diff --git a/craft/src/hooks/useSitesmith.ts b/craft/src/hooks/useSitesmith.ts
index 6d5dc58..26c648e 100644
--- a/craft/src/hooks/useSitesmith.ts
+++ b/craft/src/hooks/useSitesmith.ts
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ export function useSitesmith(siteId: number) {
       const r = await fetch(`${apiBase(whpConfig.apiUrl)}?action=entitlement`, { credentials: 'include' });
       const j = await r.json();
       if (j.ok) { setSummary(j.summary); profileSupported.current = j.profile_supported === true; }
+      else setError(j.error || 'Sitesmith entitlement unavailable');
     } catch (e: any) { setError(String(e?.message ?? e)); }
   }, [whpConfig]);
 
diff --git a/craft/src/panels/sitesmith/SitesmithModal.test.tsx b/craft/src/panels/sitesmith/SitesmithModal.test.tsx
index 44792be..041a8a1 100644
--- a/craft/src/panels/sitesmith/SitesmithModal.test.tsx
+++ b/craft/src/panels/sitesmith/SitesmithModal.test.tsx
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ let notices: ReturnType<typeof useNotices>;
 let extras: ReturnType<typeof useProjectExtras>;
 let sendBodies: any[];
 let sendReply: any;
+let entitlementStatus: string;
 const onClose = vi.fn();
 
 const Spy: React.FC = () => { notices = useNotices(); extras = useProjectExtras(); return null; };
@@ -57,6 +58,7 @@ beforeEach(() => {
   __resetCommandsForTests();
   onClose.mockReset();
   sendBodies = [];
+  entitlementStatus = 'OK_MONTHLY';
   sendReply = {
     ok: true,
     response: { type: 'patch', message: 'done', ops: [{
@@ -69,7 +71,7 @@ beforeEach(() => {
   vi.stubGlobal('fetch', vi.fn(async (url: string, init?: any) => {
     const json = (v: unknown) => ({ json: async () => v });
     if (url.includes('action=send')) { sendBodies.push(JSON.parse(init.body)); return json(sendReply); }
-    if (url.includes('action=entitlement')) return json({ ok: true, summary: { enabled: true, status: 'OK_MONTHLY', monthly_used: 0, monthly_cap: 10, bonus_credits: 0 } });
+    if (url.includes('action=entitlement')) return json({ ok: true, summary: { enabled: true, status: entitlementStatus, monthly_used: 0, monthly_cap: 10, bonus_credits: 0 } });
     return json({ ok: true, messages: [] });
   }));
 });
@@ -130,6 +132,15 @@ describe('first run and commands', () => {
     expect(document.querySelector('.sitesmith-wiz')).not.toBeNull();
   });
 
+  test('empty canvas + no profile, but Sitesmith is locked: no wizard, the modal (upgrade path) shows', async () => {
+    entitlementStatus = 'DISABLED';
+    await mount(false, null, '');
+    await flush();
+    expect(document.querySelector('.sitesmith-wiz')).toBeNull();
+    expect(onClose).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(document.querySelector('[role="dialog"]')).not.toBeNull();
+  });
+
   test('a canvas with content is not interrupted by the wizard', async () => {
     await mount(false, null);
     expect(onClose).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
diff --git a/craft/src/panels/sitesmith/SitesmithModal.tsx b/craft/src/panels/sitesmith/SitesmithModal.tsx
index dafe7e2..0e9f016 100644
--- a/craft/src/panels/sitesmith/SitesmithModal.tsx
+++ b/craft/src/panels/sitesmith/SitesmithModal.tsx
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ export const SitesmithModal: React.FC<Props> = ({ onClose, target }) => {
   const { notify } = useNotices();
   const { open: reopen } = useSitesmithModal();
   const profile = useSitesmithProfile();
-  const { summary, messages, send, loading, clearHistory } = useSitesmith(siteId);
+  const { summary, messages, send, loading, clearHistory, error: entitlementError } = useSitesmith(siteId);
   const apply = useApplyAiResponse();
   const [busy, setBusy] = useState(false);
   const [pendingReplace, setPendingReplace] = useState<SitesmithResponse | null>(null);
@@ -51,18 +51,25 @@ export const SitesmithModal: React.FC<Props> = ({ onClose, target }) => {
   // First-run: an empty canvas with no business profile asks the questions first,
   // then comes back here with a starter message. Keep the prefill for this mount.
   const [prefill] = useState(() => takeSitesmithPrefill());
-  const wantsWizard = useRef(
+  // Only for users who can actually use Sitesmith: decided once the
+  // entitlement arrives (a locked/capped user gets the modal's upgrade path).
+  const [wantsWizard, setWantsWizard] = useState(() =>
     !!cfg.whpConfig && !target && !profile && !prefill && !wizardWasSkipped()
     && (query.node('ROOT').get().data.nodes ?? []).length === 0,
   );
-  useEffect(() => {
-    if (!wantsWizard.current) return;
-    onClose();
-    openWizardThenSitesmith(() => reopen());
-  }, []); // eslint-disable-line react-hooks/exhaustive-deps
 
   const canChat = summary && (summary.status === 'OK_BONUS' || summary.status === 'OK_MONTHLY');
 
+  const wizardFired = useRef(false);
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!wantsWizard || wizardFired.current) return;
+    if (entitlementError || (summary && !canChat)) { setWantsWizard(false); return; }
+    if (!summary) return;
+    wizardFired.current = true;
+    onClose();
+    openWizardThenSitesmith(() => reopen());
+  }, [wantsWizard, summary, canChat, entitlementError]); // eslint-disable-line react-hooks/exhaustive-deps
+
   const panel:   React.CSSProperties = { background: '#0f0f17', border: '1px solid #27272a', borderRadius: 12, width: 'min(720px, 90vw)', maxHeight: '90vh', display: 'flex', flexDirection: 'column' };
   const header:  React.CSSProperties = { display: 'flex', alignItems: 'center', padding: '14px 18px', borderBottom: '1px solid #27272a', gap: 8 };
   const body:    React.CSSProperties = { flex: 1, padding: '14px 18px', overflowY: 'auto', display: 'flex', flexDirection: 'column' };
@@ -148,7 +155,7 @@ export const SitesmithModal: React.FC<Props> = ({ onClose, target }) => {
     if (!r.ok) setError(r.error || 'Failed to clear history');
   };
 
-  if (wantsWizard.current) return null;
+  if (wantsWizard) return null;
 
   return (
     <Modal