diff --git a/app/api/channels/[channelId]/route.ts b/app/api/channels/[channelId]/route.ts
index c093f1f..8e3fee5 100644
--- a/app/api/channels/[channelId]/route.ts
+++ b/app/api/channels/[channelId]/route.ts
@@ -49,6 +49,14 @@ export async function PATCH(
       return NextResponse.json({ error: "Channel not found" }, { status: 404 });
     }
 
+    // Protect the default channel from changes
+    if (existingChannel.isDefault) {
+      return NextResponse.json(
+        { error: "The default channel cannot be edited." },
+        { status: 400 },
+      );
+    }
+
     // Check if the user is a member of the server
     const [member] = await db
       .select()
@@ -114,6 +122,14 @@ export async function DELETE(
       return NextResponse.json({ error: "Channel not found" }, { status: 404 });
     }
 
+    // Protect default channel from deletion
+    if (existingChannel.isDefault) {
+      return NextResponse.json(
+        { error: "The default channel cannot be deleted." },
+        { status: 400 },
+      );
+    }
+
     // Check if the user is a member of the server
     const [member] = await db
       .select()
diff --git a/app/api/servers/route.ts b/app/api/servers/route.ts
index 477b83b..1b39e28 100644
--- a/app/api/servers/route.ts
+++ b/app/api/servers/route.ts
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@ export async function POST(req: Request) {
         .values({
           name: "general",
           serverId: server.id,
+          isDefault: true,
         })
         .returning();
 
diff --git a/components/sidebar/ChannelSidebar.tsx b/components/sidebar/ChannelSidebar.tsx
index dae3d4c..3dedb8e 100644
--- a/components/sidebar/ChannelSidebar.tsx
+++ b/components/sidebar/ChannelSidebar.tsx
@@ -114,15 +114,17 @@ export function ChannelSidebar() {
                   </div>
 
                   {/* Gear Button */}
-                  <button
-                    type="button"
-                    onClick={(e) => handleOpenSettings(e, channel)}
-                    className="opacity-0 group-hover:opacity-100 p-1 text-muted hover:text-white focus:outline-none transition-all cursor-pointer"
-                    aria-label="Channel Settings"
-                    title="Channel Settings"
-                  >
-                    <Settings className="w-3.5 h-3.5" />
-                  </button>
+                  {!channel.isDefault && (
+                    <button
+                      type="button"
+                      onClick={(e) => handleOpenSettings(e, channel)}
+                      className="opacity-0 group-hover:opacity-100 p-1 text-muted hover:text-white focus:outline-none transition-all cursor-pointer"
+                      aria-label="Channel Settings"
+                      title="Channel Settings"
+                    >
+                      <Settings className="w-3.5 h-3.5" />
+                    </button>
+                  )}
                 </Link>
               );
             })}
diff --git a/db/schema.ts b/db/schema.ts
index ef61380..49e2e78 100644
--- a/db/schema.ts
+++ b/db/schema.ts
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 
 import { relations } from "drizzle-orm";
 import {
+  boolean,
   pgEnum,
   pgTable,
   text,
@@ -88,6 +89,7 @@ export const channels = pgTable("channels", {
   serverId: uuid("server_id")
     .references(() => servers.id, { onDelete: "cascade" })
     .notNull(),
+  isDefault: boolean("is_default").default(false).notNull(),
   createdAt: timestamp("created_at").defaultNow().notNull(),
 });