diff --git a/apps/macos/Sources/Clawdis/ControlChannel.swift b/apps/macos/Sources/Clawdis/ControlChannel.swift
index f363bbc0f..2a52cd873 100644
--- a/apps/macos/Sources/Clawdis/ControlChannel.swift
+++ b/apps/macos/Sources/Clawdis/ControlChannel.swift
@@ -174,6 +174,12 @@ final class ControlChannel: ObservableObject {
             case .cancelled:
                 return "Gateway connection was closed; start the gateway (localhost:\(port)) and retry."
             case .cannotFindHost, .cannotConnectToHost:
+                if AppStateStore.attachExistingGatewayOnly {
+                    return """
+                    Cannot reach gateway at localhost:\(port) and “Attach existing gateway only” is enabled.
+                    Disable it in Debug Settings or start a gateway on that port.
+                    """
+                }
                 return "Cannot reach gateway at localhost:\(port); ensure the gateway is running."
             case .networkConnectionLost:
                 return "Gateway connection dropped; gateway likely restarted—retry."
diff --git a/apps/macos/Sources/Clawdis/GatewayProcessManager.swift b/apps/macos/Sources/Clawdis/GatewayProcessManager.swift
index 040140fd1..07d14f5e3 100644
--- a/apps/macos/Sources/Clawdis/GatewayProcessManager.swift
+++ b/apps/macos/Sources/Clawdis/GatewayProcessManager.swift
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ final class GatewayProcessManager: ObservableObject {
             // Respect debug toggle: only attach, never spawn, when enabled.
             if AppStateStore.attachExistingGatewayOnly {
                 await MainActor.run {
-                    self.status = .stopped
+                    self.status = .failed("Attach-only enabled; no gateway to attach")
                     self.appendLog("[gateway] attach-only enabled; not spawning local gateway\n")
                 }
                 return