diff --git a/repeater/web/companion_ws_proxy.py b/repeater/web/companion_ws_proxy.py
index e12218e..ddf9c11 100644
--- a/repeater/web/companion_ws_proxy.py
+++ b/repeater/web/companion_ws_proxy.py
@@ -27,8 +27,9 @@ def set_daemon(instance):
 class CompanionFrameWebSocket(WebSocket):
     def opened(self):
         """Authenticate, resolve companion, open TCP socket, start reader."""
-        # JWT auth — same pattern as PacketWebSocket
+        # JWT or API-token auth — same pattern as PacketWebSocket
         jwt_handler = cherrypy.config.get("jwt_handler")
+        token_manager = cherrypy.config.get("token_manager")
 
         qs = ""
         if hasattr(self, "environ"):
@@ -38,24 +39,39 @@ class CompanionFrameWebSocket(WebSocket):
         token = params.get("token", [None])[0]
         companion_name = params.get("companion_name", [None])[0]
 
+        api_key = self.environ.get("HTTP_X_API_KEY", "") if hasattr(self, "environ") else ""
+
         if not jwt_handler:
             logger.warning("Connection rejected: no JWT handler configured")
             self.close(code=1011, reason="server configuration error")
             return
 
-        if not token:
+        if not token and not api_key:
             logger.warning("Connection rejected: missing token")
             self.close(code=1008, reason="unauthorized")
             return
 
-        try:
-            payload = jwt_handler.verify_jwt(token)
-            if not payload:
-                logger.warning("Connection rejected: invalid token")
-                self.close(code=1008, reason="unauthorized")
-                return
-        except Exception as e:
-            logger.warning(f"Auth error: {e}")
+        user = None
+        if token:
+            try:
+                payload = jwt_handler.verify_jwt(token)
+                if payload:
+                    user = payload.get("sub", "unknown")
+            except Exception as e:
+                logger.warning(f"Auth error: {e}")
+
+        if user is None:
+            api_token = api_key or token
+            if api_token and token_manager:
+                try:
+                    token_info = token_manager.verify_token(api_token)
+                    if token_info:
+                        user = f"api_token:{token_info.get('name', 'unknown')}"
+                except Exception as e:
+                    logger.warning(f"API key auth error: {e}")
+
+        if user is None:
+            logger.warning("Connection rejected: invalid token")
             self.close(code=1008, reason="unauthorized")
             return
 
@@ -93,7 +109,6 @@ class CompanionFrameWebSocket(WebSocket):
         )
         self._reader.start()
 
-        user = payload.get("sub", "unknown")
         logger.info(
             f"Companion WS opened: user={user}, companion={companion_name}, tcp={tcp_host}:{tcp_port}"
         )
diff --git a/tests/test_companion_ws_proxy.py b/tests/test_companion_ws_proxy.py
index 3bfd6db..f021f45 100644
--- a/tests/test_companion_ws_proxy.py
+++ b/tests/test_companion_ws_proxy.py
@@ -14,9 +14,11 @@ def cp_cfg(monkeypatch):
     return cfg
 
 
-def _ws(query_string):
+def _ws(query_string, api_key=None):
     ws = object.__new__(proxy.CompanionFrameWebSocket)
     ws.environ = {"QUERY_STRING": query_string}
+    if api_key is not None:
+        ws.environ["HTTP_X_API_KEY"] = api_key
     ws.close = MagicMock()
     ws.send = MagicMock()
     ws._teardown = MagicMock()
@@ -43,6 +45,52 @@ def test_opened_rejects_invalid_token(cp_cfg):
     ws.close.assert_called_once_with(code=1008, reason="unauthorized")
 
 
+def test_opened_accepts_api_key_header(cp_cfg, monkeypatch):
+    cp_cfg["jwt_handler"] = SimpleNamespace(verify_jwt=lambda _t: None)
+    cp_cfg["token_manager"] = SimpleNamespace(
+        verify_token=lambda t: {"name": "waev"} if t == "k" else None
+    )
+    ws = _ws("companion_name=c1", api_key="k")
+    ws._resolve_tcp_endpoint = MagicMock(return_value=("127.0.0.1", 5000))
+    fake_socket = MagicMock()
+    monkeypatch.setattr(proxy.socket, "socket", lambda *_args, **_kwargs: fake_socket)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(proxy.threading, "Thread", lambda **_kw: MagicMock())
+
+    ws.opened()
+
+    ws.close.assert_not_called()
+    assert ws._companion_name == "c1"
+
+
+def test_opened_accepts_api_token_in_query_like_packet_ws(cp_cfg, monkeypatch):
+    cp_cfg["jwt_handler"] = SimpleNamespace(verify_jwt=lambda _t: None)
+    cp_cfg["token_manager"] = SimpleNamespace(verify_token=lambda _t: {"name": "waev"})
+    ws = _ws("token=k&companion_name=c1")
+    ws._resolve_tcp_endpoint = MagicMock(return_value=("127.0.0.1", 5000))
+    fake_socket = MagicMock()
+    monkeypatch.setattr(proxy.socket, "socket", lambda *_args, **_kwargs: fake_socket)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(proxy.threading, "Thread", lambda **_kw: MagicMock())
+
+    ws.opened()
+
+    ws.close.assert_not_called()
+
+
+def test_opened_rejects_unknown_api_key(cp_cfg):
+    cp_cfg["jwt_handler"] = SimpleNamespace(verify_jwt=lambda _t: None)
+    cp_cfg["token_manager"] = SimpleNamespace(verify_token=lambda _t: None)
+    ws = _ws("companion_name=c1", api_key="bad")
+    ws.opened()
+    ws.close.assert_called_once_with(code=1008, reason="unauthorized")
+
+
+def test_opened_rejects_api_key_without_token_manager(cp_cfg):
+    cp_cfg["jwt_handler"] = SimpleNamespace(verify_jwt=lambda _t: None)
+    ws = _ws("companion_name=c1", api_key="k")
+    ws.opened()
+    ws.close.assert_called_once_with(code=1008, reason="unauthorized")
+
+
 def test_opened_rejects_missing_companion_name(cp_cfg):
     cp_cfg["jwt_handler"] = SimpleNamespace(verify_jwt=lambda _t: {"sub": "u"})
     ws = _ws("token=t")