diff --git a/apps/api/src/storage/storage.service.ts b/apps/api/src/storage/storage.service.ts
index 326ef5c..b0e61c2 100644
--- a/apps/api/src/storage/storage.service.ts
+++ b/apps/api/src/storage/storage.service.ts
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
-import { Injectable, Logger } from "@nestjs/common";
+import { Injectable, Logger, OnModuleInit } from "@nestjs/common";
 import { ConfigService } from "@nestjs/config";
 import * as fs from "fs";
 import * as path from "path";
 import { randomUUID } from "crypto";
-import { S3Client, DeleteObjectCommand, PutObjectCommand } from "@aws-sdk/client-s3";
+import { S3Client, DeleteObjectCommand, PutObjectCommand, CreateBucketCommand, HeadBucketCommand } from "@aws-sdk/client-s3";
 import { getSignedUrl } from "@aws-sdk/s3-request-presigner";
 import { GetObjectCommand } from "@aws-sdk/client-s3";
 
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ import { GetObjectCommand } from "@aws-sdk/client-s3";
  *   • Otherwise              → local disk under ./uploads/ (development)
  */
 @Injectable()
-export class StorageService {
+export class StorageService implements OnModuleInit {
   private readonly logger = new Logger(StorageService.name);
   private readonly uploadDir: string;
   private readonly baseUrl: string;
@@ -50,6 +50,26 @@ export class StorageService {
     }
   }
 
+  async onModuleInit(): Promise<void> {
+    if (this.s3 && this.bucket) {
+      await this.ensureBucket();
+    }
+  }
+
+  private async ensureBucket(): Promise<void> {
+    try {
+      await this.s3!.send(new HeadBucketCommand({ Bucket: this.bucket! }));
+      this.logger.log(`[STORAGE] Bucket "${this.bucket}" exists`);
+    } catch (e: any) {
+      if (e.name === "NotFound" || e.$metadata?.httpStatusCode === 404) {
+        await this.s3!.send(new CreateBucketCommand({ Bucket: this.bucket! }));
+        this.logger.log(`[STORAGE] Created bucket "${this.bucket}"`);
+      } else {
+        this.logger.error(`[STORAGE] Bucket check failed: ${e.message}`);
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
   get isS3Mode(): boolean { return !!this.s3; }
 
   /**