diff --git a/dashcaddy-api/middleware.js b/dashcaddy-api/middleware.js
index 517d559..3dd00bc 100644
--- a/dashcaddy-api/middleware.js
+++ b/dashcaddy-api/middleware.js
@@ -277,6 +277,25 @@ module.exports = function configureMiddleware(app, {
   }
 
   // ── Public routes (bypass TOTP and JWT auth) ──
+  // Routes here are accessible without authentication. By default the
+  // monitoring/health-check endpoints are public so the dashboard can
+  // render widgets before the user logs in. Set MONITORING_PUBLIC=false
+  // (env var) or `monitoring: { public: false }` (config.json) to require
+  // auth for these — useful for internet-exposed deployments where
+  // CPU/memory/disk data is sensitive.
+  const MONITORING_PUBLIC = (() => {
+    if (process.env.MONITORING_PUBLIC === 'false') return false;
+    if (process.env.MONITORING_PUBLIC === 'true') return true;
+    // Default: check config.json if loaded
+    try {
+      const cfg = require('./src/config/site').siteConfig;
+      if (cfg && cfg.monitoring && typeof cfg.monitoring.public === 'boolean') {
+        return cfg.monitoring.public;
+      }
+    } catch { /* config not loaded yet, use default */ }
+    return true; // default: public (current behavior, dashboard needs it)
+  })();
+
   const PUBLIC_ROUTES = [
     { path: '/health',                   exact: true },
     { path: '/api/v1/health',            exact: true },
@@ -305,8 +324,11 @@ module.exports = function configureMiddleware(app, {
     { path: '/api/v1/config',             exact: true,  method: 'GET' },
     { path: '/api/v1/services/status',    exact: true,  method: 'GET' },
     { path: '/api/v1/system/update-notify', exact: true, method: 'POST' },
-    { path: '/api/v1/monitoring/stats',     exact: true, method: 'GET' },
-    { path: '/api/v1/health-checks/status', exact: true, method: 'GET' },
+    // Monitoring endpoints — only public if MONITORING_PUBLIC is true
+    ...(MONITORING_PUBLIC ? [
+      { path: '/api/v1/monitoring/stats',     exact: true, method: 'GET' },
+      { path: '/api/v1/health-checks/status', exact: true, method: 'GET' },
+    ] : []),
     { path: '/api/v1/version',             exact: true, method: 'GET' },
   ];