diff --git a/crates/ghostlight-dungeon/src/main.rs b/crates/ghostlight-dungeon/src/main.rs
index 64e8edb..dae92a5 100644
--- a/crates/ghostlight-dungeon/src/main.rs
+++ b/crates/ghostlight-dungeon/src/main.rs
@@ -1146,7 +1146,26 @@ async fn post_session_zero_message(
                     }
                 }
                 Err(error) => {
-                    tracing::warn!(%error, "Session Zero DM inference failed without mutation")
+                    tracing::warn!(%error, "Session Zero DM inference failed without draft mutation");
+                    let failure = ghostlight_dungeon::session_zero::SessionZeroDelta {
+                        dm_speech: "I couldn't finish that response. Your message is safely recorded and no draft state changed; please retry or rephrase when you're ready.".into(),
+                        ..Default::default()
+                    };
+                    if let Err(stale) = kernel
+                        .command(SessionZeroCommand::ApplyDmTurn {
+                            expected_component_epoch: component_epoch,
+                            expected_channel_revision: channel.revision,
+                            channel_id,
+                            member_id: private_member,
+                            delta: failure,
+                            model_receipts: Vec::new(),
+                        })
+                        .await
+                    {
+                        tracing::info!(%stale, "stale Session Zero DM failure notice discarded");
+                    } else {
+                        schedule_mesh_refresh(&mesh_state);
+                    }
                 }
             }
         });
diff --git a/crates/ghostlight-dungeon/src/session_zero.rs b/crates/ghostlight-dungeon/src/session_zero.rs
index c6e9170..96088f2 100644
--- a/crates/ghostlight-dungeon/src/session_zero.rs
+++ b/crates/ghostlight-dungeon/src/session_zero.rs
@@ -2763,6 +2763,66 @@ mod tests {
         );
     }
 
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn local_dm_failure_notice_changes_only_the_conversation() {
+        let dir = tempdir().unwrap();
+        let store = CampaignStore::open(dir.path().join("session-zero.cc")).unwrap();
+        let initial = state();
+        let state_id = initial.id;
+        let channel_id = "shared:table".to_string();
+        SessionZeroKernel::initialize(&store, &initial).unwrap();
+        let kernel = SessionZeroKernel::start(store, state_id);
+        let posted = kernel
+            .command(SessionZeroCommand::PostPlayerMessage {
+                actor_account_hash: "account:host".into(),
+                expected_revision: initial.revision,
+                channel_id: channel_id.clone(),
+                text: "Please try this turn.".into(),
+            })
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+        let before = posted.state.clone();
+
+        let noticed = kernel
+            .command(SessionZeroCommand::ApplyDmTurn {
+                expected_component_epoch: before.shared_epoch,
+                expected_channel_revision: before.channels[&channel_id].revision,
+                channel_id: channel_id.clone(),
+                member_id: None,
+                delta: SessionZeroDelta {
+                    dm_speech: "I couldn't finish that response. No draft state changed.".into(),
+                    ..Default::default()
+                },
+                model_receipts: vec![],
+            })
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+
+        assert_eq!(noticed.state.contract, before.contract);
+        assert_eq!(noticed.state.character_drafts, before.character_drafts);
+        assert_eq!(noticed.state.decisions, before.decisions);
+        assert_eq!(noticed.state.boundaries, before.boundaries);
+        assert_eq!(noticed.state.shared_epoch, before.shared_epoch);
+        assert_eq!(noticed.state.character_epochs, before.character_epochs);
+        assert_eq!(
+            noticed.state.preview_model_receipts,
+            before.preview_model_receipts
+        );
+        assert_eq!(noticed.state.revision, before.revision + 1);
+        assert_eq!(
+            noticed.state.channels[&channel_id].revision,
+            before.channels[&channel_id].revision + 1
+        );
+        let last_message_id = noticed.state.channels[&channel_id]
+            .message_ids
+            .last()
+            .unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(
+            noticed.state.messages[last_message_id].speaker,
+            SessionZeroSpeakerKind::Dm
+        );
+    }
+
     #[tokio::test]
     async fn material_character_bargain_is_inert_until_its_owner_accepts() {
         let dir = tempdir().unwrap();