diff --git a/artifacts/api-server/src/routes/services.ts b/artifacts/api-server/src/routes/services.ts
index 1dbdedb0..b4e5e80f 100644
--- a/artifacts/api-server/src/routes/services.ts
+++ b/artifacts/api-server/src/routes/services.ts
@@ -153,6 +153,12 @@ router.delete("/services/:id", requireAdmin, async (req, res): Promise<void> =>
     return;
   }
 
+  // #195: keep the delete + audit insert in one transaction so we never
+  // end up with a removed service and no matching audit row (or vice versa).
+  // Forced deletes keep the dedicated `service.force_delete` action so the
+  // existing forced-only filter and metadata shape (orderCount) stay
+  // backwards compatible; plain deletes get a `service.delete` row mirroring
+  // the user.delete pattern.
   await db.transaction(async (tx) => {
     if (hasDeps) {
       // service_orders.service_id has ON DELETE RESTRICT, so we must clear
@@ -162,36 +168,32 @@ router.delete("/services/:id", requireAdmin, async (req, res): Promise<void> =>
         .where(eq(serviceOrdersTable.serviceId, serviceId));
     }
     await tx.delete(servicesTable).where(eq(servicesTable.id, serviceId));
-  });
 
-  // #195: write an audit row for every service deletion. Forced deletes keep
-  // the dedicated `service.force_delete` action so the existing forced-only
-  // filter and metadata shape (orderCount) stay backwards compatible; plain
-  // deletes get a `service.delete` row mirroring the user.delete pattern.
-  if (hasDeps && force) {
-    await db.insert(auditLogsTable).values({
-      actorUserId: req.session.userId ?? null,
-      action: "service.force_delete",
-      targetType: "service",
-      targetId: serviceId,
-      metadata: {
-        nameEn: existing.nameEn,
-        nameAr: existing.nameAr,
-        orderCount,
-      },
-    });
-  } else {
-    await db.insert(auditLogsTable).values({
-      actorUserId: req.session.userId ?? null,
-      action: "service.delete",
-      targetType: "service",
-      targetId: serviceId,
-      metadata: {
-        nameEn: existing.nameEn,
-        nameAr: existing.nameAr,
-      },
-    });
-  }
+    if (hasDeps && force) {
+      await tx.insert(auditLogsTable).values({
+        actorUserId: req.session.userId ?? null,
+        action: "service.force_delete",
+        targetType: "service",
+        targetId: serviceId,
+        metadata: {
+          nameEn: existing.nameEn,
+          nameAr: existing.nameAr,
+          orderCount,
+        },
+      });
+    } else {
+      await tx.insert(auditLogsTable).values({
+        actorUserId: req.session.userId ?? null,
+        action: "service.delete",
+        targetType: "service",
+        targetId: serviceId,
+        metadata: {
+          nameEn: existing.nameEn,
+          nameAr: existing.nameAr,
+        },
+      });
+    }
+  });
 
   res.sendStatus(204);
 });