diff --git a/bases/rsptx/book_server_api/routers/coach.py b/bases/rsptx/book_server_api/routers/coach.py
index 4024a5c51..5431f2aaf 100644
--- a/bases/rsptx/book_server_api/routers/coach.py
+++ b/bases/rsptx/book_server_api/routers/coach.py
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@
 from .assessment import get_question_source, SelectQRequest
 
 # Import function for fetching api - comment out for DEV purposes
-from rsptx.auth.session import auth_manager
+from rsptx.auth.session import get_optional_user
 from rsptx.db.crud.crud import fetch_api_token
 from rsptx.db.crud.course import fetch_course
 from rsptx.db.crud.question import fetch_question
@@ -202,7 +202,7 @@ async def get_question_html(request: Request, div_id: str):
 # @router.post("/ns/coach/parsons_scaffolding")
 @router.post("/parsons_scaffolding")
 async def parsons_scaffolding(
-    request: Request, course: Optional[str], user=Depends(auth_manager)
+    request: Request, course: Optional[str], user=Depends(get_optional_user)
 ):
     # Get `course` directly from the query string
     rslogger.warning(f"URL seen: {request.url}")
@@ -240,6 +240,22 @@ async def parsons_scaffolding(
     else:
         parsonsexample_code = "LLM-example"
 
+    if user is None:
+        # Browsing-mode/anonymous visitors can get the pre-authored backup
+        # Parsons problem, but never the CodeTailor/LLM-personalized one --
+        # that requires an account so we can call out to the LLM on their
+        # behalf and track usage.
+        if parsonsexample != "LLM-example" and parsonsexample_html:
+            return _build_static_parsons_response(
+                parsonsexample_code, parsons_attrs, personalization_level
+            )
+        return JSONResponse(
+            content={
+                "detail": "You need to be logged in to Runestone to access this resource"
+            },
+            status_code=status.HTTP_401_UNAUTHORIZED,
+        )
+
     # Fetch API token
     api_token = None
     try:
diff --git a/components/rsptx/auth/session.py b/components/rsptx/auth/session.py
index ffa9a9097..c5ff6d65f 100644
--- a/components/rsptx/auth/session.py
+++ b/components/rsptx/auth/session.py
@@ -133,6 +133,19 @@ async def _load_user(user_id: str) -> AuthUserValidator:
 load_user = cast(Callable[[str], Awaitable[AuthUserValidator]], _load_user)
 
 
+async def get_optional_user(request: Request) -> Optional[AuthUserValidator]:
+    """Return the authenticated user, or None for anonymous/browsing-mode visitors.
+
+    Unlike ``Depends(auth_manager)``, this never raises -- it lets the route
+    itself decide what to do for logged-out users (e.g. serve a static/backup
+    resource instead of one that requires an account).
+    """
+    try:
+        return await auth_manager(request)
+    except NotAuthenticatedException:
+        return None
+
+
 async def is_instructor(
     request: Request, user: Optional[AuthUserValidator] = None
 ) -> bool: