diff --git a/web/packages/base/components/mui/ActivityIndicator.tsx b/web/packages/base/components/mui/ActivityIndicator.tsx
index e7633d71f9..b52980012d 100644
--- a/web/packages/base/components/mui/ActivityIndicator.tsx
+++ b/web/packages/base/components/mui/ActivityIndicator.tsx
@@ -1,9 +1,11 @@
+import ErrorOutline from "@mui/icons-material/ErrorOutline";
 import {
     CircularProgress,
     Stack,
     Typography,
     type CircularProgressProps,
 } from "@mui/material";
+import { t } from "i18next";
 import type React from "react";
 
 /**
@@ -27,3 +29,21 @@ export const ActivityIndicator: React.FC<
     ) : (
         <CircularProgress color="accent" size={32} {...rest} />
     );
+
+/**
+ * An error message indicator, styled to complement {@link ActivityIndicator}.
+ *
+ * If a child is provided, it is used as the error message to show (after being
+ * wrapped in a suitable {@link Typography}). Otherwise the default generic
+ * error message is shown.
+ */
+export const ErrorIndicator: React.FC<React.PropsWithChildren> = ({
+    children,
+}) => (
+    <Stack sx={{ gap: 2, alignItems: "center" }}>
+        <ErrorOutline color="secondary" sx={{ color: "critical" }} />
+        <Typography color="text.muted">
+            {children ?? t("generic_error")}
+        </Typography>
+    </Stack>
+);
diff --git a/web/packages/new/photos/components/gallery/PeopleHeader.tsx b/web/packages/new/photos/components/gallery/PeopleHeader.tsx
index 09ca85c1da..6c53e054e0 100644
--- a/web/packages/new/photos/components/gallery/PeopleHeader.tsx
+++ b/web/packages/new/photos/components/gallery/PeopleHeader.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,7 @@
-import { ActivityIndicator } from "@/base/components/mui/ActivityIndicator";
+import {
+    ActivityIndicator,
+    ErrorIndicator,
+} from "@/base/components/mui/ActivityIndicator";
 import { CenteredBox } from "@/base/components/mui/Container";
 import { FocusVisibleButton } from "@/base/components/mui/FocusVisibleButton";
 import { LoadingButton } from "@/base/components/mui/LoadingButton";
@@ -250,10 +253,10 @@ const SuggestionsDialog: React.FC<SuggestionsDialogProps> = ({
     onClose,
     person,
 }) => {
-    const { showMiniDialog } = useAppContext();
+    const { showMiniDialog, onGenericError } = useAppContext();
 
     const [phase, setPhase] = useState<
-        "loading" | "failed" | "saving" | undefined
+        "loading" | "fetch-failed" | "saving" | undefined
     >();
     const [suggestions, setSuggestions] = useState<PersonSuggestion[]>([]);
     const [unsavedChanges /*, setUnsavedChanges */] = useState(false);
@@ -292,7 +295,7 @@ const SuggestionsDialog: React.FC<SuggestionsDialogProps> = ({
             resetPhaseAndClose();
         } catch (e) {
             log.error("Failed to save suggestion review", e);
-            setPhase("failed");
+            onGenericError(e);
         }
     };
 
@@ -302,14 +305,28 @@ const SuggestionsDialog: React.FC<SuggestionsDialogProps> = ({
         setPhase("loading");
 
         let ignore = false;
-        void suggestionsForPerson(person).then(async (suggestions) => {
-            setPhase(undefined);
-            if (!ignore) setSuggestions(suggestions);
-        });
+
+        const go = async () => {
+            try {
+                const suggestions = await suggestionsForPerson(person);
+                if (!ignore) {
+                    setPhase(undefined);
+                    setSuggestions(suggestions);
+                }
+            } catch (e) {
+                log.error("Failed to generate suggestions", e);
+                if (!ignore) {
+                    setPhase("fetch-failed");
+                }
+            }
+        };
+
+        void go();
+
         return () => {
             ignore = true;
         };
-    }, [open, person]);
+    }, [open, person, onGenericError]);
 
     console.log({ open, person });
 
@@ -332,6 +349,10 @@ const SuggestionsDialog: React.FC<SuggestionsDialogProps> = ({
                             {pt("Finding similar faces...")}
                         </ActivityIndicator>
                     </CenteredBox>
+                ) : phase == "fetch-failed" ? (
+                    <CenteredBox>
+                        <ErrorIndicator />
+                    </CenteredBox>
                 ) : suggestions.length == 0 ? (
                     <CenteredBox>
                         <Typography