diff --git a/apps/mobile-shell/scripts/check-config.mjs b/apps/mobile-shell/scripts/check-config.mjs
index 4526e3b18..dbdb45c89 100644
--- a/apps/mobile-shell/scripts/check-config.mjs
+++ b/apps/mobile-shell/scripts/check-config.mjs
@@ -2079,9 +2079,14 @@ for (const snippet of [
   "code: 'unsupported_capability'",
   "code: 'cancelled'",
   'rejects image import before picker launch when library permission is denied',
+  'rejects image import before picker launch when library permission request fails',
+  'rejects image capture before camera launch when camera permission request fails',
   "message: 'photo library permission denied'",
+  "message: 'photo library permission unavailable'",
   'expect(imageLibraryMock).not.toHaveBeenCalled()',
   "message: 'camera permission denied'",
+  "message: 'camera permission unavailable'",
+  'expect(cameraMock).not.toHaveBeenCalled()',
   "mediaTypes: ['images']",
   "options: { encoding: 'base64' }",
 ]) {
diff --git a/apps/mobile-shell/src/host-bridge/files.test.ts b/apps/mobile-shell/src/host-bridge/files.test.ts
index 136cccaa0..080c92fd8 100644
--- a/apps/mobile-shell/src/host-bridge/files.test.ts
+++ b/apps/mobile-shell/src/host-bridge/files.test.ts
@@ -303,6 +303,26 @@ describe('mobile HostBridge file actions', () => {
     expect(imageLibraryMock).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
   });
 
+  test('rejects image import before picker launch when library permission request fails', async () => {
+    libraryPermissionMock.mockRejectedValueOnce(new Error('native permission failed'));
+
+    await expect(importImageFile()).rejects.toMatchObject({
+      code: 'host_error',
+      message: 'photo library permission unavailable',
+    });
+    expect(imageLibraryMock).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  test('rejects image capture before camera launch when camera permission request fails', async () => {
+    cameraPermissionMock.mockRejectedValueOnce(new Error('native permission failed'));
+
+    await expect(captureImageFile()).rejects.toMatchObject({
+      code: 'host_error',
+      message: 'camera permission unavailable',
+    });
+    expect(cameraMock).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
   test('imports audio and exports binary files through controlled payloads', async () => {
     fileBase64Data.set('file:///picked/voice.mp3', MP3_BASE64);
     fileSizes.set('file:///picked/voice.mp3', Buffer.byteLength('ID3\x04\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x10'));
diff --git a/apps/mobile-shell/src/host-bridge/files.ts b/apps/mobile-shell/src/host-bridge/files.ts
index 140a07ff4..acfa93392 100644
--- a/apps/mobile-shell/src/host-bridge/files.ts
+++ b/apps/mobile-shell/src/host-bridge/files.ts
@@ -270,7 +270,15 @@ export async function exportMobileHostBridgeImageFile(
 }
 
 export async function importImageFile(): Promise<FileImportImageResult> {
-  const permission = await ImagePicker.requestMediaLibraryPermissionsAsync();
+  let permission: ImagePicker.MediaLibraryPermissionResponse;
+  try {
+    permission = await ImagePicker.requestMediaLibraryPermissionsAsync();
+  } catch {
+    throw {
+      code: 'host_error',
+      message: 'photo library permission unavailable',
+    } satisfies HostBridgeError;
+  }
   if (permission.status !== ImagePicker.PermissionStatus.GRANTED) {
     throw {
       code: 'host_error',
@@ -301,7 +309,15 @@ export async function importMobileHostBridgeImageFile(
 }
 
 export async function captureImageFile(): Promise<FileImportImageResult> {
-  const permission = await ImagePicker.requestCameraPermissionsAsync();
+  let permission: ImagePicker.CameraPermissionResponse;
+  try {
+    permission = await ImagePicker.requestCameraPermissionsAsync();
+  } catch {
+    throw {
+      code: 'host_error',
+      message: 'camera permission unavailable',
+    } satisfies HostBridgeError;
+  }
   if (permission.status !== ImagePicker.PermissionStatus.GRANTED) {
     throw {
       code: 'host_error',