diff --git a/public/app.js b/public/app.js
index c023cbda..766c095e 100644
--- a/public/app.js
+++ b/public/app.js
@@ -148,6 +148,18 @@ function connectWS() {
 function onWS(fn) { wsListeners.push(fn); }
 function offWS(fn) { wsListeners = wsListeners.filter(f => f !== fn); }
 
+/* Global escapeHtml — used by multiple pages */
+function escapeHtml(s) {
+  if (!s) return '';
+  return s.replace(/&/g,'&amp;').replace(/</g,'&lt;').replace(/>/g,'&gt;').replace(/"/g,'&quot;');
+}
+
+/* Global debounce */
+function debounce(fn, ms) {
+  let t;
+  return (...args) => { clearTimeout(t); t = setTimeout(() => fn(...args), ms); };
+}
+
 /* Debounced WS helper — batches rapid messages, calls fn with array of msgs */
 function debouncedOnWS(fn, ms) {
   if (typeof ms === 'undefined') ms = 250;
diff --git a/public/nodes.js b/public/nodes.js
index b7ee02ba..a236564d 100644
--- a/public/nodes.js
+++ b/public/nodes.js
@@ -5,10 +5,6 @@
   let nodes = [];
   const PAYLOAD_TYPES = {0:'Request',1:'Response',2:'Direct Msg',3:'ACK',4:'Advert',5:'Channel Msg',7:'Anon Req',8:'Path',9:'Trace'};
 
-  function escapeHtml(s) {
-    if (!s) return '';
-    return s.replace(/&/g,'&amp;').replace(/</g,'&lt;').replace(/>/g,'&gt;').replace(/"/g,'&quot;');
-  }
   let counts = {};
   let selectedKey = null;
   let activeTab = 'all';
@@ -202,6 +198,8 @@
       renderLeft();
     } catch (e) {
       console.error('Failed to load nodes:', e);
+      const tbody = document.getElementById('nodesBody');
+      if (tbody) tbody.innerHTML = '<tr><td colspan="6" class="text-center" style="padding:24px;color:var(--error,#ef4444)"><div role="alert" aria-live="polite">Failed to load nodes. Please try again.</div></td></tr>';
     }
   }
 
@@ -441,11 +439,5 @@
     });
   }
 
-  // Minimal QR-like visual (encode pubkey as a grid pattern - not a real QR but visually useful)
-  function debounce(fn, ms) {
-    let t;
-    return (...args) => { clearTimeout(t); t = setTimeout(() => fn(...args), ms); };
-  }
-
   registerPage('nodes', { init, destroy });
 })();
diff --git a/public/packets.js b/public/packets.js
index 31bf3c86..56dc2be6 100644
--- a/public/packets.js
+++ b/public/packets.js
@@ -253,6 +253,8 @@
       renderLeft();
     } catch (e) {
       console.error('Failed to load packets:', e);
+      const tbody = document.getElementById('pktBody');
+      if (tbody) tbody.innerHTML = '<tr><td colspan="10" class="text-center" style="padding:24px;color:var(--error,#ef4444)"><div role="alert" aria-live="polite">Failed to load packets. Please try again.</div></td></tr>';
     }
   }
 
@@ -492,6 +494,11 @@
     const groupBtn = document.getElementById('fGroup');
     if (groupBtn) groupBtn.classList.toggle('active', groupByHash);
 
+    if (!packets.length) {
+      tbody.innerHTML = '<tr><td colspan="10" class="text-center text-muted" style="padding:24px">No packets found</td></tr>';
+      return;
+    }
+
     if (groupByHash) {
       let html = '';
       for (const p of packets) {
@@ -714,10 +721,6 @@
     }
   }
 
-  function escapeHtml(s) {
-    return s.replace(/&/g,'&amp;').replace(/</g,'&lt;').replace(/>/g,'&gt;');
-  }
-
   function buildDecodedTable(decoded) {
     let rows = '';
     for (const [k, v] of Object.entries(decoded)) {
@@ -938,12 +941,6 @@
     return '<div class="byop-row"><span class="byop-key">' + key + '</span><span class="byop-val">' + val + '</span></div>';
   }
 
-  // Debounce helper
-  function debounce(fn, ms) {
-    let t;
-    return (...args) => { clearTimeout(t); t = setTimeout(() => fn(...args), ms); };
-  }
-
   // Load regions from config
   (async () => {
     try {