diff --git a/packages/compiler/src/codegen.ts b/packages/compiler/src/codegen.ts
index 0f1e81bf..507c3199 100644
--- a/packages/compiler/src/codegen.ts
+++ b/packages/compiler/src/codegen.ts
@@ -936,11 +936,16 @@ function apiBindingMap(ast: PageAst, sharedHelpers: string): Map<string, NamedDa
     if (bindings.has(block.name)) {
       throw new Error(`Duplicate .wrn api binding "${block.name}"`);
     }
+    const sectioned = block.sections;
     bindings.set(block.name, {
       mode: block.mode,
       method: block.method,
       path: apiRoutePath(block.path),
-      body: dataBody(block.body),
+      // A sectioned block binds the payload to `data`; the legacy form keeps
+      // the `with ($data)` injection, which cannot be typed.
+      body: sectioned
+        ? `const data = $data; ${sectioned.response.trim() || "return data;"}`
+        : dataBody(block.body),
       helpers: modeHelpers(ast, block.mode, sharedHelpers),
     });
   }
diff --git a/packages/compiler/test/api-block-ssr.test.ts b/packages/compiler/test/api-block-ssr.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f4e52f02
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/compiler/test/api-block-ssr.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+import { expect, test } from "bun:test";
+import { parse } from "@wrnexus/syntax";
+import { generate } from "../src/codegen.ts";
+
+function serverModule(inner: string): string {
+  return generate(
+    parse(`page Repro {
+  ssr {
+${inner}
+  }
+
+  view { <main><p api="ssrUsers">loading</p></main> }
+}
+`),
+  );
+}
+
+test("a sectioned ssr block binds the payload to data", () => {
+  const generated = serverModule(`    api ssrUsers GET /api/users {
+      response {
+        return data.users.length
+      }
+    }`);
+
+  expect(generated).toContain("data.users.length");
+});
+
+test("a legacy ssr block is unchanged", () => {
+  const generated = serverModule(`    api ssrUsers GET /api/users {
+      return users.length
+    }`);
+
+  expect(generated).toContain("users.length");
+});