--- a/packages/webui/src/public/bus.js
+++ b/packages/webui/src/public/bus.js
@@ -680,7 +680,7 @@
   const NO_RESTART_TEXT='No restart: the launcher reads the change at its next launch check.';
   function instancesSection(view){
     const title='<h2 id="instances-title">Role instances</h2>';
-    if(!view)return `<section class="panel" aria-labelledby="instances-title">${title}${empty('The role instances could not be read.','They are read from the bus host with your identity.')}</section>`;
+    if(!view)return `<section class="panel" aria-labelledby="instances-title">${title}<p class="small warn">The role instances could not be read, so there is nothing to add or change. Read again to retry; they come from the bus host with your identity.</p></section>`;
     if(!instanceDrafts.add&&!instanceDrafts.change)instanceView=view;
     const v=instanceView, disabled=!canSend||out()||instanceBusy?' disabled':'';
     const defs=Object.entries(v.definitions), accepted=defs.filter(([,d])=>d.accepted).map(([n])=>n);