diff --git a/app/api/curators/route.ts b/app/api/curators/route.ts
index aff08ec..4450651 100644
--- a/app/api/curators/route.ts
+++ b/app/api/curators/route.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { NextRequest, NextResponse } from 'next/server';
-import { PrismaClient } from '@prisma/client';
+import { PrismaClient, Prisma } from '@prisma/client';
 import bcrypt from 'bcryptjs';
 import { requireAdminAuth } from '@/lib/auth';
 
@@ -69,6 +69,15 @@ export async function POST(request: NextRequest) {
         });
     } catch (error) {
         console.error('Error creating curator:', error);
+
+        // Handle unique username constraint violation explicitly
+        if (error instanceof Prisma.PrismaClientKnownRequestError && error.code === 'P2002') {
+            return NextResponse.json(
+                { error: 'A curator with this username already exists.' },
+                { status: 409 }
+            );
+        }
+
         return NextResponse.json({ error: 'Internal Server Error' }, { status: 500 });
     }
 }
@@ -153,6 +162,15 @@ export async function PUT(request: NextRequest) {
         });
     } catch (error) {
         console.error('Error updating curator:', error);
+
+        // Handle unique username constraint violation explicitly for updates
+        if (error instanceof Prisma.PrismaClientKnownRequestError && error.code === 'P2002') {
+            return NextResponse.json(
+                { error: 'A curator with this username already exists.' },
+                { status: 409 }
+            );
+        }
+
         return NextResponse.json({ error: 'Internal Server Error' }, { status: 500 });
     }
 }