diff --git a/apps/backend/src/lib/tokens.tsx b/apps/backend/src/lib/tokens.tsx
index 8e793182e..6232dc930 100644
--- a/apps/backend/src/lib/tokens.tsx
+++ b/apps/backend/src/lib/tokens.tsx
@@ -103,6 +103,7 @@ export async function generateAccessToken(options: {
       sub: options.userId,
       branchId: options.tenancy.branchId,
       refreshTokenId: options.refreshTokenId,
+      role: 'authenticated',
     },
     expirationTime: getEnvVariable("STACK_ACCESS_TOKEN_EXPIRATION_TIME", "10min"),
   });
diff --git a/apps/e2e/tests/backend/backend-helpers.ts b/apps/e2e/tests/backend/backend-helpers.ts
index ca1bf492b..acf0ac805 100644
--- a/apps/e2e/tests/backend/backend-helpers.ts
+++ b/apps/e2e/tests/backend/backend-helpers.ts
@@ -191,6 +191,7 @@ export namespace Auth {
         "refreshTokenId": expect.any(String),
         "aud": expect.any(String),
         "sub": expect.any(String),
+        "role": "authenticated",
         "branchId": "main",
       });
     }