diff --git a/apps/api/internal/handler/project_create_member_test.go b/apps/api/internal/handler/project_create_member_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..15f438d9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/api/internal/handler/project_create_member_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+package handler_test
+
+import (
+	"net/http"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/Devlaner/devlane/api/internal/model"
+	"github.com/Devlaner/devlane/api/internal/testutil"
+	"github.com/google/uuid"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+)
+
+// A regular workspace member who creates a project should become a project
+// admin, so they can immediately manage the project they just made.
+func TestProject_CreatorBecomesProjectAdmin(t *testing.T) {
+	ts := testutil.NewTestServer(t)
+	w := testutil.SeedWorld(t, ts.DB)
+
+	member := testutil.CreateUser(t, ts.DB)
+	testutil.AddWorkspaceMember(t, ts.DB, w.Workspace.ID, member.ID, testutil.RoleMember)
+	session := testutil.LoginAs(t, ts.DB, member)
+
+	base := "/api/workspaces/" + w.Workspace.Slug + "/projects/"
+	rr := ts.POST(base, map[string]any{"name": "Member Project", "identifier": "MBR"}, session)
+	require.Equal(t, http.StatusCreated, rr.Code, "body=%s", rr.Body.String())
+	projectID, _ := testutil.MustJSONMap(t, rr)["id"].(string)
+	require.NotEmpty(t, projectID)
+
+	// A project_members row exists for the creator with at least admin role.
+	var pm model.ProjectMember
+	require.NoError(t, ts.DB.
+		Where("project_id = ? AND member_id = ? AND deleted_at IS NULL", projectID, member.ID).
+		First(&pm).Error)
+	require.GreaterOrEqual(t, pm.Role, model.RoleAdmin)
+
+	// The creator can immediately save project settings (admin-only action).
+	rr2 := ts.PATCH(base+projectID+"/", map[string]any{"name": "Renamed"}, session)
+	require.Equal(t, http.StatusOK, rr2.Code, "body=%s", rr2.Body.String())
+}
+
+// Guard: creating a project must not add a stray membership for anyone else.
+func TestProject_CreateAddsOnlyCreator(t *testing.T) {
+	ts := testutil.NewTestServer(t)
+	w := testutil.SeedWorld(t, ts.DB)
+
+	base := "/api/workspaces/" + w.Workspace.Slug + "/projects/"
+	rr := ts.POST(base, map[string]any{"name": "Solo", "identifier": "SOLO"}, w.Session)
+	require.Equal(t, http.StatusCreated, rr.Code, "body=%s", rr.Body.String())
+	projectID, _ := testutil.MustJSONMap(t, rr)["id"].(string)
+
+	var count int64
+	require.NoError(t, ts.DB.Model(&model.ProjectMember{}).
+		Where("project_id = ? AND deleted_at IS NULL", projectID).Count(&count).Error)
+	require.Equal(t, int64(1), count)
+
+	var pm model.ProjectMember
+	require.NoError(t, ts.DB.
+		Where("project_id = ? AND deleted_at IS NULL", projectID).First(&pm).Error)
+	require.NotNil(t, pm.MemberID)
+	require.Equal(t, w.User.ID, *pm.MemberID)
+	// Sanity: the created uuid parses.
+	require.NotEqual(t, uuid.Nil, uuid.MustParse(projectID))
+}
diff --git a/apps/api/internal/service/project.go b/apps/api/internal/service/project.go
index 604e139f..e02d1ce0 100644
--- a/apps/api/internal/service/project.go
+++ b/apps/api/internal/service/project.go
@@ -101,7 +101,10 @@ func (s *ProjectService) Create(ctx context.Context, workspaceSlug, name, identi
 		Identifier:  identifier,
 		CreatedByID: &userID,
 	}
-	if err := s.ps.Create(ctx, p); err != nil {
+	// Create the project and the creator's admin membership together, so the
+	// creator can manage the project they just made even if they're only a
+	// regular workspace member.
+	if err := s.ps.CreateWithCreatorMember(ctx, p, userID, model.RoleAdmin); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 	return p, nil
diff --git a/apps/api/internal/store/project.go b/apps/api/internal/store/project.go
index 6b08433e..4917d605 100644
--- a/apps/api/internal/store/project.go
+++ b/apps/api/internal/store/project.go
@@ -22,6 +22,24 @@ func (s *ProjectStore) Create(ctx context.Context, p *model.Project) error {
 	return s.db.WithContext(ctx).Create(p).Error
 }
 
+// CreateWithCreatorMember inserts a project and a project_members row for its
+// creator at the given role, in one transaction, so a project never exists
+// without its creator being able to manage it.
+func (s *ProjectStore) CreateWithCreatorMember(ctx context.Context, p *model.Project, creatorID uuid.UUID, role int16) error {
+	return s.db.WithContext(ctx).Transaction(func(tx *gorm.DB) error {
+		if err := tx.Create(p).Error; err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		member := &model.ProjectMember{
+			ProjectID:   p.ID,
+			WorkspaceID: p.WorkspaceID,
+			MemberID:    &creatorID,
+			Role:        role,
+		}
+		return tx.Create(member).Error
+	})
+}
+
 func (s *ProjectStore) GetByID(ctx context.Context, id uuid.UUID) (*model.Project, error) {
 	var p model.Project
 	err := s.db.WithContext(ctx).Where("id = ? AND deleted_at IS NULL", id).First(&p).Error