diff --git a/src/features/packets/PacketExpansion.tsx b/src/features/packets/PacketExpansion.tsx
index ee196a6..a412870 100644
--- a/src/features/packets/PacketExpansion.tsx
+++ b/src/features/packets/PacketExpansion.tsx
@@ -46,7 +46,14 @@ export function PacketExpansion({ packet, onOpenAnalyzer, onViewPath, selectedOb
       </div>
 
       <div className="max-h-[360px] overflow-y-auto">
-        {noObservations ? (
+        {isError ? (
+          <div className="flex items-center gap-3 text-[10px] text-danger py-2">
+            <span>Failed to load observations</span>
+            <button type="button" onClick={() => refetch()} className="border border-border rounded-sm px-2 py-0.5 bg-bg-raised cursor-pointer">
+              Retry
+            </button>
+          </div>
+        ) : noObservations ? (
           emptyState
         ) : isLoading ? (
           <div>
@@ -58,13 +65,6 @@ export function PacketExpansion({ packet, onOpenAnalyzer, onViewPath, selectedOb
               />
             ))}
           </div>
-        ) : isError ? (
-          <div className="flex items-center gap-3 text-[10px] text-danger py-2">
-            <span>Failed to load observations</span>
-            <button type="button" onClick={() => refetch()} className="border border-border rounded-sm px-2 py-0.5 bg-bg-raised cursor-pointer">
-              Retry
-            </button>
-          </div>
         ) : data && data.observations.length === 0 ? (
           emptyState
         ) : data ? (
diff --git a/tests/features/packets/PacketExpansion.test.tsx b/tests/features/packets/PacketExpansion.test.tsx
index b1b9074..db7a6cf 100644
--- a/tests/features/packets/PacketExpansion.test.tsx
+++ b/tests/features/packets/PacketExpansion.test.tsx
@@ -47,6 +47,14 @@ describe("PacketExpansion", () => {
     expect(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /retry/i })).toBeInTheDocument();
   });
 
+  it("shows error state even when summary count is zero", () => {
+    usePacketDetail.mockReturnValue({ isError: true, refetch: vi.fn() });
+    render(<PacketExpansion {...props} packet={pkt({ observationCount: 0 })} />);
+    expect(screen.getByText("Failed to load observations")).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /retry/i })).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.queryByText("No observations")).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+
   it("calls refetch when retry is clicked", () => {
     const refetch = vi.fn();
     usePacketDetail.mockReturnValue({ isError: true, refetch });