diff --git a/ai_software_factory/agents/llm_service.py b/ai_software_factory/agents/llm_service.py
index 8ae16f7..9112205 100644
--- a/ai_software_factory/agents/llm_service.py
+++ b/ai_software_factory/agents/llm_service.py
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 import json
+from urllib import error as urllib_error
+from urllib import request as urllib_request
 
 try:
     from .gitea import GiteaAPI
@@ -297,6 +299,27 @@ class LLMServiceClient:
         except Exception as exc:
             return None, {'error': str(exc)}, str(exc)
 
+    @staticmethod
+    def extract_error_message(trace: dict | None) -> str | None:
+        """Extract the most useful provider error message from a trace payload."""
+        if not isinstance(trace, dict):
+            return None
+        raw_response = trace.get('raw_response') if isinstance(trace.get('raw_response'), dict) else {}
+        provider_response = raw_response.get('provider_response') if isinstance(raw_response.get('provider_response'), dict) else {}
+        candidate_errors = [
+            provider_response.get('error'),
+            raw_response.get('error'),
+            trace.get('error'),
+        ]
+        raw_responses = trace.get('raw_responses') if isinstance(trace.get('raw_responses'), list) else []
+        for payload in reversed(raw_responses):
+            if isinstance(payload, dict) and payload.get('error'):
+                candidate_errors.append(payload.get('error'))
+        for candidate in candidate_errors:
+            if candidate:
+                return str(candidate).strip()
+        return None
+
     def _compose_system_prompt(self, stage: str, stage_prompt: str) -> str:
         """Merge the stage prompt with configured guardrails."""
         sections = [stage_prompt.strip()] + self._guardrail_sections(stage)
@@ -391,4 +414,118 @@ class LLMServiceClient:
             'tool_context_limit': settings.llm_tool_context_limit,
             'max_tool_call_rounds': settings.llm_max_tool_call_rounds,
             'gitea_live_tools_configured': bool(settings.gitea_url and settings.gitea_token),
+        }
+
+    def health_check_sync(self) -> dict:
+        """Synchronously check Ollama reachability and configured model availability."""
+        if not self.ollama_url:
+            return {
+                'status': 'error',
+                'message': 'OLLAMA_URL is not configured.',
+                'ollama_url': 'Not configured',
+                'model': self.model,
+                'checks': [],
+                'suggestion': 'Set OLLAMA_URL to the reachable Ollama base URL.',
+            }
+
+        tags_url = f'{self.ollama_url}/api/tags'
+        try:
+            req = urllib_request.Request(tags_url, headers={'User-Agent': 'AI-Software-Factory'}, method='GET')
+            with urllib_request.urlopen(req, timeout=5) as resp:
+                raw_body = resp.read().decode('utf-8')
+                payload = json.loads(raw_body) if raw_body else {}
+        except urllib_error.HTTPError as exc:
+            body = exc.read().decode('utf-8') if exc.fp else ''
+            message = body or str(exc)
+            return {
+                'status': 'error',
+                'message': f'Ollama returned HTTP {exc.code}: {message}',
+                'ollama_url': self.ollama_url,
+                'model': self.model,
+                'checks': [
+                    {
+                        'name': 'api_tags',
+                        'ok': False,
+                        'status_code': exc.code,
+                        'url': tags_url,
+                        'message': message,
+                    }
+                ],
+                'suggestion': 'Verify OLLAMA_URL points to the Ollama service and that the API is reachable.',
+            }
+        except Exception as exc:
+            return {
+                'status': 'error',
+                'message': f'Unable to reach Ollama: {exc}',
+                'ollama_url': self.ollama_url,
+                'model': self.model,
+                'checks': [
+                    {
+                        'name': 'api_tags',
+                        'ok': False,
+                        'status_code': None,
+                        'url': tags_url,
+                        'message': str(exc),
+                    }
+                ],
+                'suggestion': 'Verify OLLAMA_URL resolves from the running factory process and that Ollama is listening on that address.',
+            }
+
+        models = payload.get('models') if isinstance(payload, dict) else []
+        model_names: list[str] = []
+        if isinstance(models, list):
+            for model_entry in models:
+                if not isinstance(model_entry, dict):
+                    continue
+                name = str(model_entry.get('name') or model_entry.get('model') or '').strip()
+                if name:
+                    model_names.append(name)
+
+        requested = (self.model or '').strip()
+        requested_base = requested.split(':', 1)[0]
+        model_available = any(
+            name == requested or name.startswith(f'{requested}:') or name.split(':', 1)[0] == requested_base
+            for name in model_names
+        )
+        checks = [
+            {
+                'name': 'api_tags',
+                'ok': True,
+                'status_code': 200,
+                'url': tags_url,
+                'message': f'Loaded {len(model_names)} model entries.',
+            },
+            {
+                'name': 'configured_model',
+                'ok': model_available,
+                'status_code': None,
+                'url': None,
+                'message': (
+                    f'Configured model {requested} is available.'
+                    if model_available else
+                    f'Configured model {requested} was not found in Ollama tags.'
+                ),
+            },
+        ]
+        if model_available:
+            return {
+                'status': 'success',
+                'message': f'Ollama is reachable and model {requested} is available.',
+                'ollama_url': self.ollama_url,
+                'model': requested,
+                'model_available': True,
+                'model_count': len(model_names),
+                'models': model_names[:10],
+                'checks': checks,
+            }
+        return {
+            'status': 'error',
+            'message': f'Ollama is reachable, but model {requested} is not available.',
+            'ollama_url': self.ollama_url,
+            'model': requested,
+            'model_available': False,
+            'model_count': len(model_names),
+            'models': model_names[:10],
+            'checks': checks,
+            'suggestion': f'Pull or configure the model {requested}, or update OLLAMA_MODEL to a model that exists in Ollama.',
         }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/ai_software_factory/agents/orchestrator.py b/ai_software_factory/agents/orchestrator.py
index 21f8077..def9253 100644
--- a/ai_software_factory/agents/orchestrator.py
+++ b/ai_software_factory/agents/orchestrator.py
@@ -392,6 +392,9 @@ class AgentOrchestrator:
             f"existing_workspace={has_existing_files}",
         )
         if not content:
+            detail = LLMServiceClient.extract_error_message(trace)
+            if detail:
+                raise RuntimeError(f'LLM code generation failed: {detail}')
             raise RuntimeError('LLM code generation did not return a usable response.')
         if not generated_files:
             raise RuntimeError('LLM code generation did not return any writable files.')
diff --git a/ai_software_factory/agents/request_interpreter.py b/ai_software_factory/agents/request_interpreter.py
index 39fd194..129e185 100644
--- a/ai_software_factory/agents/request_interpreter.py
+++ b/ai_software_factory/agents/request_interpreter.py
@@ -89,6 +89,9 @@ class RequestInterpreter:
             expect_json=True,
         )
         if not content:
+            detail = self.llm_client.extract_error_message(trace)
+            if detail:
+                raise RuntimeError(f'LLM request interpretation failed: {detail}')
             raise RuntimeError('LLM request interpretation did not return a usable response.')
 
         try:
@@ -141,6 +144,9 @@ class RequestInterpreter:
             expect_json=True,
         )
         if not content:
+            detail = self.llm_client.extract_error_message(trace)
+            if detail:
+                raise RuntimeError(f'LLM project naming failed: {detail}')
             raise RuntimeError('LLM project naming did not return a usable response.')
 
         try:
diff --git a/ai_software_factory/dashboard_ui.py b/ai_software_factory/dashboard_ui.py
index c00dd7b..91cec6f 100644
--- a/ai_software_factory/dashboard_ui.py
+++ b/ai_software_factory/dashboard_ui.py
@@ -725,6 +725,20 @@ def _load_home_assistant_health_snapshot() -> dict:
         }
 
 
+def _load_ollama_health_snapshot() -> dict:
+    """Load an Ollama health snapshot for UI rendering."""
+    try:
+        return LLMServiceClient().health_check_sync()
+    except Exception as exc:
+        return {
+            'status': 'error',
+            'message': f'Unable to run Ollama health checks: {exc}',
+            'ollama_url': settings.ollama_url or 'Not configured',
+            'model': settings.OLLAMA_MODEL,
+            'checks': [],
+        }
+
+
 def _add_dashboard_styles() -> None:
     """Register shared dashboard styles."""
     ui.add_head_html(
@@ -821,6 +835,7 @@ def _render_confirmation_dialog(title: str, message: str, confirm_label: str, on
 def _render_health_panels() -> None:
     """Render application, integration, and queue health panels."""
     runtime = get_database_runtime_summary()
+    ollama_health = _load_ollama_health_snapshot()
     n8n_health = _load_n8n_health_snapshot()
     gitea_health = _load_gitea_health_snapshot()
     home_assistant_health = _load_home_assistant_health_snapshot()
@@ -843,6 +858,33 @@ def _render_health_panels() -> None:
                     ui.label(label).classes('factory-muted')
                     ui.label(str(value)).style('font-weight: 600; color: #3a281a;')
 
+        with ui.card().classes('factory-panel q-pa-lg'):
+            ui.label('Ollama / LLM').style('font-size: 1.25rem; font-weight: 700; color: #3a281a;')
+            ui.label(ollama_health.get('status', 'unknown').upper()).classes('factory-chip')
+            ui.label(ollama_health.get('message', 'No Ollama status available.')).classes('factory-muted q-mt-sm')
+            rows = [
+                ('Ollama URL', ollama_health.get('ollama_url') or 'Not configured'),
+                ('Configured Model', ollama_health.get('model') or 'Not configured'),
+                ('Model Available', 'yes' if ollama_health.get('model_available') else 'no'),
+                ('Visible Models', ollama_health.get('model_count') if ollama_health.get('model_count') is not None else 'unknown'),
+            ]
+            for label, value in rows:
+                with ui.row().classes('justify-between w-full q-mt-sm'):
+                    ui.label(label).classes('factory-muted')
+                    ui.label(str(value)).style('font-weight: 600; color: #3a281a;')
+            if ollama_health.get('models'):
+                ui.label('Reported Models').style('font-size: 1rem; font-weight: 700; color: #3a281a; margin-top: 12px;')
+                ui.label(', '.join(str(model) for model in ollama_health.get('models', []))).classes('factory-muted')
+            if ollama_health.get('suggestion'):
+                ui.label(ollama_health['suggestion']).classes('factory-chip q-mt-md')
+            for check in ollama_health.get('checks', []):
+                status = 'OK' if check.get('ok') else 'FAIL'
+                ui.markdown(
+                    f"- **{escape(check.get('name', 'check'))}** · {status} · {escape(str(check.get('status_code') or 'n/a'))} · {escape(check.get('url') or 'unknown url')}"
+                )
+                if check.get('message'):
+                    ui.label(check['message']).classes('factory-muted')
+
         with ui.card().classes('factory-panel q-pa-lg'):
             ui.label('n8n Connection Status').style('font-size: 1.25rem; font-weight: 700; color: #3a281a;')
             status_label = n8n_health.get('status', 'unknown').upper()
@@ -930,7 +972,7 @@ def create_health_page() -> None:
             with ui.row().classes('items-center justify-between w-full'):
                 with ui.column().classes('gap-1'):
                     ui.label('Factory Health').style('font-size: 2rem; font-weight: 800; color: #302116;')
-                    ui.label('Current application and n8n connectivity diagnostics.').classes('factory-muted')
+                    ui.label('Current application, Ollama, and integration connectivity diagnostics.').classes('factory-muted')
                 with ui.row().classes('items-center gap-2'):
                     ui.link('Back to Dashboard', '/')
                     ui.link('Refresh Health', '/health-ui')
diff --git a/ai_software_factory/main.py b/ai_software_factory/main.py
index d70d1bd..3c342cb 100644
--- a/ai_software_factory/main.py
+++ b/ai_software_factory/main.py
@@ -202,6 +202,9 @@ async def _derive_project_id_for_request(
         expect_json=True,
     )
     if not content:
+        detail = LLMServiceClient.extract_error_message(trace)
+        if detail:
+            raise RuntimeError(f'LLM project id naming failed: {detail}')
         raise RuntimeError('LLM project id naming did not return a usable response.')
     try:
         parsed = json.loads(content)
@@ -565,6 +568,11 @@ def _get_home_assistant_health() -> dict:
     return _create_home_assistant_agent().health_check_sync()
 
 
+def _get_ollama_health() -> dict:
+    """Return current Ollama connectivity diagnostics."""
+    return LLMServiceClient().health_check_sync()
+
+
 async def _get_queue_gate_status(force: bool = False) -> dict:
     """Return whether queued prompts may be processed now."""
     if not database_module.settings.prompt_queue_enabled:
@@ -848,6 +856,7 @@ def health_check():
         'database_target': runtime['target'],
         'database_name': runtime['database'],
         'integrations': {
+            'ollama': _get_ollama_health(),
             'gitea': _get_gitea_health(),
             'home_assistant': _get_home_assistant_health(),
         },