diff --git a/src/middleware/authMiddleware.js b/src/middleware/authMiddleware.js
index aa03c94..3b89c9d 100644
--- a/src/middleware/authMiddleware.js
+++ b/src/middleware/authMiddleware.js
@@ -1,12 +1,14 @@
 import jwt from 'jsonwebtoken'
 
 function authMiddleware(req, res, next) {
-    const token = req.headers['authorization']
+    const authHeader = req.headers['authorization'] || req.headers['Authorization'];
+    if (!authHeader) { return res.status(401).json({ message: "No token provided" }) }
 
-    if (!token) { return res.status(401).json({ message: "No token provided" }) }
+    // support headers in the form: 'Bearer <token>' or just the token
+    const token = authHeader.startsWith('Bearer ') ? authHeader.split(' ')[1] : authHeader;
 
-    jwt.verify(token, process.env.JWT_SECRET, (err, decoded) => { 
-        if(err) {return res.status(401).json({message: "Invalid token"})}
+    jwt.verify(token, process.env.JWT_SECRET, (err, decoded) => {
+        if (err) { return res.status(401).json({ message: "Invalid token" }) }
         req.userId = decoded.id
         next()
     })