diff --git a/server/utils/keycloak-admin.ts b/server/utils/keycloak-admin.ts
index 3874910..a08e575 100644
--- a/server/utils/keycloak-admin.ts
+++ b/server/utils/keycloak-admin.ts
@@ -495,10 +495,11 @@ export class KeycloakAdminClient {
 
     // Assign appropriate group instead of role
     const groupName = userData.membershipTier || 'user';
-    console.log(`[keycloak-admin] Assigning user to group: ${groupName}`);
+    const groupPath = `/${groupName}`; // Keycloak groups use paths with leading slash
+    console.log(`[keycloak-admin] Assigning user to group: ${groupName} (path: ${groupPath})`);
     
     try {
-      const groupId = await this.getGroupByPath(groupName);
+      const groupId = await this.getGroupByPath(groupPath);
       await this.assignUserToGroup(userId, groupId);
       console.log(`[keycloak-admin] ✅ Successfully assigned user ${userId} to group: ${groupName}`);
     } catch (error: any) {