diff --git a/api/v1_prizes_claim.go b/api/v1_prizes_claim.go
index a8a5a653..790786c8 100644
--- a/api/v1_prizes_claim.go
+++ b/api/v1_prizes_claim.go
@@ -104,7 +104,8 @@ func (app *ApiServer) v1PrizesClaim(c *fiber.Ctx) error {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	ctx := c.Context()
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(c.Context(), 10*time.Second)
+	defer cancel()
 
 	// Check if this signature has already been used
 	var alreadyUsed bool
@@ -119,6 +120,31 @@ func (app *ApiServer) v1PrizesClaim(c *fiber.Ctx) error {
 		return fiber.NewError(fiber.StatusBadRequest, "Transaction signature already used")
 	}
 
+	// Wait for the transaction to appear in sol_token_account_balance_changes to ensure no race conditions
+	for {
+		select {
+		case <-ctx.Done():
+			app.logger.Error("Context deadline exceeded while processing prize claim",
+				zap.String("wallet", req.Wallet),
+				zap.String("signature", req.Signature))
+			return fiber.NewError(fiber.StatusRequestTimeout, "Request timed out")
+		default:
+		}
+
+		var exists bool
+		err := app.pool.QueryRow(ctx, `
+			SELECT EXISTS(SELECT 1 FROM sol_token_account_balance_changes WHERE signature = $1)
+		`, req.Signature).Scan(&exists)
+		if err != nil {
+			app.logger.Error("Failed to query transaction existence", zap.Error(err))
+			return fiber.NewError(fiber.StatusInternalServerError, "Database error")
+		}
+		if exists {
+			break
+		}
+		time.Sleep(200 * time.Millisecond) // Wait before retrying
+	}
+
 	// Verify the transaction in sol_token_account_balance_changes
 	// We need to find balance changes where:
 	// 1. The signature matches
diff --git a/api/v1_prizes_claim_test.go b/api/v1_prizes_claim_test.go
index e209cedb..d62b4a0f 100644
--- a/api/v1_prizes_claim_test.go
+++ b/api/v1_prizes_claim_test.go
@@ -266,7 +266,7 @@ func TestV1PrizesClaim(t *testing.T) {
 			"Content-Type": "application/json",
 		})
 
-		assert.Equal(t, 400, status, "Should return 400 for non-existent transaction. Response: %s", string(respBody))
+		assert.Equal(t, 408, status, "Should return 408 for non-existent transaction. Response: %s", string(respBody))
 	})
 
 	t.Run("Wrong mint - transaction uses different mint", func(t *testing.T) {