diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 94060dd..928b8c9 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -9,6 +9,14 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/).
 
 ### Fixed
 
+- The dashboard event-log and about dialogs now move focus inside, keep keyboard focus contained,
+  close with Escape, and restore focus to the control that opened them.
+- Dashboard checker rows now expose selection as a real button alongside their action buttons,
+  removing nested interactive controls while preserving whole-row pointer selection.
+- A dashboard state-provider failure now shows a recoverable unavailable state with a retry action
+  instead of looking like an empty installation with no registered checkers.
+- The Blazor sample now keeps the dashboard stylesheet in its static host head, preventing an
+  unstyled flash while the interactive head reconnects on a slow network.
 - HTTP checker display names and result messages now omit URI user information, query strings, and
   fragments, server-controlled reason phrases, and transport exception details, preventing embedded
   credentials and tokens from reaching stored history, alerts, logs, or the dashboard while requests
diff --git a/samples/Healthie.Sample.BlazorUI/Components/App.razor b/samples/Healthie.Sample.BlazorUI/Components/App.razor
index 56289b4..a4eaa13 100644
--- a/samples/Healthie.Sample.BlazorUI/Components/App.razor
+++ b/samples/Healthie.Sample.BlazorUI/Components/App.razor
@@ -9,6 +9,9 @@
        reset that stops a pale frame being drawn around the dashboard -- did nothing. *@
     <link href="app.css" rel="stylesheet" />
     <link href="Healthie.Sample.BlazorUI.styles.css" rel="stylesheet" />
+    @* Keep the dashboard styled while the interactive HeadOutlet reconnects on a slow network. *@
+    <link href="_content/Healthie.NET.Dashboard/healthie.css" rel="stylesheet"
+          data-healthie-static-styles />
     <link rel="icon" type="image/png" href="favicon.png" />
     <HeadOutlet @rendermode="InteractiveServer" />
 </head>
diff --git a/src/Healthie.Dashboard/Components/HealthieDashboard.razor b/src/Healthie.Dashboard/Components/HealthieDashboard.razor
index 1eb3b7e..45bb011 100644
--- a/src/Healthie.Dashboard/Components/HealthieDashboard.razor
+++ b/src/Healthie.Dashboard/Components/HealthieDashboard.razor
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 @inject HealthieThemeState ThemeState
 @inject PersistentComponentState PersistedState
 @inject DashboardStateHandoff Handoff
+@inject IJSRuntime JS
 
 <PageTitle>@Options.DashboardTitle</PageTitle>
 <HeadContent>
@@ -96,7 +97,7 @@
                 <button type="button" class="hpm-btn hpm-btn--icon @(_showAbout ? "hpm-btn--on" : "")"
                         title="What the colours and controls mean" aria-label="Legend and about"
                         aria-expanded="@(_showAbout ? "true" : "false")"
-                        @onclick="ToggleAbout">?</button>
+                        @onclick="ToggleAboutAsync">?</button>
             </div>
         </div>
 
@@ -143,16 +144,17 @@
     *@
     @if (_showLog)
     {
-        <div class="hpm-backdrop" @onclick="ToggleLog" aria-hidden="true"></div>
+        <div class="hpm-backdrop" @onclick="CloseLogAsync" aria-hidden="true"></div>
 
-        <div class="hpm-modal" role="dialog" aria-modal="true" aria-label="Event log">
+        <div class="hpm-modal" role="dialog" aria-modal="true" aria-labelledby="hpm-event-log-title"
+             tabindex="-1" @ref="_logDialog" @onkeydown="OnLogDialogKeyDown">
             <div class="hpm-popover-head">
-                <span class="hpm-sel-name">Event log</span>
+                <span id="hpm-event-log-title" class="hpm-sel-name">Event log</span>
                 <span class="hpm-tag">@_events.Count</span>
                 <span class="hpm-modal-note">newest first · UTC</span>
                 <div class="hpm-spacer"></div>
                 <button type="button" class="hpm-icon-btn" title="Close" aria-label="Close"
-                        @onclick="ToggleLog">@HealthieIcons.X</button>
+                        @onclick="CloseLogAsync">@HealthieIcons.X</button>
             </div>
 
             <div class="hpm-modal-body">
@@ -194,15 +196,16 @@
     *@
     @if (_showAbout)
     {
-        <div class="hpm-backdrop" @onclick="ToggleAbout" aria-hidden="true"></div>
+        <div class="hpm-backdrop" @onclick="CloseAboutAsync" aria-hidden="true"></div>
 
-        <div class="hpm-popover" role="dialog" aria-modal="true" aria-label="Legend and about">
+        <div class="hpm-popover" role="dialog" aria-modal="true" aria-label="Legend and about"
+             tabindex="-1" @ref="_aboutDialog" @onkeydown="OnAboutDialogKeyDown">
             <div class="hpm-popover-head">
-                <span class="hpm-sel-name">Healthie<span class="hpm-dot">·</span>NET</span>
+                <span id="hpm-about-title" class="hpm-sel-name">Healthie<span class="hpm-dot">·</span>NET</span>
                 <span class="hpm-tag">v@(PackageVersion)</span>
                 <div class="hpm-spacer"></div>
                 <button type="button" class="hpm-icon-btn" title="Close" aria-label="Close"
-                        @onclick="ToggleAbout">@HealthieIcons.X</button>
+                        @onclick="CloseAboutAsync">@HealthieIcons.X</button>
             </div>
 
             <div class="hpm-popover-body">
@@ -265,23 +268,23 @@
             var history = HistoryOf(name);
         }
         <div class="hpm-row @StatusClass(status) @(isSelected ? "hpm-row--selected" : "") @(state.IsActive ? "" : "hpm-row--paused")"
-             role="button" tabindex="0"
-             aria-pressed="@(isSelected ? "true" : "false")"
-             @onclick="@(() => SelectAsync(name))"
-             @onkeydown="@(e => OnRowKeyDown(e, name))">
+             @onclick="@(() => SelectAsync(name))">
 
                         <span class="hpm-led @(state.IsActive ? "" : "hpm-led--steady") @(status == Status.Critical ? "hpm-led--urgent" : "")"
                               aria-hidden="true"></span>
 
-                        <div class="hpm-row-name">
-                            <div class="hpm-row-title">
+                        <button type="button" class="hpm-row-name hpm-row-select"
+                                aria-label="View @DisplayNameOf(name) details"
+                                aria-pressed="@(isSelected ? "true" : "false")"
+                                @onclick="@(() => SelectAsync(name))" @onclick:stopPropagation="true">
+                            <span class="hpm-row-title">
                                 @if (state.IsPinned)
                                 {
                                     <span class="hpm-pin-mark" title="Pinned to the top" aria-label="Pinned">@HealthieIcons.Pin</span>
                                 }
                                 @DisplayNameOf(name)
-                            </div>
-                            <div class="hpm-row-sub">
+                            </span>
+                            <span class="hpm-row-sub">
                                 @StatusWord(state) · @ShortTypeName(name)
                                 @if (!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(state.Group))
                                 {
@@ -291,8 +294,8 @@
                                 {
                                     <span class="hpm-chip" title="Tagged @tag">@tag</span>
                                 }
-                            </div>
-                        </div>
+                            </span>
+                        </button>
 
                         <div class="hpm-rate-cell">
                             <span class="hpm-rate @(state.IsActive ? "" : "hpm-rate--paused") @(state.EffectiveSchedule.IsCron ? "hpm-rate--cron" : "")"
@@ -422,7 +425,7 @@
                 <button type="button" class="hpm-nav-item @(_showLog ? "hpm-nav-item--current" : "")"
                         aria-expanded="@(_showLog ? "true" : "false")"
                         title="Every state change this dashboard has watched happen"
-                        @onclick="ToggleLog">
+                        @onclick="ToggleLogAsync">
                     <span class="hpm-nav-dot hpm-nav-dot--log" aria-hidden="true"></span>
                     <span class="hpm-nav-text">EVENT LOG</span>
                     <span class="hpm-nav-count">@_events.Count</span>
@@ -431,7 +434,7 @@
                 <button type="button" class="hpm-nav-item @(_showAbout ? "hpm-nav-item--current" : "")"
                         aria-expanded="@(_showAbout ? "true" : "false")"
                         title="What the colours and controls mean"
-                        @onclick="ToggleAbout">
+                        @onclick="ToggleAboutAsync">
                     <span class="hpm-nav-dot hpm-nav-dot--about" aria-hidden="true"></span>
                     <span class="hpm-nav-text">ABOUT</span>
                 </button>
@@ -737,6 +740,14 @@
                     <div class="hpm-skeleton"></div>
                 }
             }
+            else if (_loadError is not null)
+            {
+                <div class="hpm-load-error" role="alert">
+                    <strong>CHECKER DATA UNAVAILABLE</strong>
+                    <span>@_loadError</span>
+                    <button type="button" class="hpm-btn hpm-btn--sm" @onclick="RetryLoadAsync">TRY AGAIN</button>
+                </div>
+            }
             else if (_filtered.Count == 0)
             {
                 <div class="hpm-empty">
@@ -990,7 +1001,7 @@
                     <span class="hpm-log-led" aria-hidden="true"></span>
                     <button type="button" class="hpm-icon-btn hpm-log-expand"
                             title="Open the full event log" aria-label="Expand the event log"
-                            @onclick="ToggleLog">@HealthieIcons.Expand</button>
+                            @onclick="ToggleLogAsync">@HealthieIcons.Expand</button>
                 </div>
                 <div class="hpm-log-body">
                     @if (_events.Count == 0)
diff --git a/src/Healthie.Dashboard/Components/HealthieDashboard.razor.cs b/src/Healthie.Dashboard/Components/HealthieDashboard.razor.cs
index aa8e1f9..124c19c 100644
--- a/src/Healthie.Dashboard/Components/HealthieDashboard.razor.cs
+++ b/src/Healthie.Dashboard/Components/HealthieDashboard.razor.cs
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 using Healthie.Dashboard.Services;
 using Microsoft.AspNetCore.Components;
 using Microsoft.AspNetCore.Components.Web;
+using Microsoft.JSInterop;
 using System.ComponentModel;
 using System.Reflection;
 
@@ -63,10 +64,16 @@ public sealed partial class HealthieDashboard : IAsyncDisposable
     private string? _tagFilter;
     private bool _isDarkMode = true;
     private bool _isLoading = true;
+    private string? _loadError;
     private bool _initialized;
     private bool _showAbout;
     private bool _showLog;
     private bool _asCards;
+    private ElementReference _logDialog;
+    private ElementReference _aboutDialog;
+    private IJSObjectReference? _dialogModule;
+    private bool _activateLogDialog;
+    private bool _activateAboutDialog;
 
     /// <summary>
     /// Sectioned by group on open, flat on request.
@@ -184,6 +191,11 @@ private string OverallLabel
     {
         get
         {
+            if (_loadError is not null)
+            {
+                return "STATUS UNAVAILABLE";
+            }
+
             var unhealthy = _states.Values.Count(s => HealthOf(s) == PulseCheckerHealth.Unhealthy);
             if (unhealthy > 0)
             {
@@ -254,7 +266,14 @@ protected override async Task OnInitializedAsync()
         {
             _states = snapshot.States;
             _displayNames = snapshot.DisplayNames;
-            MarkLoaded();
+            if (snapshot.LoadError is null)
+            {
+                MarkLoaded();
+            }
+            else
+            {
+                MarkLoadFailed(snapshot.LoadError);
+            }
         }
         else
         {
@@ -269,6 +288,31 @@ protected override async Task OnInitializedAsync()
         _clockLoop = RunClockAsync();
     }
 
+    /// <inheritdoc />
+    protected override async Task OnAfterRenderAsync(bool firstRender)
+    {
+        if ((!_activateLogDialog || !_showLog) && (!_activateAboutDialog || !_showAbout))
+        {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        _dialogModule ??= await JS.InvokeAsync<IJSObjectReference>(
+            "import",
+            "./_content/Healthie.NET.Dashboard/healthie.js");
+
+        if (_activateLogDialog && _showLog)
+        {
+            _activateLogDialog = false;
+            await _dialogModule.InvokeVoidAsync("activateDialog", _logDialog);
+        }
+
+        if (_activateAboutDialog && _showAbout)
+        {
+            _activateAboutDialog = false;
+            await _dialogModule.InvokeVoidAsync("activateDialog", _aboutDialog);
+        }
+    }
+
     private async Task LoadAsync()
     {
         if (!await _loadLock.WaitAsync(TimeSpan.Zero).ConfigureAwait(true))
@@ -278,10 +322,15 @@ private async Task LoadAsync()
 
         try
         {
+            _loadError = null;
             _states = await DashboardService.GetAllStatesAsync();
             _displayNames = await DashboardService.GetDisplayNamesAsync();
             MarkLoaded();
         }
+        catch (Exception) when (!_disposing.IsCancellationRequested)
+        {
+            MarkLoadFailed("Could not load checker data. Check the state provider and try again.");
+        }
         finally
         {
             _loadLock.Release();
@@ -292,10 +341,35 @@ private async Task LoadAsync()
     private void MarkLoaded()
     {
         _selected ??= _states.Keys.OrderBy(name => name).FirstOrDefault();
+        _loadError = null;
         _isLoading = false;
         Refresh();
     }
 
+    private void MarkLoadFailed(string message)
+    {
+        _states = [];
+        _displayNames = [];
+        _filtered = [];
+        _selected = null;
+        _isLoading = false;
+        _loadError = message;
+        _overall = Status.Warning;
+    }
+
+    private async Task RetryLoadAsync()
+    {
+        _loadError = null;
+        _isLoading = true;
+
+        await LoadAsync();
+
+        if (_loadError is null)
+        {
+            await SelectAsync(_selected);
+        }
+    }
+
     /// <summary>
     /// At the end of prerendering, stashes the states just read on the server and persists only the
     /// token that collects them, so the interactive render can match this one without the board
@@ -316,7 +390,7 @@ private void MarkLoaded()
     /// </remarks>
     private Task PersistHandoffToken()
     {
-        var token = Handoff.Stash(new DashboardSnapshot(_states, _displayNames));
+        var token = Handoff.Stash(new DashboardSnapshot(_states, _displayNames, _loadError));
         PersistedState.PersistAsJson(HandoffTokenKey, token);
 
         return Task.CompletedTask;
@@ -573,14 +647,6 @@ private void OnTagFilterChanged(ChangeEventArgs args)
         Refresh();
     }
 
-    private async Task OnRowKeyDown(KeyboardEventArgs args, string name)
-    {
-        if (args.Key is "Enter" or " ")
-        {
-            await SelectAsync(name);
-        }
-    }
-
     /// <summary>
     /// Selects a checker and reads anything the feature packages can add about it.
     /// </summary>
@@ -601,9 +667,71 @@ private async Task SelectAsync(string? name)
         await LoadUptimeAsync(name);
     }
 
-    private void ToggleAbout() => _showAbout = !_showAbout;
+    private Task ToggleAboutAsync() => _showAbout ? CloseAboutAsync() : OpenAboutAsync();
+
+    private Task OpenAboutAsync()
+    {
+        _showAbout = true;
+        _activateAboutDialog = true;
 
-    private void ToggleLog() => _showLog = !_showLog;
+        return Task.CompletedTask;
+    }
+
+    private async Task CloseAboutAsync()
+    {
+        if (!_showAbout)
+        {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        if (_dialogModule is not null)
+        {
+            await _dialogModule.InvokeVoidAsync("deactivateDialog", _aboutDialog);
+        }
+
+        _showAbout = false;
+    }
+
+    private Task ToggleLogAsync() => _showLog ? CloseLogAsync() : OpenLogAsync();
+
+    private Task OpenLogAsync()
+    {
+        _showLog = true;
+        _activateLogDialog = true;
+
+        return Task.CompletedTask;
+    }
+
+    private async Task CloseLogAsync()
+    {
+        if (!_showLog)
+        {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        if (_dialogModule is not null)
+        {
+            await _dialogModule.InvokeVoidAsync("deactivateDialog", _logDialog);
+        }
+
+        _showLog = false;
+    }
+
+    private async Task OnAboutDialogKeyDown(KeyboardEventArgs args)
+    {
+        if (args.Key == "Escape")
+        {
+            await CloseAboutAsync();
+        }
+    }
+
+    private async Task OnLogDialogKeyDown(KeyboardEventArgs args)
+    {
+        if (args.Key == "Escape")
+        {
+            await CloseLogAsync();
+        }
+    }
 
     private async Task TogglePinAsync(string name, bool isPinned)
     {
@@ -983,6 +1111,18 @@ public async ValueTask DisposeAsync()
         _disposing.Dispose();
         _loadLock.Dispose();
         _persistSubscription.Dispose();
+
+        if (_dialogModule is not null)
+        {
+            try
+            {
+                await _dialogModule.DisposeAsync();
+            }
+            catch (JSDisconnectedException)
+            {
+                // The circuit ended before its module could be released.
+            }
+        }
     }
 
     /// <summary>What a colour in this dashboard means.</summary>
diff --git a/src/Healthie.Dashboard/Services/DashboardStateHandoff.cs b/src/Healthie.Dashboard/Services/DashboardStateHandoff.cs
index 902f632..06bffe2 100644
--- a/src/Healthie.Dashboard/Services/DashboardStateHandoff.cs
+++ b/src/Healthie.Dashboard/Services/DashboardStateHandoff.cs
@@ -71,4 +71,5 @@ public bool TryCollect(string token, out DashboardSnapshot? snapshot)
 /// </remarks>
 internal sealed record DashboardSnapshot(
     Dictionary<string, PulseCheckerState> States,
-    Dictionary<string, string> DisplayNames);
+    Dictionary<string, string> DisplayNames,
+    string? LoadError);
diff --git a/src/Healthie.Dashboard/Services/HealthieDashboardService.cs b/src/Healthie.Dashboard/Services/HealthieDashboardService.cs
index 88cd57b..af43474 100644
--- a/src/Healthie.Dashboard/Services/HealthieDashboardService.cs
+++ b/src/Healthie.Dashboard/Services/HealthieDashboardService.cs
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ public async Task<Dictionary<string, PulseCheckerState>> GetAllStatesAsync(
         catch (Exception ex)
         {
             logger?.LogError(ex, "Failed to retrieve pulse checker states.");
-            return new Dictionary<string, PulseCheckerState>();
+            throw;
         }
     }
 
@@ -275,7 +275,7 @@ public async Task<Dictionary<string, string>> GetDisplayNamesAsync(
         catch (Exception ex)
         {
             logger?.LogError(ex, "Failed to retrieve display names.");
-            return new Dictionary<string, string>();
+            throw;
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/src/Healthie.Dashboard/wwwroot/healthie.css b/src/Healthie.Dashboard/wwwroot/healthie.css
index f1fd3ea..f751164 100644
--- a/src/Healthie.Dashboard/wwwroot/healthie.css
+++ b/src/Healthie.Dashboard/wwwroot/healthie.css
@@ -359,9 +359,21 @@
     background: var(--hpm-panel2);
 }
 
-.hpm-row:focus-visible {
+.hpm-row-select {
+    min-width: 0;
+    padding: 0;
+    border: 0;
+    background: transparent;
+    color: inherit;
+    font: inherit;
+    text-align: left;
+    cursor: pointer;
+}
+
+.hpm-row-select:focus-visible {
     outline: 2px solid var(--hpm-status);
     outline-offset: 2px;
+    border-radius: 4px;
 }
 
 .hpm-row--selected {
@@ -378,6 +390,7 @@
 
 .hpm-row-title,
 .hpm-row-sub {
+    display: block;
     white-space: nowrap;
     overflow: hidden;
     text-overflow: ellipsis;
@@ -491,6 +504,31 @@
     font-size: 13px;
 }
 
+.hpm-load-error {
+    display: flex;
+    align-items: center;
+    gap: 12px;
+    flex-wrap: wrap;
+    padding: 18px 20px;
+    border: 1px solid var(--hpm-warn);
+    border-radius: 10px;
+    background: var(--hpm-warn-bg);
+    color: var(--hpm-text);
+    font-size: 13px;
+}
+
+.hpm-load-error strong {
+    color: var(--hpm-warn);
+    font-family: var(--hpm-mono);
+    font-size: 11px;
+    letter-spacing: 0.08em;
+}
+
+.hpm-load-error span {
+    flex: 1 1 280px;
+    min-width: 0;
+}
+
 .hpm-skeleton {
     height: 52px;
     border-radius: 10px;
@@ -1127,6 +1165,7 @@
 /* The toolbar, the empty state and a group are bands, not cells. */
 .hpm-list--cards > .hpm-toolbar,
 .hpm-list--cards > .hpm-empty,
+.hpm-list--cards > .hpm-load-error,
 .hpm-list--cards > .hpm-group,
 .hpm-list--cards > .hpm-skeleton {
     grid-column: 1 / -1;
diff --git a/src/Healthie.Dashboard/wwwroot/healthie.js b/src/Healthie.Dashboard/wwwroot/healthie.js
index b0221b2..d2a0f1b 100644
--- a/src/Healthie.Dashboard/wwwroot/healthie.js
+++ b/src/Healthie.Dashboard/wwwroot/healthie.js
@@ -6,3 +6,68 @@ export function isTextOverflowing(element) {
     if (!element) return false;
     return element.scrollHeight > element.clientHeight;
 }
+
+const dialogState = new WeakMap();
+
+const focusableSelector = [
+    'a[href]',
+    'button:not([disabled])',
+    'input:not([disabled])',
+    'select:not([disabled])',
+    'textarea:not([disabled])',
+    '[tabindex]:not([tabindex="-1"])'
+].join(',');
+
+function focusableElements(dialog) {
+    return Array.from(dialog.querySelectorAll(focusableSelector))
+        .filter(element => element.getClientRects().length > 0);
+}
+
+export function activateDialog(dialog) {
+    if (!dialog || dialogState.has(dialog)) return;
+
+    const returnFocus = document.activeElement instanceof HTMLElement
+        ? document.activeElement
+        : null;
+
+    const trapFocus = event => {
+        if (event.key !== 'Tab') return;
+
+        const focusable = focusableElements(dialog);
+        if (focusable.length === 0) {
+            event.preventDefault();
+            dialog.focus();
+            return;
+        }
+
+        const first = focusable[0];
+        const last = focusable[focusable.length - 1];
+        const movingBeforeFirst = event.shiftKey
+            && (document.activeElement === first || !dialog.contains(document.activeElement));
+        const movingAfterLast = !event.shiftKey
+            && (document.activeElement === last || !dialog.contains(document.activeElement));
+
+        if (movingBeforeFirst || movingAfterLast) {
+            event.preventDefault();
+            (movingBeforeFirst ? last : first).focus();
+        }
+    };
+
+    dialogState.set(dialog, { returnFocus, trapFocus });
+    dialog.addEventListener('keydown', trapFocus);
+
+    const first = focusableElements(dialog)[0] ?? dialog;
+    first.focus();
+}
+
+export function deactivateDialog(dialog) {
+    const state = dialog ? dialogState.get(dialog) : null;
+    if (!state) return;
+
+    dialog.removeEventListener('keydown', state.trapFocus);
+    dialogState.delete(dialog);
+
+    if (state.returnFocus?.isConnected) {
+        state.returnFocus.focus();
+    }
+}
diff --git a/tests/Healthie.Tests.E2E/DashboardGroupingTests.cs b/tests/Healthie.Tests.E2E/DashboardGroupingTests.cs
index 12ffb8c..0044e86 100644
--- a/tests/Healthie.Tests.E2E/DashboardGroupingTests.cs
+++ b/tests/Healthie.Tests.E2E/DashboardGroupingTests.cs
@@ -361,10 +361,24 @@ public async Task Dashboard_ExpandingTheEventLog_OpensItAndClosesAgain(ProviderS
         await page.GetByRole(AriaRole.Button, new() { Name = "RUN NOW" }).ClickAsync();
         await page.Locator(".hpm-log-body .hpm-event").First.WaitForAsync();
 
-        await page.GetByRole(AriaRole.Button, new() { Name = "Expand the event log" }).ClickAsync();
-        await Assertions.Expect(page.Locator(".hpm-modal")).ToBeVisibleAsync();
+        var expand = page.GetByRole(AriaRole.Button, new() { Name = "Expand the event log" });
+        await expand.ClickAsync();
+        var dialog = page.GetByRole(AriaRole.Dialog, new() { Name = "Event log" });
+        await Assertions.Expect(dialog).ToBeVisibleAsync();
         await Assertions.Expect(page.Locator(".hpm-log-table")).ToBeVisibleAsync();
 
+        var close = dialog.GetByRole(AriaRole.Button, new() { Name = "Close" });
+        await Assertions.Expect(close).ToBeFocusedAsync();
+        await close.PressAsync("Tab");
+        await Assertions.Expect(close).ToBeFocusedAsync();
+
+        await close.PressAsync("Escape");
+        await Assertions.Expect(dialog).Not.ToBeVisibleAsync();
+        await Assertions.Expect(expand).ToBeFocusedAsync();
+
+        await expand.ClickAsync();
+        await Assertions.Expect(dialog).ToBeVisibleAsync();
+
         // Dismissed from the dimmed edge, where a person clicks. A default click lands in the
         // middle of the backdrop, which is precisely where the modal is.
         await page.Locator(".hpm-backdrop").ClickAsync(new() { Position = new() { X = 8, Y = 8 } });
@@ -381,7 +395,8 @@ public async Task Dashboard_LegendAndAbout_OpensBehindTheHeaderIconRatherThanTak
 
         await Assertions.Expect(page.Locator(".hpm-popover")).Not.ToBeVisibleAsync();
 
-        await page.GetByRole(AriaRole.Button, new() { Name = "Legend and about" }).ClickAsync();
+        var trigger = page.GetByRole(AriaRole.Button, new() { Name = "Legend and about" }).First;
+        await trigger.ClickAsync();
 
         var about = page.GetByRole(AriaRole.Dialog, new() { Name = "Legend and about" });
         await Assertions.Expect(about).ToBeVisibleAsync();
@@ -392,6 +407,17 @@ public async Task Dashboard_LegendAndAbout_OpensBehindTheHeaderIconRatherThanTak
         // assertion also passes when the element is simply missing; a version-shaped one cannot.
         await Assertions.Expect(about.Locator(".hpm-popover-head .hpm-tag"))
             .ToHaveTextAsync(new Regex(@"^v\d+\.\d+"));
+
+        var close = about.GetByRole(AriaRole.Button, new() { Name = "Close" });
+        await Assertions.Expect(close).ToBeFocusedAsync();
+        await close.PressAsync("Shift+Tab");
+        await Assertions.Expect(about.GetByRole(AriaRole.Link, new() { Name = "MIT" })).ToBeFocusedAsync();
+        await page.Keyboard.PressAsync("Tab");
+        await Assertions.Expect(close).ToBeFocusedAsync();
+
+        await close.PressAsync("Escape");
+        await Assertions.Expect(about).Not.ToBeVisibleAsync();
+        await Assertions.Expect(trigger).ToBeFocusedAsync();
         browser.AssertNoErrors(page);
     }
 
diff --git a/tests/Healthie.Tests.E2E/DashboardTests.cs b/tests/Healthie.Tests.E2E/DashboardTests.cs
index 92d6595..d3bfb88 100644
--- a/tests/Healthie.Tests.E2E/DashboardTests.cs
+++ b/tests/Healthie.Tests.E2E/DashboardTests.cs
@@ -82,6 +82,25 @@ internal static Task WaitForTheBoardAsync(IPage page) =>
     /// <summary>Closes the pages this test opened, keeping a trace behind if it failed.</summary>
     public async ValueTask DisposeAsync() => await browser.FinishCurrentTestAsync();
 
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task InitialDocument_PinsDashboardStylesBeforeInteractiveHeadConnects()
+    {
+        await using var app = await SampleApp.StartAsync(new ProviderSetup("Timer", UseCosmos: false), Ct);
+        using var client = new HttpClient();
+
+        var initialDocument = await client.GetStringAsync(app.DashboardUrl, Ct);
+
+        Assert.Contains(
+            "href=\"_content/Healthie.NET.Dashboard/healthie.css\" rel=\"stylesheet\" data-healthie-static-styles",
+            initialDocument);
+
+        using var stylesheet = await client.GetAsync(
+            $"{app.BaseUrl}/_content/Healthie.NET.Dashboard/healthie.css",
+            Ct);
+        stylesheet.EnsureSuccessStatusCode();
+        Assert.Equal("text/css", stylesheet.Content.Headers.ContentType?.MediaType);
+    }
+
     [Theory]
     [MemberData(nameof(Setups))]
     public async Task Dashboard_ListsEveryChecker_AndReportsNoBrowserErrors(ProviderSetup setup)
@@ -118,9 +137,17 @@ public async Task SelectingAChecker_ShowsItsDetail(ProviderSetup setup)
         await using var app = await SampleApp.StartAsync(setup, Ct);
         var page = await OpenDashboardAsync(app);
 
-        await RowFor(page, TargetChecker).ClickAsync();
+        // The row exposes one real selection button beside its independent action buttons. A div
+        // pretending to be a button would contain those buttons, which is invalid interactive
+        // nesting and gives keyboard and screen-reader users an ambiguous control tree.
+        await Assertions.Expect(page.Locator(".hpm-row[role='button']")).ToHaveCountAsync(0);
+        var select = RowFor(page, TargetChecker)
+            .GetByRole(AriaRole.Button, new() { Name = $"View {TargetChecker} details" });
+        await select.FocusAsync();
+        await select.PressAsync("Enter");
 
         await Assertions.Expect(page.Locator(".hpm-sel-name")).ToHaveTextAsync(TargetChecker);
+        await Assertions.Expect(select).ToHaveAttributeAsync("aria-pressed", "true");
 
         // A count would be a timing assertion, not a detail one: the sample installs the uptime
         // package, whose 24H cell appears once a segment has been recorded and whose WORST cell
diff --git a/tests/Healthie.Tests.E2E/SampleAppFixture.cs b/tests/Healthie.Tests.E2E/SampleAppFixture.cs
index aaca953..9f247c7 100644
--- a/tests/Healthie.Tests.E2E/SampleAppFixture.cs
+++ b/tests/Healthie.Tests.E2E/SampleAppFixture.cs
@@ -87,15 +87,15 @@ public static async Task<SampleApp> StartAsync(
     {
         var port = FreePort();
         var url = $"http://127.0.0.1:{port}";
+        var sampleProjectDirectory = SampleProjectDirectory();
 
         var info = new ProcessStartInfo("dotnet")
         {
-            // --no-build: the project reference already built the sample, and rebuilding here would
-            // race the other setups in this collection over the same output files.
-            // --no-launch-profile: launchSettings.json pins an applicationUrl, and it takes
-            // precedence over ASPNETCORE_URLS -- so without this the app ignores the free port
-            // picked above, every setup fights over one port, and the wait below times out.
-            Arguments = $"run --project \"{SampleProjectPath()}\" --configuration {Configuration} --no-build --no-launch-profile",
+            // The project reference already built the sample. Launching that output directly avoids
+            // both concurrent rebuilds and SDK selection through a repository-level global.json.
+            // Launch profiles are not involved, so ASPNETCORE_URLS below selects the free port.
+            Arguments = $"\"{SampleAssemblyPath(sampleProjectDirectory)}\"",
+            WorkingDirectory = sampleProjectDirectory,
             RedirectStandardOutput = true,
             RedirectStandardError = true,
             UseShellExecute = false,
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ private async Task WaitUntilReadyAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken)
         "Release";
 #endif
 
-    private static string SampleProjectPath()
+    private static string SampleProjectDirectory()
     {
         var dir = new DirectoryInfo(AppContext.BaseDirectory);
         while (dir is not null && !File.Exists(Path.Combine(dir.FullName, "Healthie.NET.sln")))
@@ -175,9 +175,17 @@ private static string SampleProjectPath()
 
         return dir is null
             ? throw new InvalidOperationException("Could not locate the repository root from " + AppContext.BaseDirectory)
-            : Path.Combine(dir.FullName, "samples", "Healthie.Sample.BlazorUI", "Healthie.Sample.BlazorUI.csproj");
+            : Path.Combine(dir.FullName, "samples", "Healthie.Sample.BlazorUI");
     }
 
+    private static string SampleAssemblyPath(string sampleProjectDirectory) =>
+        Path.Combine(
+            sampleProjectDirectory,
+            "bin",
+            Configuration,
+            "net8.0",
+            "Healthie.Sample.BlazorUI.dll");
+
     private static int FreePort()
     {
         using var listener = new TcpListener(IPAddress.Loopback, 0);
diff --git a/tests/Healthie.Tests.Unit/DashboardComponentLifecycleTests.cs b/tests/Healthie.Tests.Unit/DashboardComponentLifecycleTests.cs
index 83a1d94..7965831 100644
--- a/tests/Healthie.Tests.Unit/DashboardComponentLifecycleTests.cs
+++ b/tests/Healthie.Tests.Unit/DashboardComponentLifecycleTests.cs
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 using Microsoft.AspNetCore.Components;
 using Microsoft.AspNetCore.Components.Infrastructure;
 using Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection;
+using System.Text.Json;
 
 namespace Healthie.Tests.Unit;
 
@@ -53,6 +54,52 @@ public override Task<Dictionary<string, string>> GetDisplayNamesAsync(
             Task.FromResult(new Dictionary<string, string>(StringComparer.Ordinal));
     }
 
+    private sealed class FailsFirstLoadDashboardService : StubDashboardService
+    {
+        private int _loads;
+
+        public int Loads => Volatile.Read(ref _loads);
+
+        public override Task SubscribeToStateChangesAsync(
+            Func<string, PulseCheckerState, Task> onStateChanged,
+            CancellationToken cancellationToken = default) =>
+            Task.CompletedTask;
+
+        public override Task UnsubscribeFromStateChangesAsync(
+            Func<string, PulseCheckerState, Task> onStateChanged,
+            CancellationToken cancellationToken = default) =>
+            Task.CompletedTask;
+
+        public override Task<Dictionary<string, PulseCheckerState>> GetAllStatesAsync(
+            CancellationToken cancellationToken = default)
+        {
+            if (Interlocked.Increment(ref _loads) == 1)
+            {
+                throw new InvalidOperationException("Simulated state-provider outage.");
+            }
+
+            return Task.FromResult(new Dictionary<string, PulseCheckerState>(StringComparer.Ordinal));
+        }
+
+        public override Task<Dictionary<string, string>> GetDisplayNamesAsync(
+            CancellationToken cancellationToken = default) =>
+            Task.FromResult(new Dictionary<string, string>(StringComparer.Ordinal));
+    }
+
+    private sealed class RestoreOnlyStateStore(string key, string value) : IPersistentComponentStateStore
+    {
+        public Task<IDictionary<string, byte[]>> GetPersistedStateAsync() =>
+            Task.FromResult<IDictionary<string, byte[]>>(new Dictionary<string, byte[]>
+            {
+                [key] = JsonSerializer.SerializeToUtf8Bytes(value),
+            });
+
+        public Task PersistStateAsync(IReadOnlyDictionary<string, byte[]> state) =>
+            throw new NotSupportedException();
+
+        public bool SupportsRenderMode(IComponentRenderMode renderMode) => true;
+    }
+
     private readonly BunitContext _context = new();
     private readonly RecordingDashboardService _service = new();
 
@@ -121,4 +168,49 @@ public async Task NavigatingAwayAndBack_LeavesOneSubscriptionBehindNotTwo()
         await second.Instance.DisposeAsync();
         Assert.Equal(_service.Subscribed.Count, _service.Unsubscribed.Count);
     }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void FailedInitialLoad_ShowsARecoverableErrorInsteadOfAnEmptyBoard()
+    {
+        var service = new FailsFirstLoadDashboardService();
+        _context.Services.AddSingleton<IHealthieDashboardService>(service);
+
+        var rendered = _context.Render<HealthieDashboard>();
+
+        rendered.WaitForAssertion(() =>
+        {
+            Assert.Contains("STATUS UNAVAILABLE", rendered.Markup);
+            Assert.Contains("Could not load checker data", rendered.Markup);
+            Assert.DoesNotContain("No pulse checkers registered", rendered.Markup);
+        });
+
+        rendered.Find(".hpm-load-error button").Click();
+
+        rendered.WaitForAssertion(() =>
+        {
+            Assert.DoesNotContain("Could not load checker data", rendered.Markup);
+            Assert.Contains("No pulse checkers registered", rendered.Markup);
+            Assert.Equal(2, service.Loads);
+        });
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task FailedPrerenderSnapshot_RemainsAnErrorWhenTheInteractiveInstanceCollectsIt()
+    {
+        const string message = "Could not load checker data. Check the state provider and try again.";
+        var handoff = _context.Services.GetRequiredService<DashboardStateHandoff>();
+        var token = handoff.Stash(new DashboardSnapshot([], [], message));
+        var persistence = _context.Services.GetRequiredService<ComponentStatePersistenceManager>();
+        await persistence.RestoreStateAsync(
+            new RestoreOnlyStateStore("healthie.dashboard.handoff", token));
+
+        var rendered = _context.Render<HealthieDashboard>();
+
+        rendered.WaitForAssertion(() =>
+        {
+            Assert.Contains("STATUS UNAVAILABLE", rendered.Markup);
+            Assert.Contains(message, rendered.Markup);
+            Assert.DoesNotContain("No pulse checkers registered", rendered.Markup);
+        });
+    }
 }