diff --git a/frontend/src/api/client.js b/frontend/src/api/client.js
index 09a4e8d..d43e7a5 100644
--- a/frontend/src/api/client.js
+++ b/frontend/src/api/client.js
@@ -28,10 +28,21 @@ export function parseError(body, fallback) {
 
 export async function apiFetch(path, options = {}) {
   const token = options.token ?? getToken()
-  const res = await fetch(path, {
-    ...options,
-    headers: { ...apiHeaders(token), ...options.headers },
-  })
+  let res
+  try {
+    res = await fetch(path, {
+      ...options,
+      headers: { ...apiHeaders(token), ...options.headers },
+    })
+  } catch (err) {
+    const message =
+      err instanceof TypeError
+        ? 'Netzwerkfehler — Server nicht erreichbar. Bitte Verbindung prüfen oder Seite neu laden.'
+        : err.message || 'Netzwerkfehler bei der Anfrage'
+    const networkErr = new Error(message)
+    networkErr.cause = err
+    throw networkErr
+  }
   const body = await res.json().catch(() => null)
   if (!res.ok) {
     const message = parseError(body, `Anfrage fehlgeschlagen (${res.status})`)
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/ProjectsSection.jsx b/frontend/src/components/ProjectsSection.jsx
index d7c0c53..b28a7d9 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/ProjectsSection.jsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/ProjectsSection.jsx
@@ -109,13 +109,14 @@ export function ProjectsSection({
   async function handleSubmit(e) {
     e.preventDefault()
     if (!title.trim()) return
-    await onCreate({
+    const ok = await onCreate({
       title: title.trim(),
       description: description.trim(),
       parent_project_id: parentProjectId || undefined,
       container_kind: containerKind || undefined,
       roadmap_item_id: gateId || undefined,
     })
+    if (!ok) return
     setTitle('')
     setDescription('')
     setParentProjectId('')
diff --git a/frontend/src/context/InitiativeOperationsContext.jsx b/frontend/src/context/InitiativeOperationsContext.jsx
index f573517..e94fc27 100644
--- a/frontend/src/context/InitiativeOperationsContext.jsx
+++ b/frontend/src/context/InitiativeOperationsContext.jsx
@@ -430,11 +430,21 @@ export function InitiativeOperationsProvider({ children }) {
 
   async function handleCreateProject(body) {
     setFormBusy(true)
+    setError(null)
     try {
       await createInitiativeProject(id, body)
-      await load()
+      try {
+        setProjects(await listInitiativeProjects(id))
+      } catch (refreshErr) {
+        setError(
+          `Projekt angelegt, aber die Liste konnte nicht aktualisiert werden: ${refreshErr.message}`,
+        )
+        return false
+      }
+      return true
     } catch (err) {
       setError(err.message)
+      return false
     } finally {
       setFormBusy(false)
     }