diff --git a/packages/webui/src/public/app.js b/packages/webui/src/public/app.js
index efe7ba9e..d3776a01 100644
--- a/packages/webui/src/public/app.js
+++ b/packages/webui/src/public/app.js
@@ -314,7 +314,7 @@
       $('projects').innerHTML = `<p class="muted">Not read: ${why}.</p>`;
       for (const id of ['waiting', 'seen', 'sessions']) $(id).replaceChildren();
       for (const id of ['waiting-count', 'seen-count', 'session-count']) $(id).textContent = '–';
-      $('footer').textContent = `Board not read: ${refused ? 'refused' : 'the read failed'}`;
+      $('footer').textContent = 'Board not read: refused';
       $('status').textContent = `Not read: ${why}`;
       inspect();
     }