diff --git a/backend/public/app.js b/backend/public/app.js
index c24bc837..696c80a1 100644
--- a/backend/public/app.js
+++ b/backend/public/app.js
@@ -397,9 +397,11 @@ document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function () {
     });
 
     fetch('/api/gmaps/key')
-        .then(r => r.json())
-        .then(data => {
-            if (!data.key) throw new Error('No Google Maps API key returned');
+        .then(r => r.json().then(data => ({ ok: r.ok, status: r.status, data })))
+        .then(({ ok, status, data }) => {
+            if (!ok || !data.key) {
+                throw new Error(`${data.error || 'No Google Maps API key returned'} (HTTP ${status})`);
+            }
             const script = document.createElement('script');
             script.src   = `https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/js?key=${encodeURIComponent(data.key)}&callback=initMap&loading=async`;
             script.async = true;
@@ -409,6 +411,6 @@ document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function () {
         })
         .catch(err => {
             console.error('Failed to load Google Maps:', err);
-            showMapLoadError('Map unavailable: GOOGLE_MAPS_API_KEY is not configured.');
+            showMapLoadError(`Map unavailable: ${err.message}`);
         });
 });