diff --git a/src/app/api/analyze/route.ts b/src/app/api/analyze/route.ts
index 927cd42..d5e5d1b 100644
--- a/src/app/api/analyze/route.ts
+++ b/src/app/api/analyze/route.ts
@@ -266,18 +266,36 @@ export async function POST(req: NextRequest): Promise<NextResponse> {
             
             if (!ensuredUserId) {
               console.error('Failed to ensure user exists, cannot award points');
-            } else {
-              const pointsResult = await awardPointsForImage(
-                ensuredUserId, // Use the ensured ID, which might be different from pointsUserId
-                userEmail,
-                buffer,
-                ipfsUrl,
-                visionResult.description,
-                visionResult.mainObject
-              );
-              console.log('Points award result:', pointsResult);
               
-              // Check for Sei wallet connection and award tokens
+              // Even if we can't award points, we should still return a successful response
+              // so the user gets some useful feedback about their image
+              return NextResponse.json(responseData);
+            } else {
+              // Award points first - this should always happen regardless of wallet status
+              console.log('Attempting to award points for user:', { ensuredUserId, userEmail });
+              try {
+                const pointsResult = await awardPointsForImage(
+                  ensuredUserId, // Use the ensured ID, which might be different from pointsUserId
+                  userEmail,
+                  buffer,
+                  ipfsUrl,
+                  visionResult.description,
+                  visionResult.mainObject
+                );
+                console.log('Points award result:', pointsResult);
+                
+                if (pointsResult.success) {
+                  console.log(`Successfully awarded ${pointsResult.points} points to user ${ensuredUserId}`);
+                } else {
+                  console.warn(`Failed to award points to user ${ensuredUserId}: ${pointsResult.message}`);
+                }
+              } catch (pointsError) {
+                console.error('Error awarding points:', pointsError);
+                // Even if points award fails, we continue to try token rewards
+              }
+              
+              // AFTER points are awarded, try to award tokens if wallet is connected
+              // This is separate so issues with token rewards don't affect points
               try {
                 // Import dynamically to avoid server-side issues with window object
                 const { awardTokensForSighting } = await import('../../../services/blockchain/tokenRewardService');