diff --git a/apps/web/src/lib/api.ts b/apps/web/src/lib/api.ts
index be6afdd8..109cf587 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/lib/api.ts
+++ b/apps/web/src/lib/api.ts
@@ -1,16 +1,35 @@
 const API_BASE_URL = import.meta.env.VITE_API_URL ?? 'http://localhost:3000';
 
-export async function apiFetch<T>(endpoint: string): Promise<T> {
-  const response = await fetch(`${API_BASE_URL}${endpoint}`, {
-    headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
-  });
+export class ApiError extends Error {
+  status?: number;
 
-  if (!response.ok) {
-    const error = await response.json().catch(() => ({}));
-    throw new Error(
-      (error as Record<string, string>)?.message ?? `Request failed: ${response.status}`
-    );
+  constructor(message: string, status?: number) {
+    super(message);
+    this.name = 'ApiError';
+    this.status = status;
   }
-
-  return response.json() as Promise<T>;
 }
+
+export async function apiFetch<T>(endpoint: string): Promise<T> {
+  try {
+    const response = await fetch(`${API_BASE_URL}${endpoint}`, {
+      headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
+    });
+
+    if (!response.ok) {
+      const error = await response.json().catch(() => ({}));
+      throw new ApiError(
+        (error as Record<string, string>)?.message ?? `Request failed: ${response.status}`,
+        response.status
+      );
+    }
+
+    return response.json() as Promise<T>;
+  } catch (error) {
+    if (error instanceof ApiError) {
+      throw error;
+    }
+
+    throw new ApiError('Unable to connect to the server');
+  }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/apps/web/src/pages/CardPage.tsx b/apps/web/src/pages/CardPage.tsx
index 690ce574..3a277763 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/pages/CardPage.tsx
+++ b/apps/web/src/pages/CardPage.tsx
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import { useEffect, useState } from 'react';
 import { useParams, Link } from 'react-router-dom';
 import type { PublicCard } from '../shared';
-import { apiFetch } from '../lib/api';
+import { ApiError, apiFetch } from '../lib/api';
 import './CardPage.css';
 
 function getPlatformColor(platform: string): string {
@@ -30,9 +30,12 @@ export default function CardPage() {
         setCard(data);
         setError(null);
       })
-      .catch(() => {
+      .catch((error) => {
         setCard(null);
-        setError('Card not found');
+        setError(error instanceof ApiError && error.status === 404
+          ? 'Card not found'
+          : 'Unable to load card. Please try again later.'
+        );
       })
       .finally(() => setLoading(false));
   }, [id]);
@@ -42,7 +45,7 @@ export default function CardPage() {
     if (card) {
       document.title = `${card.title} | ${card.owner.displayName}`;
     } else if (error) {
-      document.title = 'Card Not Found | DevCard';
+      document.title = `${error} | DevCard`;
     }
   }, [card, error]);
 
@@ -67,8 +70,12 @@ export default function CardPage() {
         <div className="card-wrapper">
           <div className="error-glass glass">
             <div className="error-emoji">😕</div>
-            <h1>Card not found</h1>
-            <p>This DevCard doesn't exist or has been removed.</p>
+            <h1>{error}</h1>
+            <p>
+              {error === 'Card not found'
+                ? "This DevCard doesn't exist or has been removed."
+                : 'There was a problem connecting to the server.'}
+            </p>
             <Link to="/" className="btn-primary">Return Home</Link>
           </div>
         </div>
diff --git a/apps/web/src/pages/ProfilePage.tsx b/apps/web/src/pages/ProfilePage.tsx
index 94a84f54..bacda0fb 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/pages/ProfilePage.tsx
+++ b/apps/web/src/pages/ProfilePage.tsx
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import { useEffect, useState } from 'react';
 import { useParams, Link } from 'react-router-dom';
 import { PLATFORMS, getProfileUrl } from '../shared';
 import type { PublicProfile } from '../shared';
-import { apiFetch } from '../lib/api';
+import { ApiError, apiFetch } from '../lib/api';
 import './ProfilePage.css';
 
 const platformColors: Record<string, string> = {
@@ -34,9 +34,12 @@ export default function ProfilePage() {
         setProfile(data);
         setError(null);
       })
-      .catch(() => {
+      .catch((error) => {
         setProfile(null);
-        setError('User not found');
+        setError(error instanceof ApiError && error.status === 404
+          ? 'User not found'
+          : 'Unable to load profile. Please try again later.'
+        );
       })
       .finally(() => setLoading(false));
   }, [username]);
@@ -63,7 +66,7 @@ export default function ProfilePage() {
     if (profile) {
       document.title = `${profile.displayName} | DevCard`;
     } else if (error) {
-      document.title = 'User Not Found | DevCard';
+      document.title = `${error} | DevCard`;
     }
   }, [profile, error]);
 
@@ -92,8 +95,12 @@ export default function ProfilePage() {
         <main className="profile-container loaded">
           <div className="error-glass glass">
             <div className="error-emoji">😕</div>
-            <h1>Profile not found</h1>
-            <p>This DevCard has vanished into the digital void.</p>
+            <h1>{error}</h1>
+            <p>
+              {error === 'User not found'
+                ? 'This DevCard has vanished into the digital void.'
+                : 'There was a problem connecting to the server.'}
+            </p>
             <Link to="/" className="btn-primary">Return Home</Link>
           </div>
         </main>