diff --git a/src/routes/+layout.ts b/src/routes/+layout.ts
index 0aef077b..241b7fea 100644
--- a/src/routes/+layout.ts
+++ b/src/routes/+layout.ts
@@ -466,6 +466,12 @@ export async function load({ fetch, params, parent, route, url }) {
                         (stored_key === ae_loc_init['site_access_key'] ||
                             stored_key === ae_loc_init['site_domain_access_key'])
                     ) {
+                        // IMPORTANT: set key_checked to the actual key string, NOT true.
+                        // If we leave key_checked = true (boolean), +layout.svelte will
+                        // persist that back to localStorage, clobbering the key string.
+                        // On the very next navigation, true === 'actual-key' fails and
+                        // every subsequent page shows "Access Denied".
+                        ae_loc_init['key_checked'] = stored_key;
                         ae_loc_init['allow_access'] = stored_key;
                     }
                 }