diff --git a/app/src/components/settings/panels/AIPanel.tsx b/app/src/components/settings/panels/AIPanel.tsx
index ac4c0fce07..e60f5326f5 100644
--- a/app/src/components/settings/panels/AIPanel.tsx
+++ b/app/src/components/settings/panels/AIPanel.tsx
@@ -760,7 +760,6 @@ const ProviderKeyDialog = ({
   );
 };
 
-// ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 // Background loop controls + usage diagnostics
 // ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
diff --git a/app/src/components/settings/panels/__tests__/AIPanel.test.tsx b/app/src/components/settings/panels/__tests__/AIPanel.test.tsx
index 9065c079a0..1116bd7f33 100644
--- a/app/src/components/settings/panels/__tests__/AIPanel.test.tsx
+++ b/app/src/components/settings/panels/__tests__/AIPanel.test.tsx
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ vi.mock('../../../../services/api/aiSettingsApi', () => ({
   saveAISettings: vi.fn(),
   loadLocalProviderSnapshot: vi.fn(),
   testProviderModel: vi.fn(),
-  setCloudProviderKey: vi.fn(),
+  setCloudProviderKey: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(undefined),
   clearCloudProviderKey: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(undefined),
   serializeProviderRef: vi.fn((r: { kind: string; providerSlug?: string; model?: string }) =>
     r.kind === 'openhuman'
@@ -356,6 +356,25 @@ describe('AIPanel', () => {
     expect(screen.getByLabelText(/API key/i)).toBeInTheDocument();
   });
 
+  it('surfaces provider setup errors in an alert with technical details collapsed', async () => {
+    vi.mocked(loadAISettings).mockResolvedValue({ ...baseSettings, cloudProviders: [] });
+    vi.mocked(listProviderModels).mockRejectedValueOnce(
+      new Error('Could not reach OpenAI: provider returned 401 Unauthorized')
+    );
+
+    renderWithProviders(<AIPanel />);
+
+    fireEvent.click(await screen.findByRole('switch', { name: /Connect OpenAI/i }));
+    const dialog = await screen.findByRole('dialog', { name: /Connect OpenAI/i });
+    fireEvent.change(within(dialog).getByLabelText(/API key/i), {
+      target: { value: 'sk-bad-key' },
+    });
+    fireEvent.click(within(dialog).getByRole('button', { name: /^Save$/i }));
+
+    const alert = await within(dialog).findByRole('alert');
+    expect(alert).toHaveTextContent(/rejected the credentials/i);
+  });
+
   it('clicking the OpenRouter chip shows both API key entry and the OAuth button', async () => {
     vi.mocked(loadAISettings).mockResolvedValue({ ...baseSettings, cloudProviders: [] });
 
diff --git a/app/src/lib/i18n/chunks/de-5.ts b/app/src/lib/i18n/chunks/de-5.ts
index b88de30cf6..d0f425708e 100644
--- a/app/src/lib/i18n/chunks/de-5.ts
+++ b/app/src/lib/i18n/chunks/de-5.ts
@@ -241,9 +241,9 @@ const de5: TranslationMap = {
   'settings.mascot.characterDesc': 'Charakterbeschreibung',
   'settings.mascot.characterHeading': 'Zeichenüberschrift',
   'settings.mascot.customGifError':
-    'Gib eine HTTPS-.gif-URL, eine Loopback-HTTP-.gif-URL, eine file://-.gif-URL oder einen lokalen .gif-Pfad ein.',
-  'settings.mascot.customGifHeading': 'Eigener GIF-Avatar',
-  'settings.mascot.customGifLabel': 'URL des eigenen GIF-Avatars',
+    'GIF konnte nicht geladen werden. Bitte überprüfe die URL und versuche es erneut.',
+  'settings.mascot.customGifHeading': 'Benutzerdefinierter GIF-Avatar',
+  'settings.mascot.customGifLabel': 'URL für benutzerdefinierten GIF-Avatar',
   'settings.mascot.colorDesc': 'Farbbeschreibung',
   'settings.mascot.colorHeading': 'Farbüberschrift',
   'settings.mascot.loadingLibrary': 'OpenHuman-Bibliothek wird geladen…',