diff --git a/app/[workspace]/projects/page.tsx b/app/[workspace]/projects/page.tsx
index 355fd87b..cf4bbc40 100644
--- a/app/[workspace]/projects/page.tsx
+++ b/app/[workspace]/projects/page.tsx
@@ -73,6 +73,7 @@ export default function ProjectsPage() {
 
   const [projects, setProjects] = useState<ProjectWithStats[]>([]);
   const [loading, setLoading] = useState(true);
+  const [loadError, setLoadError] = useState<string | null>(null);
   const [showNew, setShowNew] = useState(false);
   const [projectToDelete, setProjectToDelete] = useState<ProjectWithStats | null>(null);
   const [isDeleting, setIsDeleting] = useState(false);
@@ -81,12 +82,20 @@ export default function ProjectsPage() {
   const fetchProjects = async () => {
     try {
       setLoading(true);
-      const res = await fetch("/api/projects");
-      if (!res.ok) throw new Error("Failed to fetch projects");
+      setLoadError(null);
+      const res = await fetch("/api/projects", { credentials: "include" });
+      if (res.status === 401) {
+        throw new Error("Your session expired — please log in again.");
+      }
+      if (!res.ok) {
+        let body: { error?: string; details?: string } = {};
+        try { body = await res.json(); } catch { /* keep {} */ }
+        throw new Error(body.error || `HTTP ${res.status} ${res.statusText}`.trim());
+      }
       const data = await res.json();
       setProjects(data.projects ?? []);
-    } catch {
-      /* silent */
+    } catch (err) {
+      setLoadError(err instanceof Error ? err.message : "Failed to load projects");
     } finally {
       setLoading(false);
     }
@@ -174,6 +183,29 @@ export default function ProjectsPage() {
         </div>
       )}
 
+      {/* Error */}
+      {!loading && loadError && (
+        <div style={{
+          marginBottom: 24, padding: "14px 18px",
+          background: "#fdecea", border: "1px solid #f4c4be",
+          borderRadius: 10, color: "#8b2a1f", fontSize: "0.85rem",
+          display: "flex", alignItems: "center", gap: 12,
+        }}>
+          <span style={{ flex: 1 }}>{loadError}</span>
+          <button
+            onClick={fetchProjects}
+            style={{
+              padding: "5px 12px", borderRadius: 6,
+              background: "#8b2a1f", color: "#fff", border: "none",
+              fontSize: "0.78rem", fontWeight: 600, cursor: "pointer",
+              fontFamily: "var(--font-inter), ui-sans-serif, sans-serif",
+            }}
+          >
+            Retry
+          </button>
+        </div>
+      )}
+
       {/* Project list */}
       {!loading && (
         <div style={{ display: "flex", flexDirection: "column", gap: 8 }}>