diff --git a/static/js/modes/wefax.js b/static/js/modes/wefax.js
index ba54587..3ff40e2 100644
--- a/static/js/modes/wefax.js
+++ b/static/js/modes/wefax.js
@@ -192,11 +192,15 @@ var WeFax = (function () {
                     setStripFreq(freqKhz);
                     connectSSE();
                 } else {
-                    setStatus('Error: ' + (data.message || 'unknown'));
+                    var errMsg = data.message || 'unknown error';
+                    setStatus('Error: ' + errMsg);
+                    showStripError(errMsg);
                 }
             })
             .catch(function (err) {
-                setStatus('Error: ' + err.message);
+                var errMsg = err.message || 'Network error';
+                setStatus('Error: ' + errMsg);
+                showStripError(errMsg);
             });
     }
 
@@ -323,6 +327,7 @@ var WeFax = (function () {
         if (data.status === 'error') {
             state.running = false;
             updateButtons(false);
+            showStripError(data.message || 'Decode error');
         }
 
         if (data.status === 'stopped') {
@@ -680,6 +685,16 @@ var WeFax = (function () {
         if (el) el.textContent = String(khz);
     }
 
+    function showStripError(msg) {
+        var statusEl = document.getElementById('wefaxStripStatus');
+        if (statusEl) {
+            statusEl.textContent = 'Error: ' + msg;
+            statusEl.style.color = '#ff4444';
+        }
+        var dot = document.getElementById('wefaxStripDot');
+        if (dot) dot.className = 'wefax-strip-dot error';
+    }
+
     function flashStartError() {
         setStatus('Select a station and frequency first');
 
diff --git a/utils/wefax.py b/utils/wefax.py
index d825b42..4fe3b08 100644
--- a/utils/wefax.py
+++ b/utils/wefax.py
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ from typing import Callable
 
 import numpy as np
 
+from utils.dependencies import get_tool_path
 from utils.logging import get_logger
 
 logger = get_logger('intercept.wefax')
@@ -235,11 +236,17 @@ class WeFaxDecoder:
         self._direct_sampling = True
 
         self._output_dir.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+        self._last_error: str = ''
 
     @property
     def is_running(self) -> bool:
         return self._running
 
+    @property
+    def last_error(self) -> str:
+        """Last error message from a failed start() attempt."""
+        return self._last_error
+
     def set_callback(self, callback: Callable[[dict], None]) -> None:
         """Set callback for progress updates (fed to SSE queue)."""
         self._callback = callback
@@ -283,6 +290,7 @@ class WeFaxDecoder:
 
             try:
                 self._running = True
+                self._last_error = ''
                 self._start_pipeline()
 
                 logger.info(
@@ -298,6 +306,7 @@ class WeFaxDecoder:
 
             except Exception as e:
                 self._running = False
+                self._last_error = str(e)
                 logger.error(f"Failed to start WeFax decoder: {e}")
                 self._emit_progress(WeFaxProgress(
                     status='error',
@@ -307,10 +316,14 @@ class WeFaxDecoder:
 
     def _start_pipeline(self) -> None:
         """Start rtl_fm subprocess in USB mode for WeFax."""
+        rtl_fm_path = get_tool_path('rtl_fm')
+        if not rtl_fm_path:
+            raise RuntimeError('rtl_fm not found')
+
         freq_hz = int(self._frequency_khz * 1000)
 
         rtl_cmd = [
-            'rtl_fm',
+            rtl_fm_path,
             '-d', str(self._device_index),
             '-f', str(freq_hz),
             '-M', 'usb',
@@ -332,6 +345,18 @@ class WeFaxDecoder:
             stderr=subprocess.PIPE,
         )
 
+        # Post-spawn health check — catch immediate failures
+        time.sleep(0.3)
+        if self._rtl_process.poll() is not None:
+            stderr_detail = ''
+            if self._rtl_process.stderr:
+                stderr_detail = self._rtl_process.stderr.read().decode(
+                    errors='replace').strip()
+            rc = self._rtl_process.returncode
+            self._rtl_process = None
+            detail = stderr_detail.split('\n')[-1] if stderr_detail else f'exit code {rc}'
+            raise RuntimeError(f'rtl_fm failed: {detail}')
+
         self._decode_thread = threading.Thread(
             target=self._decode_audio_stream, daemon=True)
         self._decode_thread.start()
diff --git a/utils/wefax_scheduler.py b/utils/wefax_scheduler.py
index 373b116..6877717 100644
--- a/utils/wefax_scheduler.py
+++ b/utils/wefax_scheduler.py
@@ -406,6 +406,7 @@ class WeFaxScheduler:
                 'type': 'schedule_capture_skipped',
                 'broadcast': sb.to_dict(),
                 'reason': 'start_failed',
+                'detail': decoder.last_error or 'unknown error',
             })
 
     def _stop_capture(