diff --git a/TODO.md b/TODO.md
index 3933ba5..1ee498f 100644
--- a/TODO.md
+++ b/TODO.md
@@ -57,19 +57,15 @@ Pick anything from here when relevant. Cross-cutting design notes live in
   Repro: manager calls `ask_operator`, tool result is
   `question queued (id=N)` (so the row is in sqlite), but the
   M1ND H4S QU3STI0NS section keeps showing "no pending
-  questions". Last seen with id=5. Suspected paths:
-  - `OperatorQuestions::pending()` returns Err and the
-    `unwrap_or_default()` in `api_state` hides it. Surface the
-    error (warn-log) and check.
-  - serialization: a new field in `OpQuestion` (e.g.
-    `deadline_at: Option<i64>`) deserializes wrong against an
-    old row whose columns don't match the new SELECT order →
-    `row.get(N)?` panics for that row, the whole iterator
-    errors, `pending()` returns Err. Diagnose by curl
-    `/api/state | jq '.questions'` and compare with sqlite
-    counts.
-  - dashboard JS swallows a render error. Open browser console
-    and look for exceptions during `renderQuestions`.
+  questions". Last seen with id=5. Diagnostic step landed:
+  `api_state` now warn-logs (target=`api_state`) when any of
+  its source queries fail instead of silently
+  `unwrap_or_default`-ing — next repro should print the
+  underlying error in journald and tell us whether this is
+  sqlite (likely `OperatorQuestions::pending()` row-decode
+  panic on a migrated column) or dashboard-JS-side
+  (`renderQuestions` exception). Re-investigate with the new
+  log once the bug fires.
 
 ## UI / UX
 
diff --git a/hive-c0re/src/dashboard.rs b/hive-c0re/src/dashboard.rs
index d26e5cd..c7bf632 100644
--- a/hive-c0re/src/dashboard.rs
+++ b/hive-c0re/src/dashboard.rs
@@ -239,6 +239,25 @@ struct ApprovalView {
     diff_html: Option<String>,
 }
 
+/// Replace silent `.unwrap_or_default()` on the data sources behind
+/// `/api/state` so that whichever query degrades surfaces in journald
+/// instead of leaving the operator staring at an empty list. The
+/// dashboard still degrades to a sensible default value; the warn
+/// is just the diagnostic breadcrumb the old code swallowed.
+fn log_default<T, E>(what: &str, result: std::result::Result<T, E>) -> T
+where
+    T: Default,
+    E: std::fmt::Debug,
+{
+    match result {
+        Ok(v) => v,
+        Err(e) => {
+            tracing::warn!(target: "api_state", source = %what, error = ?e, "snapshot source failed; using default");
+            T::default()
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 async fn api_state(headers: HeaderMap, State(state): State<AppState>) -> axum::Json<StateSnapshot> {
     let host = headers
         .get("host")
@@ -246,35 +265,36 @@ async fn api_state(headers: HeaderMap, State(state): State<AppState>) -> axum::J
         .unwrap_or("localhost");
     let hostname = host.split(':').next().unwrap_or(host).to_owned();
 
-    let raw_containers = lifecycle::list().await.unwrap_or_default();
+    let raw_containers = log_default("nixos-container list", lifecycle::list().await);
     let current_rev = crate::auto_update::current_flake_rev(&state.coord.hyperhive_flake);
     let transient_snapshot = state.coord.transient_snapshot();
     let pending_approvals = gc_orphans(
         &state.coord,
-        state.coord.approvals.pending().unwrap_or_default(),
+        log_default("approvals.pending", state.coord.approvals.pending()),
     );
 
     let (containers, any_stale) =
         build_container_views(&raw_containers, current_rev.as_deref(), &transient_snapshot).await;
     let transients = build_transient_views(&raw_containers, &transient_snapshot);
     let approvals = build_approval_views(pending_approvals).await;
-    let approval_history = state
-        .coord
-        .approvals
-        .recent_resolved(30)
-        .unwrap_or_default()
-        .into_iter()
-        .map(history_view)
-        .collect();
+    let approval_history = log_default(
+        "approvals.recent_resolved",
+        state.coord.approvals.recent_resolved(30),
+    )
+    .into_iter()
+    .map(history_view)
+    .collect();
     let tombstones = build_tombstone_views(&state.coord, &containers, &transient_snapshot);
     let port_conflicts = build_port_conflicts(&containers);
 
-    let operator_inbox = state
-        .coord
-        .broker
-        .recent_for(hive_sh4re::OPERATOR_RECIPIENT, 50)
-        .unwrap_or_default();
-    let questions = state.coord.questions.pending().unwrap_or_default();
+    let operator_inbox = log_default(
+        "broker.recent_for(operator)",
+        state
+            .coord
+            .broker
+            .recent_for(hive_sh4re::OPERATOR_RECIPIENT, 50),
+    );
+    let questions = log_default("questions.pending", state.coord.questions.pending());
 
     axum::Json(StateSnapshot {
         hostname,