diff --git a/src/router.js b/src/router.js
index 9487bd2b3..f434d893f 100644
--- a/src/router.js
+++ b/src/router.js
@@ -71,6 +71,7 @@ const checkAndSubscribeToLobby = async (to) => {
 
 const getGameState = async (to) => {
   const gameStore = useGameStore();
+  const authStore = useAuthStore();
   const gameId = parseInt(to.params.gameId);
   gameStore.id = gameId;
 
@@ -79,6 +80,12 @@ const getGameState = async (to) => {
   gameStateIndex = isValidGameStateIndex ? gameStateIndex : -1;
   try {
     const response = await gameStore.requestGameState(gameId, gameStateIndex, to);
+    // A 401 resolves without a game state; in that case mustReauthenticate
+    // is set and GameView shows the ReauthenticateDialog
+    const gamePlayers = response?.game?.players;
+    if (gamePlayers && !gamePlayers.some(({ username }) => username === authStore.username)) {
+      return { name: ROUTE_NAME_SPECTATE, params: { gameId } };
+    }
     if (response?.victory?.gameOver && response.game.rematchGame) {
       await gameStore.requestGameState(response.game.rematchGame);
       return { name: to.name, params: { gameId: response.game.rematchGame } };
diff --git a/src/stores/game.js b/src/stores/game.js
index 5f3694081..1a6ef097c 100644
--- a/src/stores/game.js
+++ b/src/stores/game.js
@@ -510,7 +510,8 @@ export const useGameStore = defineStore('game', () => {
             });
           case 401:
             authStore.mustReauthenticate = true;
-            return resolve(jwres.body.message);
+            // Resolve without a game state; ReauthenticateDialog handles recovery
+            return resolve(null);
           default:
             return reject(jwres.body.message);
         }
diff --git a/tests/e2e/specs/in-game/spectating/live-spectating.spec.js b/tests/e2e/specs/in-game/spectating/live-spectating.spec.js
index e2dbf1f7a..5c1fe5374 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/specs/in-game/spectating/live-spectating.spec.js
+++ b/tests/e2e/specs/in-game/spectating/live-spectating.spec.js
@@ -51,6 +51,15 @@ describe('Spectating Games', () => {
     });
   });
 
+  it('Redirects a non-player to spectate when they navigate to the game route', () => {
+    cy.setupGameAsSpectator();
+    cy.get('@gameId').then((gameId) => {
+      cy.visit(`/game/${gameId}`);
+      cy.url().should('include', `/spectate/${gameId}`);
+      cy.get('#deck').should('be.visible');
+    });
+  });
+
   it('Spectates a game', () => {
     cy.setupGameAsSpectator();
     cy.loadGameFixture(0, {