diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index a288d54..6822406 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -4,6 +4,19 @@ All notable changes to LLeMbas Desktop. The format follows
 [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.1.0/), and the project uses
 [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/).
 
+## [Unreleased]
+
+### Fixed
+
+- **Files › Server showed an empty pane while it waited.** Nothing was drawn until the server's
+  listing came back -- no word that it was being read -- and a refusal or a broken answer was said
+  only once Rust's read timeout (60 s) had passed; to the person it looked as if there were no
+  files at all. Every folder in both trees now says Loading… while it is read; after 8 s it says
+  the server has not answered yet and offers Try again (the late answer is still drawn); a
+  refusal, an answer that is not a listing, or anything that breaks drawing it is said in its
+  place with Try again. Read again while an answer was on its way no longer draws the listing
+  twice.
+
 ## [1.0.0-beta.7] — 2026-11-10
 
 LLeMbas CLI 2.0.0-beta.7 inside, the look and words of LLeMbas 2.0.0-beta.9.
diff --git a/scripts/gen-i18n.py b/scripts/gen-i18n.py
index 21314e4..32816de 100755
--- a/scripts/gen-i18n.py
+++ b/scripts/gen-i18n.py
@@ -543,6 +543,9 @@ KEYS = (
     "approvals wait %(n)s min",
     # chat.js: a picture as the next reply
     "The reply to the next message is a picture drawn from it.",
+    # explorer.js: a directory still being read, or an answer that is not a listing
+    "The server has not answered in %(n)s seconds.",
+    "The server's answer could not be read.",
 )
 
 # The app's own sentences. The mode names (Manual, Edit, Auto, Plan) stay English, as the
@@ -823,6 +826,8 @@ OWN: dict[str, dict[str, str]] = {
         "Waiting for the computer": "Čeká na počítač",
         "approvals wait %(n)s min": "schválení čeká %(n)s min",
         "The reply to the next message is a picture drawn from it.": "Odpovědí na další zprávu bude obrázek nakreslený podle ní.",
+        "The server has not answered in %(n)s seconds.": "Server neodpověděl do %(n)s sekund.",
+        "The server's answer could not be read.": "Odpověď serveru nešlo přečíst.",
     },
     "de": {
         "Sign in again: the server no longer accepts this app's sign-in.": "Melden Sie sich erneut an: Der Server nimmt die Anmeldung dieser App nicht mehr an.",
@@ -1098,6 +1103,8 @@ OWN: dict[str, dict[str, str]] = {
         "Waiting for the computer": "Wartet auf den Computer",
         "approvals wait %(n)s min": "Freigaben warten %(n)s Min.",
         "The reply to the next message is a picture drawn from it.": "Die Antwort auf die nächste Nachricht ist ein danach gezeichnetes Bild.",
+        "The server has not answered in %(n)s seconds.": "Der Server hat seit %(n)s Sekunden nicht geantwortet.",
+        "The server's answer could not be read.": "Die Antwort des Servers konnte nicht gelesen werden.",
     },
     "es": {
         "Sign in again: the server no longer accepts this app's sign-in.": "Vuelva a iniciar sesión: el servidor ya no acepta el inicio de sesión de esta aplicación.",
@@ -1373,6 +1380,8 @@ OWN: dict[str, dict[str, str]] = {
         "Waiting for the computer": "Esperando al ordenador",
         "approvals wait %(n)s min": "las aprobaciones esperan %(n)s min",
         "The reply to the next message is a picture drawn from it.": "La respuesta al siguiente mensaje es una imagen dibujada a partir de él.",
+        "The server has not answered in %(n)s seconds.": "El servidor no ha respondido en %(n)s segundos.",
+        "The server's answer could not be read.": "No se pudo leer la respuesta del servidor.",
     },
     "fr": {
         "Sign in again: the server no longer accepts this app's sign-in.": "Reconnectez-vous : le serveur n’accepte plus la connexion de cette application.",
@@ -1648,6 +1657,8 @@ OWN: dict[str, dict[str, str]] = {
         "Waiting for the computer": "En attente de l’ordinateur",
         "approvals wait %(n)s min": "les approbations attendent %(n)s min",
         "The reply to the next message is a picture drawn from it.": "La réponse au prochain message est une image dessinée d’après lui.",
+        "The server has not answered in %(n)s seconds.": "Le serveur n’a pas répondu depuis %(n)s secondes.",
+        "The server's answer could not be read.": "La réponse du serveur n’a pas pu être lue.",
     },
     "hu": {
         "Sign in again: the server no longer accepts this app's sign-in.": "Jelentkezzen be újra: a szerver már nem fogadja el ennek az alkalmazásnak a bejelentkezését.",
@@ -1923,6 +1934,8 @@ OWN: dict[str, dict[str, str]] = {
         "Waiting for the computer": "A számítógépre vár",
         "approvals wait %(n)s min": "a jóváhagyások %(n)s percig várnak",
         "The reply to the next message is a picture drawn from it.": "A következő üzenetre adott válasz egy abból rajzolt kép lesz.",
+        "The server has not answered in %(n)s seconds.": "A szerver %(n)s másodperce nem válaszolt.",
+        "The server's answer could not be read.": "A szerver válasza nem olvasható.",
     },
     "it": {
         "Sign in again: the server no longer accepts this app's sign-in.": "Accedi di nuovo: il server non accetta più l’accesso di questa app.",
@@ -2198,6 +2211,8 @@ OWN: dict[str, dict[str, str]] = {
         "Waiting for the computer": "In attesa del computer",
         "approvals wait %(n)s min": "le approvazioni attendono %(n)s min",
         "The reply to the next message is a picture drawn from it.": "La risposta al prossimo messaggio è un’immagine disegnata a partire da esso.",
+        "The server has not answered in %(n)s seconds.": "Il server non ha risposto in %(n)s secondi.",
+        "The server's answer could not be read.": "Non è stato possibile leggere la risposta del server.",
     },
     "pl": {
         "Sign in again: the server no longer accepts this app's sign-in.": "Zaloguj się ponownie: serwer nie przyjmuje już logowania tej aplikacji.",
@@ -2473,6 +2488,8 @@ OWN: dict[str, dict[str, str]] = {
         "Waiting for the computer": "Czeka na komputer",
         "approvals wait %(n)s min": "zatwierdzenia czekają %(n)s min",
         "The reply to the next message is a picture drawn from it.": "Odpowiedzią na następną wiadomość będzie obraz narysowany na jej podstawie.",
+        "The server has not answered in %(n)s seconds.": "Serwer nie odpowiedział od %(n)s sekund.",
+        "The server's answer could not be read.": "Nie udało się odczytać odpowiedzi serwera.",
     },
     "sk": {
         "Sign in again: the server no longer accepts this app's sign-in.": "Prihláste sa znova: server už neprijíma prihlásenie tejto aplikácie.",
@@ -2748,6 +2765,8 @@ OWN: dict[str, dict[str, str]] = {
         "Waiting for the computer": "Čaká na počítač",
         "approvals wait %(n)s min": "schválenia čakajú %(n)s min",
         "The reply to the next message is a picture drawn from it.": "Odpoveďou na ďalšiu správu bude obrázok nakreslený podľa nej.",
+        "The server has not answered in %(n)s seconds.": "Server neodpovedal do %(n)s sekúnd.",
+        "The server's answer could not be read.": "Odpoveď servera sa nedala prečítať.",
     },
 }
 
diff --git a/tests/ui/mock-tauri.js b/tests/ui/mock-tauri.js
index cf47222..791c345 100644
--- a/tests/ui/mock-tauri.js
+++ b/tests/ui/mock-tauri.js
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@
 //            /api/v2 as the page reaches it through `api`. A path is looked up with its query,
 //            then without it. A value `{ __error: { status, detail } }` is a refusal. Anything
 //            not in the table is a 404, as an older server would answer.
+//   hold     ["GET /files?path=%2F", ...] -- answers that wait (a slow server) until the test
+//            lets them go with `__mock.release(key)`; the table is read when they are let go.
 //   streams  { "/chats/c1/messages/m1/stream": [[event, data], ...] } -- the frames a followed
 //            reply sends as soon as it is opened. More can be sent later with `__mock.frame()`.
 //   terminal [[kind, data], ...] -- what every terminal's socket sends as soon as it is opened
@@ -29,7 +31,16 @@
     for (const cb of listeners.get(name) || []) cb({ event: name, payload })
   }
 
+  const held = [] // [{ key, go }] answers waiting for `release`
+
   function route(method, path) {
+    if ((config.hold || []).includes(`${method} ${path}`)) {
+      return new Promise((resolve) => held.push({ key: `${method} ${path}`, go: resolve })).then(() => answer(method, path))
+    }
+    return answer(method, path)
+  }
+
+  function answer(method, path) {
     const routes = config.routes || {}
     const bare = path.split("?")[0]
     for (const key of [`${method} ${path}`, `${method} ${bare}`]) {
@@ -130,6 +141,17 @@
 
   window.__mock = {
     calls,
+    /** Let the held answers for `key` go, in the order they were asked; stop holding new ones. */
+    release(key) {
+      config.hold = (config.hold || []).filter((k) => k !== key)
+      const going = held.filter((x) => x.key === key)
+      for (const x of going) held.splice(held.indexOf(x), 1)
+      for (const x of going) x.go()
+    },
+    /** Change the server's answer for a route from now on. */
+    answer(key, value) {
+      config.routes[key] = value
+    },
     frame,
     emit: dispatch,
     /** The calls of one command, or of `api` with one method and path prefix. */
diff --git a/tests/ui/run.mjs b/tests/ui/run.mjs
index 290506d..c3c5de2 100644
--- a/tests/ui/run.mjs
+++ b/tests/ui/run.mjs
@@ -189,9 +189,11 @@ function baseRoutes(over = {}) {
 
 let browser
 
-async function page(config, { width = 1280, height = 860 } = {}) {
+async function page(config, { width = 1280, height = 860, clock = false } = {}) {
   const context = await browser.newContext({ viewport: { width, height } })
   const p = await context.newPage()
+  // The page's own timers, moved on by the test (`p.clock.fastForward`) rather than waited for.
+  if (clock) await p.clock.install()
   const errors = []
   p.on("pageerror", (e) => errors.push(String(e)))
   await context.route(`${ORIGIN}/**`, (route) => {
@@ -1398,6 +1400,127 @@ test("H8: at 390 px the server's pane and the switches stay inside the window",
   assert.deepEqual(p.errors, [])
 })
 
+// N8: Files › Server for an administrator (owner, on 1.0.0-beta.7: "shows nothing", then it loaded
+// late). The pane drew nothing at all while the listing was on its way -- no word that it was being
+// read, and a refusal or a broken answer only as late as Rust's 60 s read timeout. An answer that
+// came after Read again was appended beside the new one. The answer below is what the server's own
+// test client gives an administrator for `GET /api/v2/files?path=/` (2.0.0-beta.9: `fs.start` is `/`
+// for an organisation's owner), with a mount and files at the root as on a lived-in instance.
+
+const ADMIN_ROOT = {
+  path: "/",
+  parent: null,
+  entries: [
+    { name: "home", path: "/home", kind: "dir", size: 0, mime: "", updated_at: STAMP },
+    { name: "shared", path: "/shared", kind: "mount", size: 0, mime: "", updated_at: STAMP },
+    { name: "skills", path: "/skills", kind: "dir", size: 0, mime: "", updated_at: STAMP },
+    { name: "retry_util.py", path: "/retry_util.py", kind: "file", size: 1917, mime: "text/x-python", updated_at: STAMP },
+    { name: "test.py", path: "/test.py", kind: "file", size: 210, mime: "text/x-python", updated_at: STAMP },
+  ],
+}
+const ROOT_KEY = "GET /files?path=%2F"
+
+function n8(over = {}, hold = []) {
+  return {
+    status: status(),
+    routes: baseRoutes({
+      [ROOT_KEY]: ADMIN_ROOT,
+      "GET /files?path=%2Fhome": { path: "/home", parent: "/", entries: [{ name: "ada", path: "/home/ada", kind: "dir", size: 0, mime: "", updated_at: STAMP }] },
+      ...over,
+    }),
+    hold,
+    streams: {},
+  }
+}
+
+async function openServerTab(p) {
+  await p.evaluate(() => document.getElementById("nav-files").click())
+  await p.click('#files-tabs [data-tab="server"]')
+}
+
+const serverRows = (p) => p.$$eval("#server-tree li[data-path]", (l) => l.map((x) => x.dataset.path))
+
+test("N8: the administrator's / is drawn: folders, the mount and the files at the root; Loading… while it is read", async () => {
+  const p = await page(n8({}, [ROOT_KEY]))
+  await openServerTab(p)
+  await p.waitForSelector("#server-tree .tree__note.is-loading")
+  assert.equal((await p.textContent("#server-tree .tree__note.is-loading")).trim(), "Loading…")
+  assert.ok(await p.isVisible("#server-tree .tree__note.is-loading"), "the pane is not empty while it waits")
+  await p.evaluate((k) => window.__mock.release(k), ROOT_KEY)
+  await p.waitForSelector('#server-tree li[data-path="/test.py"]')
+  assert.deepEqual(await serverRows(p), ["/home", "/shared", "/skills", "/retry_util.py", "/test.py"])
+  assert.equal(await p.locator("#server-tree .is-loading").count(), 0)
+  // The mount opens like a folder; a folder's children come under it.
+  await p.click('#server-tree li[data-path="/home"] > .tree__row')
+  await p.waitForSelector('#server-tree li[data-path="/home/ada"]')
+  assert.ok(await p.isVisible('#server-tree li[data-path="/home/ada"]'))
+  await shot(p, "n8-admin-root-1280")
+  assert.deepEqual(p.errors, [])
+})
+
+test("N8: an answer that has not come in 8 s says so and offers Try again; the late answer is still drawn", async () => {
+  const p = await page(n8({}, [ROOT_KEY]), { clock: true })
+  await openServerTab(p)
+  await p.waitForSelector("#server-tree .tree__note.is-loading")
+  assert.equal(await p.locator("#server-tree .tree__retry").count(), 0)
+  await p.clock.fastForward(9000)
+  await p.waitForSelector("#server-tree .tree__note.is-loading .tree__retry")
+  assert.match(await p.textContent("#server-tree .tree__note.is-loading"), /The server has not answered in 8 seconds\./)
+  await p.evaluate((k) => window.__mock.release(k), ROOT_KEY)
+  await p.waitForSelector('#server-tree li[data-path="/test.py"]')
+  assert.equal(await p.locator("#server-tree .tree__note").count(), 0)
+  assert.deepEqual(p.errors, [])
+})
+
+test("N8: a refusal is said in the pane with Try again, which reads the folder afresh", async () => {
+  const p = await page(n8({ [ROOT_KEY]: { __error: { status: 403, detail: "This token was not given the app scope." } } }))
+  await openServerTab(p)
+  await p.waitForSelector("#server-tree .tree__note.is-error")
+  assert.match(await p.textContent("#server-tree .tree__note.is-error"), /This token was not given the app scope\./)
+  assert.equal(await p.getAttribute("#server-tree .tree__note.is-error", "role"), "alert")
+  await p.evaluate(([k, v]) => window.__mock.answer(k, v), [ROOT_KEY, ADMIN_ROOT])
+  await p.click("#server-tree .tree__retry")
+  await p.waitForSelector('#server-tree li[data-path="/home"]')
+  assert.equal(await p.locator("#server-tree .is-error").count(), 0)
+  assert.equal((await p.evaluate((k) => window.__mock.api("GET", "/files?path=%2F").length)), 2)
+  assert.deepEqual(p.errors, [])
+})
+
+test("N8: an answer that is not a listing is said, never an empty pane", async () => {
+  for (const broken of [null, { path: "/" }, { detail: "Not Found" }]) {
+    const p = await page(n8({ [ROOT_KEY]: broken }))
+    await openServerTab(p)
+    await p.waitForSelector("#server-tree .tree__note.is-error")
+    assert.match(await p.textContent("#server-tree .tree__note.is-error"), /The server's answer could not be read\./)
+    assert.deepEqual(p.errors, [])
+    await p.context().close()
+  }
+})
+
+test("N8: Read again while the first answer is on its way draws the listing once", async () => {
+  const p = await page(n8({}, [ROOT_KEY]))
+  await openServerTab(p)
+  await p.waitForSelector("#server-tree .tree__note.is-loading")
+  await p.click("#server-refresh")
+  await p.waitForFunction((k) => window.__mock.api("GET", "/files?path=%2F").length === 2)
+  await p.evaluate((k) => window.__mock.release(k), ROOT_KEY)
+  await p.waitForSelector('#server-tree li[data-path="/test.py"]')
+  await p.waitForTimeout(50)
+  assert.deepEqual(await serverRows(p), ["/home", "/shared", "/skills", "/retry_util.py", "/test.py"])
+  assert.deepEqual(p.errors, [])
+})
+
+test("N8: at 390 px the waiting and the refusal stay inside the window, Try again reachable", async () => {
+  const p = await page(n8({ [ROOT_KEY]: { __error: { status: 0, detail: "Could not reach the server: connection timed out after a long wait at the very far end of the network" } } }), { width: 390, height: 844 })
+  await openServerTab(p)
+  await p.waitForSelector("#server-tree .tree__retry")
+  assert.ok(await noSideways(p, 390), "nothing scrolls sideways")
+  const box = await p.locator("#server-tree .tree__retry").boundingBox()
+  assert.ok(box && box.x >= 0 && box.x + box.width <= 390 && box.height >= 28, `Try again is on the screen: ${JSON.stringify(box)}`)
+  await shot(p, "n8-refused-390")
+  assert.deepEqual(p.errors, [])
+})
+
 // I8: voice (/v1/audio, through Rust) and drawing a picture (/v1/images, through Rust).
 
 const PNG = "data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAYAAAAfFcSJAAAADUlEQVR42mP8z8BQDwAEhQGAhKmMIQAAAABJRU5ErkJggg=="
diff --git a/ui/app.css b/ui/app.css
index 3cba0be..aa18656 100644
--- a/ui/app.css
+++ b/ui/app.css
@@ -1460,7 +1460,11 @@ details[open] > summary .step__chev .icon { transform: rotate(90deg); }
 .tree__more { opacity: 0; }
 .tree__item:hover > .tree__more, .tree__more:focus-visible, .tree__more[aria-expanded="true"] { opacity: 1; }
 @media (hover: none) { .tree__more { opacity: 1; } }
-.tree__note { padding: var(--sp-1) var(--sp-3); font-size: var(--text-xs); color: var(--ink-muted); }
+.tree__note { padding: var(--sp-1) var(--sp-3); padding-inline-start: calc(var(--sp-3) + var(--depth, 0) * var(--sp-4)); font-size: var(--text-xs); color: var(--ink-muted); }
+/* Loading, still waiting, refused: the words, then Try again on the same line when it fits. */
+.tree__note.is-loading, .tree__note.is-error { display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; align-items: center; gap: var(--sp-2); }
+.tree__note > span { min-width: 0; overflow-wrap: anywhere; }
+.tree__retry { flex: none; }
 
 /* An empty page: an icon, a heading, a sentence, centred. */
 .empty { display: grid; justify-items: center; gap: var(--sp-3); padding: var(--sp-12) var(--sp-4) var(--sp-4); text-align: center; }
diff --git a/ui/i18n.js b/ui/i18n.js
index 3685fa4..9e8a1e3 100644
--- a/ui/i18n.js
+++ b/ui/i18n.js
@@ -379,7 +379,9 @@ const LEMBAS_I18N = {
     "The reply is ready.": "Odpověď je hotová.",
     "The reply to the next message is a picture drawn from it.": "Odpovědí na další zprávu bude obrázek nakreslený podle ní.",
     "The result is no longer there.": "Výsledek už tu není.",
+    "The server has not answered in %(n)s seconds.": "Server neodpověděl do %(n)s sekund.",
     "The server refused this computer's link: %(why)s": "Server odmítl propojení tohoto počítače: %(why)s",
+    "The server's answer could not be read.": "Odpověď serveru nešlo přečíst.",
     "The server's answer had no picture in it.": "V odpovědi serveru nebyl žádný obrázek.",
     "The server's answer was not audio.": "Odpověď serveru nebyla zvuk.",
     "The terminal could not be loaded.": "Terminál se nepodařilo načíst.",
@@ -864,7 +866,9 @@ const LEMBAS_I18N = {
     "The reply is ready.": "Die Antwort ist fertig.",
     "The reply to the next message is a picture drawn from it.": "Die Antwort auf die nächste Nachricht ist ein danach gezeichnetes Bild.",
     "The result is no longer there.": "Das Ergebnis ist nicht mehr da.",
+    "The server has not answered in %(n)s seconds.": "Der Server hat seit %(n)s Sekunden nicht geantwortet.",
     "The server refused this computer's link: %(why)s": "Der Server hat die Verknüpfung dieses Computers abgelehnt: %(why)s",
+    "The server's answer could not be read.": "Die Antwort des Servers konnte nicht gelesen werden.",
     "The server's answer had no picture in it.": "Die Antwort des Servers enthielt kein Bild.",
     "The server's answer was not audio.": "Die Antwort des Servers war kein Audio.",
     "The terminal could not be loaded.": "Das Terminal konnte nicht geladen werden.",
@@ -1349,7 +1353,9 @@ const LEMBAS_I18N = {
     "The reply is ready.": "La respuesta está lista.",
     "The reply to the next message is a picture drawn from it.": "La respuesta al siguiente mensaje es una imagen dibujada a partir de él.",
     "The result is no longer there.": "El resultado ya no está.",
+    "The server has not answered in %(n)s seconds.": "El servidor no ha respondido en %(n)s segundos.",
     "The server refused this computer's link: %(why)s": "El servidor rechazó la vinculación de este equipo: %(why)s",
+    "The server's answer could not be read.": "No se pudo leer la respuesta del servidor.",
     "The server's answer had no picture in it.": "La respuesta del servidor no traía ninguna imagen.",
     "The server's answer was not audio.": "La respuesta del servidor no era audio.",
     "The terminal could not be loaded.": "No se ha podido cargar el terminal.",
@@ -1834,7 +1840,9 @@ const LEMBAS_I18N = {
     "The reply is ready.": "La réponse est prête.",
     "The reply to the next message is a picture drawn from it.": "La réponse au prochain message est une image dessinée d’après lui.",
     "The result is no longer there.": "Le résultat n'est plus là.",
+    "The server has not answered in %(n)s seconds.": "Le serveur n’a pas répondu depuis %(n)s secondes.",
     "The server refused this computer's link: %(why)s": "Le serveur a refusé la liaison de cet ordinateur : %(why)s",
+    "The server's answer could not be read.": "La réponse du serveur n’a pas pu être lue.",
     "The server's answer had no picture in it.": "La réponse du serveur ne contenait aucune image.",
     "The server's answer was not audio.": "La réponse du serveur n’était pas de l’audio.",
     "The terminal could not be loaded.": "Le terminal n'a pas pu être chargé.",
@@ -2319,7 +2327,9 @@ const LEMBAS_I18N = {
     "The reply is ready.": "A válasz kész.",
     "The reply to the next message is a picture drawn from it.": "A következő üzenetre adott válasz egy abból rajzolt kép lesz.",
     "The result is no longer there.": "Az eredmény már nincs meg.",
+    "The server has not answered in %(n)s seconds.": "A szerver %(n)s másodperce nem válaszolt.",
     "The server refused this computer's link: %(why)s": "A szerver elutasította ennek a számítógépnek a kapcsolatát: %(why)s",
+    "The server's answer could not be read.": "A szerver válasza nem olvasható.",
     "The server's answer had no picture in it.": "A szerver válaszában nem volt kép.",
     "The server's answer was not audio.": "A szerver válasza nem hang volt.",
     "The terminal could not be loaded.": "A terminált nem sikerült betölteni.",
@@ -2804,7 +2814,9 @@ const LEMBAS_I18N = {
     "The reply is ready.": "La risposta è pronta.",
     "The reply to the next message is a picture drawn from it.": "La risposta al prossimo messaggio è un’immagine disegnata a partire da esso.",
     "The result is no longer there.": "Il risultato non c’è più.",
+    "The server has not answered in %(n)s seconds.": "Il server non ha risposto in %(n)s secondi.",
     "The server refused this computer's link: %(why)s": "Il server ha rifiutato il collegamento di questo computer: %(why)s",
+    "The server's answer could not be read.": "Non è stato possibile leggere la risposta del server.",
     "The server's answer had no picture in it.": "La risposta del server non conteneva immagini.",
     "The server's answer was not audio.": "La risposta del server non era audio.",
     "The terminal could not be loaded.": "Impossibile caricare il terminale.",
@@ -3289,7 +3301,9 @@ const LEMBAS_I18N = {
     "The reply is ready.": "Odpowiedź jest gotowa.",
     "The reply to the next message is a picture drawn from it.": "Odpowiedzią na następną wiadomość będzie obraz narysowany na jej podstawie.",
     "The result is no longer there.": "Wyniku już nie ma.",
+    "The server has not answered in %(n)s seconds.": "Serwer nie odpowiedział od %(n)s sekund.",
     "The server refused this computer's link: %(why)s": "Serwer odrzucił połączenie tego komputera: %(why)s",
+    "The server's answer could not be read.": "Nie udało się odczytać odpowiedzi serwera.",
     "The server's answer had no picture in it.": "W odpowiedzi serwera nie było obrazu.",
     "The server's answer was not audio.": "Odpowiedź serwera nie była dźwiękiem.",
     "The terminal could not be loaded.": "Nie udało się wczytać terminala.",
@@ -3774,7 +3788,9 @@ const LEMBAS_I18N = {
     "The reply is ready.": "Odpoveď je hotová.",
     "The reply to the next message is a picture drawn from it.": "Odpoveďou na ďalšiu správu bude obrázok nakreslený podľa nej.",
     "The result is no longer there.": "Výsledok už tu nie je.",
+    "The server has not answered in %(n)s seconds.": "Server neodpovedal do %(n)s sekúnd.",
     "The server refused this computer's link: %(why)s": "Server odmietol prepojenie tohto počítača: %(why)s",
+    "The server's answer could not be read.": "Odpoveď servera sa nedala prečítať.",
     "The server's answer had no picture in it.": "V odpovedi servera nebol žiadny obrázok.",
     "The server's answer was not audio.": "Odpoveď servera nebola zvuk.",
     "The terminal could not be loaded.": "Terminál sa nepodarilo načítať.",
diff --git a/ui/js/explorer.js b/ui/js/explorer.js
index b9248ec..215fb89 100644
--- a/ui/js/explorer.js
+++ b/ui/js/explorer.js
@@ -19,10 +19,18 @@ export const SERVER_FILES = {
 /** A directory in either tree: the server's mounts open like its folders. */
 const isDir = (e) => e.kind === "dir" || e.kind === "mount"
 
+/** How long a directory may take before the pane says it is still waiting, and offers to ask again. */
+export const SLOW_MS = 8000
+
 /**
  * A lazily opened tree in `box`. `list(path)` -> entries; `open(entry)` for a file; `actions(entry)`
  * (optional) -> menu items for an entry's more button. Returns `reload(path)`, which reads a
  * directory that is open again (the root by `rootPath`), the folders open inside it kept open.
+ *
+ * A directory is never an empty box: while it is read it says "Loading…" (and, past SLOW_MS, that
+ * the answer has not come, with Try again); a refusal, or anything that breaks drawing it, is said
+ * in its place with Try again. Only the latest reading of a directory is drawn: an answer that
+ * comes after the directory was read again, closed or redrawn is dropped, not appended.
  */
 function tree(box, { list, open, rootPath, actions }) {
   clear(box)
@@ -30,56 +38,90 @@ function tree(box, { list, open, rootPath, actions }) {
   box.append(ul)
   const levels = new Map() // path -> { ul, depth }, each directory drawn now
   const opened = new Set() // the directories open now
+  const asked = new WeakMap() // ul -> the reading it shows now (a number)
   const level = async (parent, path, depth) => {
     levels.set(path, { ul: parent, depth })
+    const mine = (asked.get(parent) || 0) + 1
+    asked.set(parent, mine)
+    const stale = () => asked.get(parent) !== mine || !parent.isConnected
+    const again = () => {
+      clear(parent)
+      return level(parent, path, depth)
+    }
+    const retry = () => h("button", { type: "button", class: "btn btn--sm tree__retry", text: t("Try again"), onclick: again })
+    const loading = h("li", { class: "tree__note is-loading", role: "status", "aria-live": "polite" }, h("span", { text: t("Loading…") }))
+    loading.style.setProperty("--depth", String(depth))
+    parent.append(loading)
+    const slow = setTimeout(() => {
+      if (stale()) return
+      loading.append(h("span", { text: ` ${t("The server has not answered in %(n)s seconds.", { n: Math.round(SLOW_MS / 1000) })}` }), retry())
+    }, SLOW_MS)
+    const said = (text) => {
+      const note = h("li", { class: "tree__note is-error", role: "alert" }, h("span", { text }), retry())
+      note.style.setProperty("--depth", String(depth))
+      return note
+    }
     let entries
     try {
       entries = await list(path)
     } catch (err) {
-      parent.append(h("li", { class: "tree__note is-error", text: why(err) }))
+      clearTimeout(slow)
+      if (!stale()) loading.replaceWith(said(why(err)))
       return
+    } finally {
+      clearTimeout(slow)
     }
-    if (!entries.length) parent.append(h("li", { class: "tree__note", text: t("Empty folder") }))
-    for (const e of entries) {
-      const row = h(
-        "button",
-        { type: "button", class: "tree__row", title: e.path, "aria-expanded": isDir(e) ? "false" : null },
-        h("span", { class: "tree__chevron" }, isDir(e) ? icon(ICONS.chevron) : null),
-        icon(isDir(e) ? ICONS.folder : ICONS.file),
-        h("span", { class: "tree__name", text: e.name }),
-        h("span", { class: "tree__size", text: isDir(e) ? "" : bytes(e.size) }),
-      )
-      row.style.setProperty("--depth", String(depth))
-      const items = actions?.(e) || []
-      const li = h(
-        "li",
-        { role: "treeitem", class: items.length ? "tree__item" : null, dataset: { path: e.path } },
-        row,
-        items.length
-          ? h("button", { type: "button", class: "tool tree__more", "aria-label": t("More"), title: t("More"), onclick: (ev) => menu(ev.currentTarget, items) }, icon(ICONS.more))
-          : null,
-      )
-      if (isDir(e)) {
-        let kids = null
-        const expand = async (opening) => {
-          row.setAttribute("aria-expanded", String(opening))
-          if (!opening) {
-            opened.delete(e.path)
-            levels.delete(e.path)
-            kids?.remove()
-            kids = null
-            return
-          }
-          opened.add(e.path)
-          kids = h("ul", { role: "group" })
-          li.append(kids)
-          await level(kids, e.path, depth + 1)
+    if (stale()) return
+    try {
+      if (!Array.isArray(entries)) throw { detail: t("The server's answer could not be read.") }
+      const items = []
+      if (!entries.length) items.push(h("li", { class: "tree__note", text: t("Empty folder") }))
+      for (const e of entries) items.push(item(e, depth))
+      loading.replaceWith(...items)
+    } catch (err) {
+      loading.replaceWith(said(err instanceof Error ? err.message : why(err)))
+    }
+  }
+  const item = (e, depth) => {
+    const row = h(
+      "button",
+      { type: "button", class: "tree__row", title: e.path, "aria-expanded": isDir(e) ? "false" : null },
+      h("span", { class: "tree__chevron" }, isDir(e) ? icon(ICONS.chevron) : null),
+      icon(isDir(e) ? ICONS.folder : ICONS.file),
+      h("span", { class: "tree__name", text: e.name }),
+      h("span", { class: "tree__size", text: isDir(e) ? "" : bytes(e.size) }),
+    )
+    row.style.setProperty("--depth", String(depth))
+    const items = actions?.(e) || []
+    const li = h(
+      "li",
+      { role: "treeitem", class: items.length ? "tree__item" : null, dataset: { path: e.path } },
+      row,
+      items.length
+        ? h("button", { type: "button", class: "tool tree__more", "aria-label": t("More"), title: t("More"), onclick: (ev) => menu(ev.currentTarget, items) }, icon(ICONS.more))
+        : null,
+    )
+    if (isDir(e)) {
+      let kids = null
+      const expand = async (opening) => {
+        row.setAttribute("aria-expanded", String(opening))
+        if (!opening) {
+          opened.delete(e.path)
+          levels.delete(e.path)
+          kids?.remove()
+          kids = null
+          return
         }
-        row.addEventListener("click", () => expand(row.getAttribute("aria-expanded") !== "true"))
-        if (opened.has(e.path)) expand(true)
-      } else row.addEventListener("click", () => open(e))
-      parent.append(li)
-    }
+        opened.add(e.path)
+        kids?.remove()
+        kids = h("ul", { role: "group" })
+        li.append(kids)
+        await level(kids, e.path, depth + 1)
+      }
+      row.addEventListener("click", () => expand(row.getAttribute("aria-expanded") !== "true"))
+      if (opened.has(e.path)) expand(true)
+    } else row.addEventListener("click", () => open(e))
+    return li
   }
   const done = level(ul, rootPath, 0)
   const reload = (path) => {
@@ -237,8 +279,9 @@ export function renderServer() {
     rootPath: "/",
     list: async (path) => {
       const r = await get(SERVER_FILES.list(path))
+      if (!r || !Array.isArray(r.entries)) throw { detail: t("The server's answer could not be read.") }
       if (path === "/" && r.path) serverRoot = r.path
-      return r.entries || []
+      return r.entries
     },
     open: (e) => openServerFile(e.path, e.name),
     actions: serverActions,