diff --git a/gui/src/firstrun/mod.rs b/gui/src/firstrun/mod.rs
index b6add56..d2a2831 100644
--- a/gui/src/firstrun/mod.rs
+++ b/gui/src/firstrun/mod.rs
@@ -56,9 +56,7 @@ pub(crate) fn run(ctx: AppContext) {
         let daemon = match Daemon::connect().await {
             Ok(d) => d,
             Err(e) => {
-                status_for_async.set_description(Some(&user_message(&e)));
-                // Stay open so the user sees the error; watchdog will
-                // logout in 60s if they don't take action.
+                render_unavailable(&win_for_async, &status_for_async, &user_message(&e));
                 return;
             }
         };
@@ -66,7 +64,7 @@ pub(crate) fn run(ctx: AppContext) {
         let s = match daemon.get_pending_status(&user).await {
             Ok(s) => s,
             Err(e) => {
-                status_for_async.set_description(Some(&user_message(&e)));
+                render_unavailable(&win_for_async, &status_for_async, &user_message(&e));
                 return;
             }
         };
@@ -130,6 +128,25 @@ fn render_get_started(
     status.set_child(Some(&go));
 }
 
+fn render_unavailable(win: &adw::ApplicationWindow, status: &adw::StatusPage, message: &str) {
+    // Daemon-connect or GetPendingStatus failure: surface the error and give
+    // the user a Skip button so they aren't stuck waiting 60s for the
+    // watchdog to log them out.
+    status.set_title("Setup unavailable");
+    status.set_description(Some(message));
+    let skip = gtk::Button::builder()
+        .label("Skip")
+        .css_classes(["pill"])
+        .halign(gtk::Align::Center)
+        .build();
+    let win_skip = win.clone();
+    skip.connect_clicked(move |_| {
+        win_skip.close();
+        std::process::exit(0);
+    });
+    status.set_child(Some(&skip));
+}
+
 fn install_activity_pokes(win: &adw::ApplicationWindow, watchdog: Rc<RefCell<WatchdogState>>) {
     // Any keypress or click counts as activity.
     let key = gtk::EventControllerKey::new();