diff --git a/examples/white-label-minimal/components/useBuilderSocket.ts b/examples/white-label-minimal/components/useBuilderSocket.ts
index 1ff0a3a..284c0d8 100644
--- a/examples/white-label-minimal/components/useBuilderSocket.ts
+++ b/examples/white-label-minimal/components/useBuilderSocket.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 "use client";
 import { useCallback, useEffect, useState } from "react";
-import { getApp } from "../lib/chat/builder-api";
+import { ApiError, getApp } from "../lib/chat/builder-api";
 import { watchApp } from "../lib/chat/live-updates";
 import type { App, Message } from "../lib/types";
 
@@ -22,11 +22,12 @@ export function useBuilderSocket(appId: string | null) {
     let stopped = false;
     let stop: (() => void) | undefined;
     const readApp = () => getApp(appId).then((next) => { if (!stopped) setApp(next); });
-    const fail = () => {
+    const fail = (error?: unknown) => {
       if (stopped) return;
       stopped = true;
       stop?.();
-      setError("Live updates paused. Reconnect to continue.");
+      // Our server explains configuration problems; socket errors get the generic message.
+      setError(error instanceof ApiError ? error.message : "Live updates paused. Reconnect to continue.");
       setLoaded(key);
     };
 
diff --git a/examples/white-label-minimal/lib/base44/socket-session.ts b/examples/white-label-minimal/lib/base44/socket-session.ts
index 3be572f..88b5723 100644
--- a/examples/white-label-minimal/lib/base44/socket-session.ts
+++ b/examples/white-label-minimal/lib/base44/socket-session.ts
@@ -12,9 +12,13 @@ export async function openSocketSession(appId: string) {
     body: JSON.stringify({ app_ids: [appId] }),
     cache: "no-store",
   });
-  if (response.status === 401 || response.status === 403)
-    throw new Base44Error("Live updates need a workspace key with the apps:watch scope.", 503);
-  if (!response.ok) throw new Base44Error(`Base44 returned ${response.status} opening live updates.`);
+  if (!response.ok) {
+    // Base44 says why: a key without apps:watch, a workspace without white-label
+    // sockets, or an app the key isn't granted.
+    const reason = (await response.json().catch(() => null))?.error?.message;
+    throw new Base44Error(`Live updates unavailable: ${reason ?? `Base44 returned ${response.status}`}.`,
+      response.status === 401 || response.status === 403 ? 503 : 502);
+  }
   const { socket_url, session_token } = await response.json();
   return { serverUrl: new URL(socket_url).origin, sessionToken: String(session_token) };
 }
diff --git a/examples/white-label-minimal/tests/server.test.ts b/examples/white-label-minimal/tests/server.test.ts
index 5458f9f..0ed055d 100644
--- a/examples/white-label-minimal/tests/server.test.ts
+++ b/examples/white-label-minimal/tests/server.test.ts
@@ -207,8 +207,8 @@ test('the live-updates session opens with the workspace key only after sign-in a
   assert.equal(calls.length, 1);
 });
 
-test('a workspace key without the apps:watch scope is reported as configuration', async () => {
-  setup({ error: { code: 'scope_required' } }, 403);
+test('Base44 rejecting the key is reported as configuration, with its reason', async () => {
+  setup({ error: { code: 'scope_required', message: 'The key needs the apps:watch scope' } }, 403);
   const response = await request({ action: 'openBuilderSession', appId: 'app_1' });
   assert.equal(response.status, 503);
   assert.match((await response.json()).error, /apps:watch/);