diff --git a/apps/desktop-shell/scripts/check-config.mjs b/apps/desktop-shell/scripts/check-config.mjs
index a9bda0f42..5c98a742e 100644
--- a/apps/desktop-shell/scripts/check-config.mjs
+++ b/apps/desktop-shell/scripts/check-config.mjs
@@ -1897,7 +1897,10 @@ for (const snippet of [
   '"native page unavailable"',
   'native_page_unavailable_response_is_stable',
   'reload_desktop_host_bridge_webview',
+  'webview_reload_unavailable_response',
   'window.reload()',
+  '"webview reload unavailable"',
+  'webview_reload_unavailable_response_is_stable',
 ]) {
   if (!desktopHostBridgeNavigationSource.includes(snippet)) {
     throw new Error(`desktop shell navigation module is missing ${snippet}`);
diff --git a/apps/desktop-shell/src-tauri/src/host_bridge/navigation.rs b/apps/desktop-shell/src-tauri/src/host_bridge/navigation.rs
index bfdc5c52c..24d536b1e 100644
--- a/apps/desktop-shell/src-tauri/src/host_bridge/navigation.rs
+++ b/apps/desktop-shell/src-tauri/src/host_bridge/navigation.rs
@@ -187,8 +187,32 @@ pub(crate) fn reload_desktop_host_bridge_webview(
     match app.get_webview_window("main") {
         Some(window) => match window.reload() {
             Ok(()) => ok(request.id.clone(), json!(true)),
-            Err(error) => failed(request.id.clone(), "host_error", error.to_string()),
+            Err(_) => webview_reload_unavailable_response(request),
         },
-        None => failed(request.id.clone(), "host_error", "main window not found"),
+        None => webview_reload_unavailable_response(request),
+    }
+}
+
+fn webview_reload_unavailable_response(request: &HostBridgeRequest) -> HostBridgeResponse {
+    failed(
+        request.id.clone(),
+        "host_error",
+        "webview reload unavailable",
+    )
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod reload_tests {
+    use super::*;
+    use crate::host_bridge::protocol::request;
+
+    #[test]
+    fn webview_reload_unavailable_response_is_stable() {
+        let response = webview_reload_unavailable_response(&request("app.reloadWebView"));
+
+        assert!(!response.ok);
+        let error = response.error.expect("webview reload error");
+        assert_eq!(error.code, "host_error");
+        assert_eq!(error.message, "webview reload unavailable");
     }
 }