diff --git a/apps/machine/electron/main.ts b/apps/machine/electron/main.ts
index ac15f6e..81676cf 100644
--- a/apps/machine/electron/main.ts
+++ b/apps/machine/electron/main.ts
@@ -833,8 +833,17 @@ app.whenReady().then(() => {
   // best-effort: if the reader/pcscd is absent it just reports 'unavailable'
   // and the cash-out QR path is unaffected.
   void startNfcReader(
-    (lnurlw) => mainWindow?.webContents.send('nfc:card-tapped', lnurlw),
-    (status) => mainWindow?.webContents.send('nfc:status', status)
+    (lnurlw) => {
+      // Don't log the value — it carries the card's single-use SUN p/c.
+      console.log(`[NFC] card tapped — lnurlw (${lnurlw.length} chars) → renderer`)
+      mainWindow?.webContents.send('nfc:card-tapped', lnurlw)
+    },
+    (status: NfcStatus) => {
+      console.log(
+        `[NFC] status=${status.state}${status.reader ? ` reader="${status.reader}"` : ''}${status.message ? ` — ${status.message}` : ''}`
+      )
+      mainWindow?.webContents.send('nfc:status', status)
+    }
   )
 
   app.on('activate', () => {
diff --git a/deploy/nixos/hardware/batm3.nix b/deploy/nixos/hardware/batm3.nix
index a03c830..40983c9 100644
--- a/deploy/nixos/hardware/batm3.nix
+++ b/deploy/nixos/hardware/batm3.nix
@@ -92,6 +92,19 @@
   # attached — pcscd just idles.
   services.pcscd.enable = true;
 
+  # pcscd gates client access via polkit; without a rule the sandboxed
+  # `bitspire` service user is "Rejected unauthorized PC/SC client". Authorize
+  # it to talk to the daemon and the card.
+  security.polkit.extraConfig = ''
+    polkit.addRule(function(action, subject) {
+      if ((action.id == "org.debian.pcsc-lite.access_pcsc" ||
+           action.id == "org.debian.pcsc-lite.access_card") &&
+          subject.user == "bitspire") {
+        return polkit.Result.YES;
+      }
+    });
+  '';
+
   # Disable suspend/hibernate for kiosk
   systemd.targets = {
     sleep.enable = false;