diff --git a/apps/desktop-shell/scripts/check-config.mjs b/apps/desktop-shell/scripts/check-config.mjs
index 5c98a742e..8fa76db41 100644
--- a/apps/desktop-shell/scripts/check-config.mjs
+++ b/apps/desktop-shell/scripts/check-config.mjs
@@ -1920,8 +1920,10 @@ if (
 for (const snippet of [
   'resolve_desktop_host_bridge_network_status',
   'resolve_desktop_host_bridge_network_status_payload',
+  'network_status_unavailable_response',
   'spawn_blocking(resolve_desktop_network_status)',
-  'failed(request.id.clone(), "host_error", error)',
+  '"network status unavailable"',
+  'network_status_unavailable_response_is_stable',
 ]) {
   if (!desktopHostBridgeNetworkSource.includes(snippet)) {
     throw new Error(`desktop shell network module is missing ${snippet}`);
diff --git a/apps/desktop-shell/src-tauri/src/host_bridge/network.rs b/apps/desktop-shell/src-tauri/src/host_bridge/network.rs
index 196bdd2df..0eab269bc 100644
--- a/apps/desktop-shell/src-tauri/src/host_bridge/network.rs
+++ b/apps/desktop-shell/src-tauri/src/host_bridge/network.rs
@@ -13,6 +13,26 @@ pub(crate) async fn resolve_desktop_host_bridge_network_status(
 ) -> HostBridgeResponse {
     match resolve_desktop_host_bridge_network_status_payload().await {
         Ok(status) => ok(request.id.clone(), status),
-        Err(error) => failed(request.id.clone(), "host_error", error),
+        Err(_) => network_status_unavailable_response(request),
+    }
+}
+
+fn network_status_unavailable_response(request: &HostBridgeRequest) -> HostBridgeResponse {
+    failed(request.id.clone(), "host_error", "network status unavailable")
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+    use crate::host_bridge::protocol::request;
+
+    #[test]
+    fn network_status_unavailable_response_is_stable() {
+        let response = network_status_unavailable_response(&request("network.status"));
+
+        assert!(!response.ok);
+        let error = response.error.expect("network status error");
+        assert_eq!(error.code, "host_error");
+        assert_eq!(error.message, "network status unavailable");
     }
 }