diff --git a/public/app.js b/public/app.js
index 569e9fe..fba20d0 100644
--- a/public/app.js
+++ b/public/app.js
@@ -2178,6 +2178,10 @@ function watchPanelHtml() {
 
 const WATCH_STATUS = { ok: 'Up to date', checking: 'Checking…', error: 'Problem' };
 
+// What went wrong with the last thing you asked a watch to do, shown on its row
+// until the next attempt. Beats an alert() you can't read once it's dismissed.
+const watchNotices = new Map();
+
 function watchHtml(w) {
   const when = w.last_checked_at ? `checked ${formatDate(w.last_checked_at)}` : 'not checked yet';
   const listed = w.total != null && w.listed != null && w.listed < w.total
@@ -2199,6 +2203,7 @@ function watchHtml(w) {
       <div class="watch-meta">${escapeHtml(when)} · every ${w.interval_hours}h · ${plural(w.imported_count, 'model')} imported${w.partial_count ? ` · ${w.partial_count} still without files` : ''}${w.error_count ? ` · ${w.error_count} failed` : ''}${listed}</div>
       ${w.last_error ? `<div class="ai-run-error">${escapeHtml(w.last_error)}
         ${w.last_error_reason === 'makerworld_token' ? '<button type="button" class="btn btn-primary btn-sm" data-watch="token">Update token</button>' : ''}</div>` : ''}
+      ${watchNotices.has(w.id) ? `<div class="ai-run-error">${escapeHtml(watchNotices.get(w.id))}</div>` : ''}
       ${recent.length ? `<div class="watch-recent">${recent.map((i) => `
         <span>${i.model_id
           ? `<button type="button" class="link-btn" data-open-model="${i.model_id}">${escapeHtml(i.model_name || i.title || `Model ${i.model_id}`)}</button>`
@@ -2288,6 +2293,7 @@ async function handleWatchAction(btn) {
   const id = Number(btn.closest('[data-watch-id]').dataset.watchId);
   const action = btn.dataset.watch;
   btn.disabled = true;
+  watchNotices.delete(id); // this attempt replaces whatever the last one said
   try {
     if (action === 'check') {
       await postJson(`/api/watches/${id}/check`);
@@ -2309,7 +2315,7 @@ async function handleWatchAction(btn) {
     if (err.message && /token/i.test(err.message)) {
       promptMakerworldToken(err.message, () => retryWatchCheck(id), 'Save & check collection');
     } else {
-      alert(err.message);
+      watchNotices.set(id, err.message);
     }
   }
   refreshWatches();