diff --git a/astro.config.mjs b/astro.config.mjs
index 7676733..92e75dd 100644
--- a/astro.config.mjs
+++ b/astro.config.mjs
@@ -32,7 +32,20 @@ export default defineConfig({
     }
   },
 
-  integrations: [icon(), mdx(), sitemap(), robotsTxt()],
+  integrations: [
+    icon(),
+    mdx(),
+    sitemap(),
+    robotsTxt({
+      policy: [
+        {
+          userAgent: "*",
+          allow: "/",
+          disallow: "/api/"
+        }
+      ]
+    })
+  ],
 
   markdown: {
     shikiConfig: {
diff --git a/src/components/Footer.astro b/src/components/Footer.astro
index 33aa615..8a57142 100644
--- a/src/components/Footer.astro
+++ b/src/components/Footer.astro
@@ -62,6 +62,8 @@ import TextLink from "@components/TextLink.astro";
 </footer>
 
 <script is:inline data-astro-rerun>
-  const year = document.getElementById("footer-year");
-  if (year) year.innerText = new Date().getFullYear();
+  {
+    const year = document.getElementById("footer-year");
+    if (year) year.innerText = new Date().getFullYear();
+  }
 </script>
diff --git a/src/pages/index.astro b/src/pages/index.astro
index 40da87e..4405c23 100644
--- a/src/pages/index.astro
+++ b/src/pages/index.astro
@@ -186,8 +186,15 @@ const tracks = (
             class="animate-scrolling-awards m-0 mx-auto flex max-w-md flex-col space-y-8 p-0"
           >
             {
-              awardsDoubled.map((award) => {
-                return <AwardCard award={award} />;
+              awardsDoubled.map((award, index) => {
+                // Second copy only feeds the scrolling loop: hide it from assistive tech so awards are not announced twice.
+                return index < awards.length ? (
+                  <AwardCard award={award} />
+                ) : (
+                  <span aria-hidden="true" class="block">
+                    <AwardCard award={award} />
+                  </span>
+                );
               })
             }
           </div>