+    as a live module attribute so the test monkeypatch and a runtime flip both
+    take effect."""
+    if not operator_auth.OPERATOR_AUTH_ENABLED:
+        raise HTTPException(status_code=404, detail="Not found")
+
+
+router = APIRouter(tags=["operator-users"], dependencies=[Depends(_require_auth_enabled)])
 _superadmin = require_role("superadmin")
 
 
diff --git a/tests/test_operator_gate.py b/tests/test_operator_gate.py
index bb0697d..01494aa 100644
--- a/tests/test_operator_gate.py
+++ b/tests/test_operator_gate.py
@@ -67,3 +67,10 @@ def test_must_change_user_on_api_gets_403_json_not_redirect(client, db_session,
     r = client.get("/api/status-snapshot", follow_redirects=False)
     assert r.status_code == 403
     assert r.json()["detail"] == "Password change required"
+
+
+def test_options_preflight_passes_through_gate(client, db_session, monkeypatch):
+    wire_operator_auth(monkeypatch, db_session, enabled=True)
+    # CORS preflight has no cookie; the gate must not 303/401 it.
+    r = client.options("/api/status-snapshot", follow_redirects=False)
+    assert r.status_code not in (303, 401)
diff --git a/tests/test_operator_users.py b/tests/test_operator_users.py
index 1d149aa..b8881e0 100644
--- a/tests/test_operator_users.py
+++ b/tests/test_operator_users.py
@@ -118,3 +118,15 @@ def test_deferred_operator_role_rejected_by_api(client, db_session, monkeypatch)
     _login_as(client, su)
     assert client.post("/api/admin/users", json={"email": "op@x.com", "name": "Op", "role": "operator"}).status_code == 400
     assert client.post(f"/api/admin/users/{target.id}/role", json={"role": "operator"}).status_code == 400
+
+
+def test_admin_surface_404s_when_flag_off(client, db_session, monkeypatch):
+    su, _ = create_operator(db_session, "su@x.com", "Su", "superadmin", password="pw-123456")
+    wire_operator_auth(monkeypatch, db_session, enabled=False)
+    _login_as(client, su)
+    # With operator auth OFF, the management surface must not exist (404), even
+    # though require_role passes through — otherwise it'd be world-open.
+    assert client.get("/admin/users").status_code == 404
+    assert client.get("/api/admin/users").status_code == 404
+    assert client.post("/api/admin/users",
+                       json={"email": "x@x.com", "name": "X", "role": "admin"}).status_code == 404