diff --git a/server/src/http/model.rs b/server/src/http/model.rs
index 8163546..7cd6462 100644
--- a/server/src/http/model.rs
+++ b/server/src/http/model.rs
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ impl ModelApi {
 
     /// Fetch available model names from an Ollama server.
     /// Optionally override the base URL via query string.
+    /// Returns an empty list when Ollama is unreachable so the UI stays functional.
     #[oai(path = "/ollama/models", method = "get")]
     async fn get_ollama_models(
         &self,
@@ -44,7 +45,7 @@ impl ModelApi {
     ) -> OpenApiResult<Json<Vec<String>>> {
         let models = chat::get_ollama_models(base_url.0)
             .await
-            .map_err(bad_request)?;
+            .unwrap_or_default();
         Ok(Json(models))
     }
 }
@@ -116,12 +117,13 @@ mod tests {
     }
 
     #[tokio::test]
-    async fn get_ollama_models_returns_error_for_unreachable_url() {
+    async fn get_ollama_models_returns_empty_list_for_unreachable_url() {
         let dir = TempDir::new().unwrap();
         let api = make_api(&dir);
         // Port 1 is reserved and should immediately refuse the connection.
         let base_url = Query(Some("http://127.0.0.1:1".to_string()));
         let result = api.get_ollama_models(base_url).await;
-        assert!(result.is_err());
+        assert!(result.is_ok());
+        assert_eq!(result.unwrap().0, Vec::<String>::new());
     }
 }