diff --git a/.github/workflows/desktop-release.yml b/.github/workflows/desktop-release.yml
index 820fa18..e38841a 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/desktop-release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/desktop-release.yml
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ jobs:
         env:
           GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
         run: |
-          gh release create Overlord-Desktop-v${{ env.VERSION }} "dist/Overlord Setup.exe" \
+          gh release create Overlord-Desktop-v${{ env.VERSION }} "dist/Overlord Setup.exe" "PLEASE_READ.txt" \
             -t "Overlord Desktop v${{ env.VERSION }}" \
             -n "Automated build release for Overlord Desktop v${{ env.VERSION }}" \
             --draft=false \
diff --git a/Overlord-Desktop/PLEASE_READ.txt b/Overlord-Desktop/PLEASE_READ.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..22895af
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Overlord-Desktop/PLEASE_READ.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+================================================================================
+  OVERLORD DESKTOP — PLEASE READ BEFORE USING
+================================================================================
+
+This application is a DESKTOP CLIENT ONLY. It does NOT include the server.
+
+If you launch Overlord Desktop without a running Overlord server, it will
+show a connection error and nothing will work. That is expected.
+
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+  WHAT YOU NEED TO DO
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+1. Set up and start the Overlord server FIRST.
+   The server is a separate component that you must deploy yourself.
+
+2. Full setup instructions are in the README:
+   https://github.com/vxaboveground/Overlord/blob/main/README.md
+
+3. Once the server is running, open this desktop client and enter the
+   server's IP address (or hostname) and port on the connection screen.
+
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+  QUICK SUMMARY
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+  Overlord Desktop  →  connects TO a server
+  Overlord Server   →  must be running BEFORE you connect
+
+Without the server, this client is useless.
+
+================================================================================
diff --git a/Overlord-Desktop/src/connect/renderer.js b/Overlord-Desktop/src/connect/renderer.js
index 7fb5485..4dc96b6 100644
--- a/Overlord-Desktop/src/connect/renderer.js
+++ b/Overlord-Desktop/src/connect/renderer.js
@@ -10,7 +10,8 @@ function setStatus(msg, type = "info") {
   statusEl.innerHTML = msg;
 }
 
-// Load saved connection on startup
+// Load saved connection on startup and surface any pending error from a
+// previous session (e.g. the server dropped mid-session and we bounced back).
 (async () => {
   try {
     const saved = await window.overlord.getSavedConnection();
@@ -22,6 +23,13 @@ function setStatus(msg, type = "info") {
   } catch {
     // first run, no saved data
   }
+
+  try {
+    const err = await window.overlord.getPendingError();
+    if (err) setStatus(err, "error");
+  } catch {
+    // ignore
+  }
 })();
 
 form.addEventListener("submit", async (e) => {
diff --git a/Overlord-Desktop/src/main.js b/Overlord-Desktop/src/main.js
index daaf2ac..0ae616a 100644
--- a/Overlord-Desktop/src/main.js
+++ b/Overlord-Desktop/src/main.js
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 const { app, BrowserWindow, ipcMain } = require("electron");
 const path = require("path");
 const fs = require("fs");
+const https = require("https");
+const http = require("http");
 
 // ── Persistence ──────────────────────────────────────────────
 app.setAppUserModelId("com.overlord.desktop");
@@ -34,6 +36,24 @@ function saveConnection(conn) {
 // ── Window ───────────────────────────────────────────────────
 let win;
 let serverBaseUrl = null; // e.g. "https://1.2.3.4:5173"
+let pendingError = null;  // error message to show on the connect page after a failed load
+
+// ── Server probe ─────────────────────────────────────────────
+// Checks whether a server is reachable before telling Electron to navigate to it.
+function probeServer(url) {
+  return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
+    const mod = url.startsWith("https") ? https : http;
+    const req = mod.get(url, { rejectUnauthorized: false, timeout: 8000 }, (res) => {
+      res.resume(); // drain so the socket can be reused
+      resolve();
+    });
+    req.on("timeout", () => {
+      req.destroy();
+      reject(new Error("timeout"));
+    });
+    req.on("error", reject);
+  });
+}
 
 function createWindow() {
   win = new BrowserWindow({
@@ -52,6 +72,21 @@ function createWindow() {
 
   // Allow self-signed certs on the target Overlord server
   win.webContents.session.setCertificateVerifyProc((_req, cb) => cb(0));
+
+  // If the server URL fails to load mid-session (e.g. server stopped), bounce back
+  // to the connect screen with a helpful error instead of showing a white page.
+  win.webContents.on("did-fail-load", (_event, errorCode, _errorDescription, validatedURL) => {
+    // ERR_ABORTED (-3) fires on normal navigation cancellations – ignore it.
+    if (errorCode === -3) return;
+    if (serverBaseUrl && validatedURL && validatedURL.startsWith(serverBaseUrl)) {
+      pendingError =
+        "Lost connection to the Overlord server. " +
+        "Make sure the server is still running, then try connecting again. " +
+        "See the README if you need help starting the server.";
+      serverBaseUrl = null;
+      win.loadFile(path.join(__dirname, "connect", "index.html"));
+    }
+  });
 }
 
 app.whenReady().then(createWindow);
@@ -69,7 +104,13 @@ ipcMain.handle("get-saved-connection", () => {
   return loadSavedConnection();
 });
 
-ipcMain.handle("connect-to-server", (_event, { host, port, useTLS }) => {
+ipcMain.handle("get-pending-error", () => {
+  const err = pendingError;
+  pendingError = null;
+  return err;
+});
+
+ipcMain.handle("connect-to-server", async (_event, { host, port, useTLS }) => {
   if (!host || host.trim().length === 0) {
     return { success: false, error: "Host is required" };
   }
@@ -80,6 +121,19 @@ ipcMain.handle("connect-to-server", (_event, { host, port, useTLS }) => {
   const protocol = useTLS ? "https" : "http";
   const url = `${protocol}://${host.trim()}:${port}`;
 
+  // Probe the server before navigating so we never end up on a white screen.
+  try {
+    await probeServer(url);
+  } catch {
+    return {
+      success: false,
+      error:
+        "Cannot reach the Overlord server at that address. " +
+        "Make sure the server is running before connecting — " +
+        "see the README for setup instructions.",
+    };
+  }
+
   saveConnection({ host: host.trim(), port, useTLS });
   serverBaseUrl = url;
   win.loadURL(url);
diff --git a/Overlord-Desktop/src/preload.js b/Overlord-Desktop/src/preload.js
index eb3a92c..19d9e33 100644
--- a/Overlord-Desktop/src/preload.js
+++ b/Overlord-Desktop/src/preload.js
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ const { contextBridge, ipcRenderer } = require("electron");
 
 contextBridge.exposeInMainWorld("overlord", {
   getSavedConnection: () => ipcRenderer.invoke("get-saved-connection"),
+  getPendingError: () => ipcRenderer.invoke("get-pending-error"),
   connectToServer: (opts) => ipcRenderer.invoke("connect-to-server", opts),
   goBackToConnect: () => ipcRenderer.invoke("go-back-to-connect"),
 });