diff --git a/src/backend/main.py b/src/backend/main.py
index f1e1923..276e202 100644
--- a/src/backend/main.py
+++ b/src/backend/main.py
@@ -4,10 +4,14 @@ from contextlib import asynccontextmanager
 
 from fastapi import FastAPI
 from fastapi.middleware.cors import CORSMiddleware
+from fastapi.responses import JSONResponse
 from slowapi import _rate_limit_exceeded_handler
 from slowapi.errors import RateLimitExceeded
+from starlette.middleware.base import BaseHTTPMiddleware
+from starlette.requests import Request
 
 from src.backend.api.dependencies import limiter
+from src.backend.config import settings
 from src.backend.api.routes.health import router as health_router
 from src.backend.api.routes.requests import router as requests_router
 from src.backend.api.routes.sessions import router as sessions_router
@@ -41,6 +45,19 @@ app = FastAPI(
     lifespan=lifespan,
 )
 
+PROTECTED_DOCS_PATHS = {"/docs", "/redoc"}
+
+
+class DocsAuthMiddleware(BaseHTTPMiddleware):
+    async def dispatch(self, request: Request, call_next):
+        if request.url.path in PROTECTED_DOCS_PATHS:
+            key = request.headers.get("X-Api-Key") or request.query_params.get("api_key")
+            if key != settings.api_key:
+                return JSONResponse(status_code=403, content={"detail": "API key required"})
+        return await call_next(request)
+
+
+app.add_middleware(DocsAuthMiddleware)
 app.state.limiter = limiter
 app.add_exception_handler(RateLimitExceeded, _rate_limit_exceeded_handler)