diff --git a/backend/models/User.js b/backend/models/User.js
index eb506ed5..3aeaf9b2 100644
--- a/backend/models/User.js
+++ b/backend/models/User.js
@@ -18,12 +18,12 @@ const UserSchema = new mongoose.Schema({
   },
 });
 
-// ✅ FIXED: no next()
-UserSchema.pre('save', async function () {
-  if (!this.isModified('password')) return;
+UserSchema.pre('save', async function (next) {
+  if (!this.isModified('password')) return next();
 
   const salt = await bcrypt.genSalt(10);
   this.password = await bcrypt.hash(this.password, salt);
+  next();
 });
 
 // ✅ password comparison