diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/deploy.yml b/.gitea/workflows/deploy.yml
index 2d37e9d..8dcd106 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/deploy.yml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/deploy.yml
@@ -6,13 +6,16 @@
 # flight-radar.
 #
 # PREREQUISITES (one-time):
-#   1. Host LAPI machine registered:
-#        sudo cscli machines add crowdsec-admin --password '<PW>'
-#   2. Repo secrets set in Gitea → Settings → Secrets:
+#   1. Host LAPI machine registered (for DELETE auth):
+#        sudo cscli machines add crowdsec-admin --password '<PW>' -f -
+#   2. Host LAPI bouncer registered (for GET auth):
+#        sudo cscli bouncers add crowdsec-admin
+#   3. Repo secrets set in Gitea → Settings → Secrets:
 #        LAPI_MACHINE_ID=crowdsec-admin
 #        LAPI_MACHINE_PASSWORD=<PW>
-#   3. DNS: crowdsec.domverse-berlin.eu → host IP.
-#   4. Authentik wildcard forward_domain already covers *.domverse-berlin.eu.
+#        LAPI_BOUNCER_KEY=<bouncer key from step 2>
+#   4. DNS: crowdsec.domverse-berlin.eu → host IP.
+#   5. Authentik wildcard forward_domain already covers *.domverse-berlin.eu.
 # ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
 name: Deploy
@@ -39,6 +42,7 @@ jobs:
           cat > .env <<EOF
           LAPI_MACHINE_ID=${{ secrets.LAPI_MACHINE_ID }}
           LAPI_MACHINE_PASSWORD=${{ secrets.LAPI_MACHINE_PASSWORD }}
+          LAPI_BOUNCER_KEY=${{ secrets.LAPI_BOUNCER_KEY }}
           EOF
           chmod 600 .env
 
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index de6bfc5..af4922c 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -16,26 +16,40 @@ Built so the admin can unban an IP without SSH when their own network routes cha
 
 LAPI lives on the host at `0.0.0.0:8080`. Container reaches it via `host.docker.internal:host-gateway`.
 
-LAPI `DELETE /v1/decisions` requires **machine JWT** (bouncers are read-only). App registers as machine via `cscli machines add`, logs in to `/v1/watchers/login`, caches the JWT ~13 minutes, and refreshes on 401.
+**LAPI splits read vs write auth:**
+
+| Endpoint                      | Auth                  | Notes                                          |
+|-------------------------------|-----------------------|------------------------------------------------|
+| `GET  /v1/decisions`          | bouncer `X-Api-Key`   | Machine JWT returns 403 even when validated.   |
+| `DELETE /v1/decisions[/{id}]` | machine `Bearer` JWT  | Bouncer key returns 401 "cookie token is empty". |
+
+So the app holds both credentials. JWT is acquired via `POST /v1/watchers/login`, cached ~13 min, auto-refreshed on 401. Bouncer key is used as-is.
 
 ## One-time setup
 
-1. **Register the machine on the host** (needs sudo, choose a strong password and save it in `secrets.yml`):
+1. **Register the LAPI machine** on the host (for DELETE). Choose a strong password and save it in `secrets.yml`. `-f -` dumps creds to stdout instead of overwriting the local agent's credentials file.
 
    ```bash
-   sudo cscli machines add crowdsec-admin --password '<PW>'
+   sudo cscli machines add crowdsec-admin --password '<PW>' -f -
    ```
 
-2. **Gitea repo secrets** (Settings → Secrets and variables → Actions):
+2. **Register a bouncer** on the host (for GET). Save the key in `secrets.yml`.
+
+   ```bash
+   sudo cscli bouncers add crowdsec-admin
+   ```
+
+3. **Gitea repo secrets** (Settings → Secrets and variables → Actions):
 
    - `LAPI_MACHINE_ID=crowdsec-admin`
    - `LAPI_MACHINE_PASSWORD=<PW from step 1>`
+   - `LAPI_BOUNCER_KEY=<key from step 2>`
 
-3. **DNS**: `crowdsec.domverse-berlin.eu` → host IP.
+4. **DNS**: `crowdsec.domverse-berlin.eu` → host IP.
 
-4. **Authentik**: nothing — the existing wildcard `forward_domain` provider covers `*.domverse-berlin.eu`, and the `authentik@docker` label in `docker-compose.yml` gates the router.
+5. **Authentik**: nothing — the existing wildcard `forward_domain` provider covers `*.domverse-berlin.eu`, and the `authentik@docker` label in `docker-compose.yml` gates the router.
 
-5. **First deploy**: push to `main` or trigger `workflow_dispatch`. Runner builds the image, brings the stack up, and reports health.
+6. **First deploy**: push to `main` or trigger `workflow_dispatch`. Runner builds the image, brings the stack up, and reports health.
 
 ## Layout
 
diff --git a/app/app.py b/app/app.py
index dd69214..acb7c92 100644
--- a/app/app.py
+++ b/app/app.py
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ import os
 import time
 import ipaddress
 import logging
-from functools import wraps
 
 import requests
 from flask import Flask, render_template, request, jsonify, abort
@@ -10,9 +9,14 @@ from flask import Flask, render_template, request, jsonify, abort
 LAPI_URL = os.environ["LAPI_URL"].rstrip("/")
 MACHINE_ID = os.environ["LAPI_MACHINE_ID"]
 MACHINE_PW = os.environ["LAPI_MACHINE_PASSWORD"]
+BOUNCER_KEY = os.environ["LAPI_BOUNCER_KEY"]
 TRUSTED_HOPS = int(os.environ.get("TRUSTED_PROXY_HOPS", "1"))
 REQ_TIMEOUT = 5
 
+# LAPI splits read vs write:
+#   GET  /v1/decisions  → bouncer X-Api-Key
+#   DELETE /v1/decisions → machine Bearer JWT (from /v1/watchers/login)
+
 app = Flask(__name__)
 logging.basicConfig(level=logging.INFO)
 log = app.logger
@@ -27,10 +31,7 @@ def _login():
         timeout=REQ_TIMEOUT,
     )
     r.raise_for_status()
-    data = r.json()
-    _token["jwt"] = data["code"] if "code" in data and isinstance(data["code"], str) else data.get("token")
-    if not _token["jwt"]:
-        _token["jwt"] = data.get("code") or data.get("token")
+    _token["jwt"] = r.json()["token"]
     _token["exp"] = time.time() + 60 * 13
     return _token["jwt"]
 
@@ -41,7 +42,13 @@ def _jwt():
     return _token["jwt"]
 
 
-def _lapi(method, path, **kw):
+def _bouncer(method, path, **kw):
+    headers = kw.pop("headers", {})
+    headers["X-Api-Key"] = BOUNCER_KEY
+    return requests.request(method, f"{LAPI_URL}{path}", headers=headers, timeout=REQ_TIMEOUT, **kw)
+
+
+def _machine(method, path, **kw):
     headers = kw.pop("headers", {})
     headers["Authorization"] = f"Bearer {_jwt()}"
     r = requests.request(method, f"{LAPI_URL}{path}", headers=headers, timeout=REQ_TIMEOUT, **kw)
@@ -88,7 +95,7 @@ def list_decisions():
         if not valid_ip(q):
             return render_template("_decisions.html", error="invalid IP", decisions=[]), 400
         params["ip"] = q
-    r = _lapi("GET", "/v1/decisions", params=params)
+    r = _bouncer("GET", "/v1/decisions", params=params)
     if r.status_code != 200:
         return render_template("_decisions.html", error=f"LAPI {r.status_code}: {r.text[:200]}", decisions=[]), 502
     decisions = r.json() or []
@@ -102,11 +109,11 @@ def unban():
     if decision_id:
         if not decision_id.isdigit():
             return "invalid id", 400
-        r = _lapi("DELETE", f"/v1/decisions/{decision_id}")
+        r = _machine("DELETE", f"/v1/decisions/{decision_id}")
     elif ip:
         if not valid_ip(ip):
             return "invalid IP", 400
-        r = _lapi("DELETE", "/v1/decisions", params={"ip": ip})
+        r = _machine("DELETE", "/v1/decisions", params={"ip": ip})
     else:
         return "need id or ip", 400
     if r.status_code not in (200, 204):
@@ -118,7 +125,7 @@ def unban():
 @app.post("/unban-me")
 def unban_me():
     ip = caller_ip()
-    r = _lapi("DELETE", "/v1/decisions", params={"ip": ip})
+    r = _machine("DELETE", "/v1/decisions", params={"ip": ip})
     if r.status_code not in (200, 204):
         return f"LAPI {r.status_code}: {r.text[:200]}", 502
     log.info("unban-me by=%s", ip)
@@ -128,7 +135,7 @@ def unban_me():
 @app.get("/healthz")
 def healthz():
     try:
-        r = _lapi("GET", "/v1/decisions", params={"limit": 1})
+        r = _bouncer("GET", "/v1/decisions", params={"limit": 1})
         return jsonify(ok=r.status_code == 200, lapi_status=r.status_code), 200 if r.status_code == 200 else 503
     except Exception as e:
         return jsonify(ok=False, error=str(e)), 503
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index aeab00f..7f0e971 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ services:
       - LAPI_URL=http://host.docker.internal:8080
       - LAPI_MACHINE_ID=${LAPI_MACHINE_ID}
       - LAPI_MACHINE_PASSWORD=${LAPI_MACHINE_PASSWORD}
+      - LAPI_BOUNCER_KEY=${LAPI_BOUNCER_KEY}
       - TRUSTED_PROXY_HOPS=1
     labels:
       - "traefik.enable=true"