diff --git a/.changeset/auth-misimport-runtime-error.md b/.changeset/auth-misimport-runtime-error.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..26355f119b8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/auth-misimport-runtime-error.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+"@clerk/nextjs": patch
+---
+
+Improved error message when `auth` is accidentally imported from `@clerk/nextjs` instead of `@clerk/nextjs/server`. Previously, bundlers would show a generic `'auth' is not exported` error. Now, a clear runtime error points developers to the correct import path.
diff --git a/packages/nextjs/src/__tests__/auth-misimport.test.ts b/packages/nextjs/src/__tests__/auth-misimport.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..8e9f3813be1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/nextjs/src/__tests__/auth-misimport.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from 'vitest';
+
+import { auth } from '../server-only-stubs';
+
+describe('auth misimport from @clerk/nextjs', () => {
+  it('throws a descriptive error when called as a function', () => {
+    expect(() => (auth as unknown as () => void)()).toThrow("Clerk: auth() was imported from '@clerk/nextjs'");
+    expect(() => (auth as unknown as () => void)()).toThrow("import { auth } from '@clerk/nextjs/server'");
+  });
+
+  it('throws a descriptive error when accessing a property', () => {
+    expect(() => (auth as unknown as Record<string, unknown>).protect).toThrow(
+      "Clerk: auth was imported from '@clerk/nextjs'",
+    );
+    expect(() => (auth as unknown as Record<string, unknown>).protect).toThrow(
+      "import { auth } from '@clerk/nextjs/server'",
+    );
+  });
+});
diff --git a/packages/nextjs/src/index.ts b/packages/nextjs/src/index.ts
index 283a7935cfc..18c5b686352 100644
--- a/packages/nextjs/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/nextjs/src/index.ts
@@ -96,4 +96,4 @@ export const Show = ComponentsModule.Show as ServerComponentsServerModuleTypes['
  * The `auth` function is only available in server-side contexts:
  * API Routes, Server Components, Server Actions, and Middleware.
  */
-export declare const auth: never;
+export { auth } from './server-only-stubs';
diff --git a/packages/nextjs/src/server-only-stubs.ts b/packages/nextjs/src/server-only-stubs.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..725e58c9b34
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/nextjs/src/server-only-stubs.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+/**
+ * Runtime stubs for server-only exports that are accidentally imported from the
+ * main `@clerk/nextjs` entry point. Each stub is a Proxy that throws a
+ * descriptive error pointing the developer to the correct import path.
+ */
+
+export const auth: never = new Proxy((() => {}) as never, {
+  apply() {
+    throw new Error(
+      `Clerk: auth() was imported from '@clerk/nextjs'. The auth() helper is a server-side function and must be imported from '@clerk/nextjs/server'.\n\nTo fix this, update your import:\n  import { auth } from '@clerk/nextjs/server'`,
+    );
+  },
+  get() {
+    throw new Error(
+      `Clerk: auth was imported from '@clerk/nextjs'. The auth() helper is a server-side function and must be imported from '@clerk/nextjs/server'.\n\nTo fix this, update your import:\n  import { auth } from '@clerk/nextjs/server'`,
+    );
+  },
+});