diff --git a/neode-ui/src/views/Federation.vue b/neode-ui/src/views/Federation.vue
index dc01c548..9fc43ddd 100644
--- a/neode-ui/src/views/Federation.vue
+++ b/neode-ui/src/views/Federation.vue
@@ -190,7 +190,8 @@
       :dwn-syncing="dwnSyncing"
       :deploying="deploying"
       :deploy-result="deployResult"
-      @close="selectedNode = null"
+      :action-error="nodeActionError"
+      @close="selectedNode = null; nodeActionError = ''"
       @change-trust="changeTrust"
       @remove-node="removeNode"
       @deploy-app="deployApp"
@@ -272,6 +273,9 @@ const nodesRes = useCachedResource<FederatedNode[]>({
 const nodes = computed(() => nodesRes.data.value ?? [])
 const loading = computed(() => nodesRes.loadState.value === 'loading')
 const error = ref('')
+/** Failure from an action taken inside NodeDetailModal (trust dropdown). Kept
+ *  separate from `error`, which renders in NodeList behind the modal. */
+const nodeActionError = ref('')
 const selectedNode = ref<FederatedNode | null>(null)
 const inviteType = ref<'trusted' | 'observer'>('trusted')
 
@@ -656,6 +660,7 @@ async function requestTrustChange(did: string, level: string, password?: string)
 }
 
 async function changeTrust(did: string, level: string) {
+  nodeActionError.value = ''
   try {
     await requestTrustChange(did, level)
   } catch (e) {
@@ -667,7 +672,12 @@ async function changeTrust(did: string, level: string) {
       )
       return
     }
-    error.value = e instanceof Error ? e.message : 'Failed to update trust level'
+    // Show the failure INSIDE the open modal. `error` renders in NodeList,
+    // which sits behind NodeDetailModal — so routing it there made a failed
+    // trust change look like the dropdown simply doing nothing.
+    const msg = e instanceof Error ? e.message : 'Failed to update trust level'
+    if (selectedNode.value?.did === did) nodeActionError.value = msg
+    else error.value = msg
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/neode-ui/src/views/federation/NodeDetailModal.vue b/neode-ui/src/views/federation/NodeDetailModal.vue
index 1fd7ded7..9c91f665 100644
--- a/neode-ui/src/views/federation/NodeDetailModal.vue
+++ b/neode-ui/src/views/federation/NodeDetailModal.vue
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@
           <p class="text-xs text-white/40 mt-2">
             <span class="text-white/30">Granted via:</span> {{ trustSourceLabel }}
           </p>
+          <p v-if="actionError" class="text-xs text-red-400 mt-2" role="alert">{{ actionError }}</p>
         </div>
         <div class="bg-white/5 rounded-lg p-3">
           <p class="text-xs text-white/40 mb-1">Added</p>
@@ -146,6 +147,11 @@ const props = defineProps<{
   dwnSyncing: boolean
   deploying: boolean
   deployResult: string
+  /** Failure from an action taken INSIDE this modal (e.g. the trust dropdown).
+   *  Federation.vue used to route these to the page-level banner in NodeList,
+   *  which sits behind this modal — so a failed trust change looked like
+   *  nothing happening at all. */
+  actionError?: string
 }>()
 
 const emit = defineEmits<{