diff --git a/crates/desktop/artcraft/src/core/commands/generate/models/image/list_image_models_command.rs b/crates/desktop/artcraft/src/core/commands/generate/models/image/list_image_models_command.rs
index 26add76061..214c8ffcb1 100644
--- a/crates/desktop/artcraft/src/core/commands/generate/models/image/list_image_models_command.rs
+++ b/crates/desktop/artcraft/src/core/commands/generate/models/image/list_image_models_command.rs
@@ -47,6 +47,10 @@ pub async fn list_image_models_command(
     }
     Err(error_message) => {
       warn!("list_image_models_command failed after {} attempts: {}", MAX_ATTEMPTS, error_message);
+      if let Some(stale) = any_cached_response() {
+        warn!("list_image_models_command: refresh failed; serving stale cached response");
+        return Ok(stale.into());
+      }
       Err(error_message.into())
     }
   }
@@ -62,6 +66,13 @@ fn cached_response() -> Option<ListImageModelsResponse> {
   }
 }
 
+/// The cached response regardless of age. Used as a fallback so that a failed
+/// refresh still returns the last-known-good data instead of an error.
+fn any_cached_response() -> Option<ListImageModelsResponse> {
+  let guard = CACHE.read().ok()?;
+  guard.as_ref().map(|entry| entry.response.clone())
+}
+
 fn store_response(response: ListImageModelsResponse) {
   if let Ok(mut guard) = CACHE.write() {
     *guard = Some(CacheEntry { response, loaded_at: Instant::now() });
diff --git a/crates/desktop/artcraft/src/core/commands/generate/models/video/list_video_models_command.rs b/crates/desktop/artcraft/src/core/commands/generate/models/video/list_video_models_command.rs
index 638b4ab012..79dfde8cda 100644
--- a/crates/desktop/artcraft/src/core/commands/generate/models/video/list_video_models_command.rs
+++ b/crates/desktop/artcraft/src/core/commands/generate/models/video/list_video_models_command.rs
@@ -47,6 +47,10 @@ pub async fn list_video_models_command(
     }
     Err(error_message) => {
       warn!("list_video_models_command failed after {} attempts: {}", MAX_ATTEMPTS, error_message);
+      if let Some(stale) = any_cached_response() {
+        warn!("list_video_models_command: refresh failed; serving stale cached response");
+        return Ok(stale.into());
+      }
       Err(error_message.into())
     }
   }
@@ -62,6 +66,13 @@ fn cached_response() -> Option<ListVideoModelsResponse> {
   }
 }
 
+/// The cached response regardless of age. Used as a fallback so that a failed
+/// refresh still returns the last-known-good data instead of an error.
+fn any_cached_response() -> Option<ListVideoModelsResponse> {
+  let guard = CACHE.read().ok()?;
+  guard.as_ref().map(|entry| entry.response.clone())
+}
+
 fn store_response(response: ListVideoModelsResponse) {
   if let Ok(mut guard) = CACHE.write() {
     *guard = Some(CacheEntry { response, loaded_at: Instant::now() });