diff --git a/strix/interface/platform_cli.py b/strix/interface/platform_cli.py
index f50e3a8a..90ff82e5 100644
--- a/strix/interface/platform_cli.py
+++ b/strix/interface/platform_cli.py
@@ -195,7 +195,7 @@ def _run_device_flow(
         except requests.RequestException:
             continue
         if poll.ok:
-            return _json_object(poll)
+            return _signed_in_record(poll)
         error = ""
         with contextlib.suppress(ValueError, AttributeError):
             error = str(poll.json().get("error", ""))
@@ -213,6 +213,13 @@ def _run_device_flow(
     raise PlatformAuthError("the sign-in request expired. Run `strix login` again.")
 
 
+def _signed_in_record(response: requests.Response) -> dict[str, Any]:
+    record = _json_object(response)
+    if not str(record.get("api_token") or ""):
+        raise PlatformAuthError("the server returned a sign-in response without an API token")
+    return record
+
+
 def _json_object(response: requests.Response) -> dict[str, Any]:
     try:
         data = response.json()