diff --git a/app/src/app/api/admin/orders/[id]/route.ts b/app/src/app/api/admin/orders/[id]/route.ts
index d02eaa9..7f99abd 100644
--- a/app/src/app/api/admin/orders/[id]/route.ts
+++ b/app/src/app/api/admin/orders/[id]/route.ts
@@ -2,6 +2,14 @@ import { NextRequest, NextResponse } from 'next/server'
 import { prisma } from '@/lib/prisma'
 import { getCurrentUser } from '@/lib/auth'
 
+const VALID_TRANSITIONS: Record<string, string[]> = {
+  PENDING: ['PAID', 'CANCELLED'],
+  PAID: ['FULFILLED', 'REFUNDED', 'CANCELLED'],
+  FULFILLED: ['REFUNDED'],
+  CANCELLED: [],
+  REFUNDED: [],
+}
+
 async function requireAdmin() {
   const user = await getCurrentUser()
   if (!user || (user.role !== 'ADMIN' && user.role !== 'OWNER')) return null
@@ -50,6 +58,17 @@ export async function PUT(
     return NextResponse.json({ error: 'Invalid status' }, { status: 400 })
   }
 
+  const currentOrder = await prisma.order.findUnique({ where: { id: params.id }, select: { status: true } })
+  if (!currentOrder) return NextResponse.json({ error: 'Order not found' }, { status: 404 })
+
+  const allowed = VALID_TRANSITIONS[currentOrder.status] ?? []
+  if (!allowed.includes(status)) {
+    return NextResponse.json(
+      { error: `Cannot transition order from ${currentOrder.status} to ${status}` },
+      { status: 422 }
+    )
+  }
+
   const order = await prisma.order.update({
     where: { id: params.id },
     data: { status: status as 'PENDING' | 'PAID' | 'CANCELLED' | 'REFUNDED' | 'FULFILLED' },