diff --git a/components/providers/workspace-provider.tsx b/components/providers/workspace-provider.tsx
index c8cd86d..88d260b 100644
--- a/components/providers/workspace-provider.tsx
+++ b/components/providers/workspace-provider.tsx
@@ -310,11 +310,8 @@ export const WorkspaceProvider: React.FC<WorkspaceProviderProps> = ({
       );
       setProjects(activeProjects);
 
-      // Load current user's permissions
-      const me = await authApi.me();
-      const membersResponse = await membersApi.list(workspaceId, { size: 100 });
-      // Find member by user.id (not by member record id)
-      const currentMember = membersResponse.items.find((m) => m.user.id === me.id);
+      // Load current user's permissions using the dedicated endpoint
+      const currentMember = await membersApi.getCurrentMember(workspaceId);
 
       if (currentMember) {
         // If member found but no permissions, they're likely the creator - grant admin
@@ -324,13 +321,8 @@ export const WorkspaceProvider: React.FC<WorkspaceProviderProps> = ({
           setPermissions(currentMember.permissions);
         }
       } else {
-        // User not in members list - might be creator, check if only workspace
-        // Grant admin access by default for workspace creators
-        if (membersResponse.items.length === 0) {
-          setPermissions([{ key: "admin_full" }]);
-        } else {
-          setPermissions([]);
-        }
+        // User is not a member of this workspace - no permissions
+        setPermissions([]);
       }
 
       // Restore selected projects from localStorage
@@ -473,20 +465,15 @@ export const WorkspaceProvider: React.FC<WorkspaceProviderProps> = ({
 
     // Load permissions for the target workspace
     try {
-      const me = await authApi.me();
-      const membersResponse = await membersApi.list(workspaceId, { size: 100 });
-      const member = membersResponse.items.find((m) => m.user.id === me.id);
+      const currentMember = await membersApi.getCurrentMember(workspaceId);
 
-      if (!member) {
-        // Check if user is creator (members list is empty or this is first member)
-        if (membersResponse.items.length === 0) {
-          return true;
-        }
+      if (!currentMember) {
+        // User is not a member of this workspace
         return false;
       }
 
       // Check if has admin_full permission
-      return member.permissions.some((p) => p.key === "admin_full");
+      return currentMember.permissions.some((p) => p.key === "admin_full");
     } catch (err) {
       console.error("Failed to check workspace permissions:", err);
       return false;
diff --git a/lib/api/members.ts b/lib/api/members.ts
index 7409c6c..9402231 100644
--- a/lib/api/members.ts
+++ b/lib/api/members.ts
@@ -12,7 +12,15 @@ import type {
 
 export const membersApi = {
   /**
-   * Get list of workspace members
+   * Get current user's membership and permissions (any member can access)
+   */
+  getCurrentMember: (workspaceId: string) =>
+    api.get<WorkspaceMember>(
+      `/workspaces/${workspaceId}/members/me`
+    ),
+
+  /**
+   * Get list of workspace members (requires ADMIN_FULL)
    */
   list: (workspaceId: string, params?: PaginationParams) =>
     api.get<PaginatedResponse<WorkspaceMember>>(
@@ -20,12 +28,12 @@ export const membersApi = {
       { params }
     ),
 
-/**
-    * Update member permissions
-    * @param workspaceId - workspace id
-    * @param workspaceUserId - workspace_user.id (not user.id!)
-    * @param data - permissions to update
-    */
+  /**
+   * Update member permissions
+   * @param workspaceId - workspace id
+   * @param workspaceUserId - workspace_user.id (not user.id!)
+   * @param data - permissions to update
+   */
   updatePermissions: (
     workspaceId: string,
     workspaceUserId: string,