diff --git a/web/src/app/(app)/chat/page.tsx b/web/src/app/(app)/chat/page.tsx
index d318d3c..92231e2 100644
--- a/web/src/app/(app)/chat/page.tsx
+++ b/web/src/app/(app)/chat/page.tsx
@@ -47,13 +47,19 @@ export default function ChatPage() {
       <section className="surface-card" style={{ padding: "var(--nl-space-6)", display: "grid", gap: "var(--nl-space-4)", maxWidth: 720 }}>
         <label style={{ display: "grid", gap: 8 }}>
           <span style={{ fontWeight: 600 }}>Workspace</span>
-          <select className="input-shell" value={workspaceId} onChange={(e) => setWorkspaceId(e.target.value)}>
-            {workspaces.map((w) => (
-              <option key={w.id} value={w.id}>
-                {w.name}
-              </option>
-            ))}
-          </select>
+          {workspaces.length === 0 ? (
+            <p style={{ margin: 0, color: "var(--nl-text-secondary)", fontSize: "var(--nl-fs-sm)" }}>
+              Create a workspace first (Dashboard seed or Workspaces), then return here.
+            </p>
+          ) : (
+            <select className="input-shell" value={workspaceId} onChange={(e) => setWorkspaceId(e.target.value)}>
+              {workspaces.map((w) => (
+                <option key={w.id} value={w.id}>
+                  {w.name}
+                </option>
+              ))}
+            </select>
+          )}
         </label>
         <label style={{ display: "grid", gap: 8 }}>
           <span style={{ fontWeight: 600 }}>Question</span>
@@ -65,7 +71,12 @@ export default function ChatPage() {
             placeholder="What did we decide about launch?"
           />
         </label>
-        <button type="button" className="btn btn-primary" disabled={loading} onClick={() => void handleAsk()}>
+        <button
+          type="button"
+          className="btn btn-primary"
+          disabled={loading || !workspaceId.trim() || workspaces.length === 0}
+          onClick={() => void handleAsk()}
+        >
           {loading ? "Thinking…" : "Ask"}
         </button>
         {answer ? (