diff --git a/src/gui/views/goblin/mod.rs b/src/gui/views/goblin/mod.rs
index 954d61e..3b944a8 100644
--- a/src/gui/views/goblin/mod.rs
+++ b/src/gui/views/goblin/mod.rs
@@ -525,7 +525,10 @@ impl GoblinWalletView {
 			.get_data()
 			.map(|d| d.info.last_confirmed_height)
 			.unwrap_or(0);
-		let synced = height > 0 && !wallet.syncing();
+		// Distinguish "scanning" from "can't reach the node": a flaky
+		// external node otherwise reads as syncing forever.
+		let error = wallet.sync_error();
+		let synced = height > 0 && !wallet.syncing() && !error;
 		w::card(ui, |ui| {
 			ui.set_min_width(ui.available_width());
 			ui.horizontal(|ui| {
@@ -533,14 +536,26 @@ impl GoblinWalletView {
 				ui.painter().circle_filled(
 					dot.center(),
 					4.0,
-					if synced { t.pos } else { t.accent },
+					if error {
+						t.neg
+					} else if synced {
+						t.pos
+					} else {
+						t.accent
+					},
 				);
 				ui.add_space(8.0);
 				ui.vertical(|ui| {
 					ui.label(
-						RichText::new(if synced { "Node synced" } else { "Syncing…" })
-							.font(FontId::new(14.0, fonts::semibold()))
-							.color(t.surface_text),
+						RichText::new(if error {
+							"Can't reach node"
+						} else if synced {
+							"Node synced"
+						} else {
+							"Syncing…"
+						})
+						.font(FontId::new(14.0, fonts::semibold()))
+						.color(t.surface_text),
 					);
 					// Single line: wrapping strands the "·" separator at the
 					// end of the first line in the narrow sidebar card.