diff --git a/src/lib/api.ts b/src/lib/api.ts
index 9e0fd09..5f0eb54 100644
--- a/src/lib/api.ts
+++ b/src/lib/api.ts
@@ -58,10 +58,16 @@ export const api = {
     const res = await fetch(`${API_URL}/projects`, {
       method: 'POST',
       headers: getHeaders(),
-      body: JSON.stringify(projectData)
+      body: JSON.stringify(projectData),
     });
-    const data = await res.json();
-    if (!res.ok) throw new Error(data.error);
+    const text = await res.text();
+    let data;
+    try { 
+      data = JSON.parse(text); 
+    } catch(e) { 
+      throw new Error(`Server returned non-JSON (${res.status}): ${text.substring(0, 100)}`); 
+    }
+    if (!res.ok) throw new Error(data.error || `HTTP ${res.status}`);
     return data;
   },
   
diff --git a/src/pages/Editor.tsx b/src/pages/Editor.tsx
index d327c5b..d412b55 100644
--- a/src/pages/Editor.tsx
+++ b/src/pages/Editor.tsx
@@ -677,9 +677,9 @@ export default function Editor() {
       if (projectId === 'new' && result.id) {
         navigate(`/editor/${result.id}`, { replace: true });
       }
-    } catch (err) {
+    } catch (err: any) {
       console.error("Failed to save project to cloud", err);
-      alert("Failed to save project");
+      alert("Failed to save project: " + (err.message || JSON.stringify(err)));
     } finally {
       setIsRendering(false);
       setOpenMenu(null);