diff --git a/hub/src/web/routes/overseer.test.ts b/hub/src/web/routes/overseer.test.ts
index 6880deb895..cc7262caa5 100644
--- a/hub/src/web/routes/overseer.test.ts
+++ b/hub/src/web/routes/overseer.test.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { describe, expect, it } from 'bun:test'
+import { describe, expect, it, spyOn } from 'bun:test'
 import { Hono } from 'hono'
 import { Store } from '../../store'
 import { SyncEngine } from '../../sync/syncEngine'
@@ -125,6 +125,7 @@ describe('overseer routes', () => {
     it('POST /overseer/converse persists offline reply when brain is unconfigured', async () => {
         const prev = process.env.OVERSEER_BRAIN_URL
         delete process.env.OVERSEER_BRAIN_URL
+        const warnSpy = spyOn(console, 'warn').mockImplementation(() => {})
         try {
             const store = new Store(':memory:')
             const app = buildApp(store)
@@ -137,6 +138,10 @@ describe('overseer routes', () => {
             const body = await res.json() as { brainOnline: boolean; reply: string }
             expect(body.brainOnline).toBe(false)
             expect(body.reply).toContain('not configured')
+            expect(warnSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+                '[Overseer][Converse] brain unavailable',
+                expect.objectContaining({ reason: 'not_configured', kind: 'not_configured', reachable: false })
+            )
 
             const recent = await app.request('/api/overseer/converse/recent?limit=5')
             const recentBody = await recent.json() as { turns: Array<{ operatorText: string; overseerText: string }> }
@@ -144,6 +149,7 @@ describe('overseer routes', () => {
             expect(recentBody.turns[0]?.operatorText).toBe('hello fleet')
             expect(recentBody.turns[0]?.overseerText).toContain('not configured')
         } finally {
+            warnSpy.mockRestore()
             if (prev === undefined) delete process.env.OVERSEER_BRAIN_URL
             else process.env.OVERSEER_BRAIN_URL = prev
         }
diff --git a/hub/src/web/routes/overseer.ts b/hub/src/web/routes/overseer.ts
index 55749753f4..e75a8311e0 100644
--- a/hub/src/web/routes/overseer.ts
+++ b/hub/src/web/routes/overseer.ts
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@ export function createOverseerRoutes(getSyncEngine: () => SyncEngine | null): Ho
     // Converse — the modality-agnostic conversation core. Runs the brain LLM
     // with the read-only tools and returns a human-facing reply + tool trace.
     // Text is the first transport (debug settings); voice/XR reuse this. When
-    // the brain is offline (GPU pulled for VR), returns brainOnline:false with a
+    // the brain is offline, returns brainOnline:false with a
     // friendly message rather than an error.
     //
     // Continuity: hub assembles prior `convo_turn`s (budgeted) + latest operator
@@ -244,6 +244,14 @@ export function createOverseerRoutes(getSyncEngine: () => SyncEngine | null): Ho
             model: parsed.data.model
         }))
         if (!config) {
+            // Soft 200 for clients — journal still needs a greppable line (access log is 200).
+            console.warn('[Overseer][Converse] brain unavailable', {
+                reason: 'not_configured',
+                kind: 'not_configured',
+                reachable: false,
+                model: null,
+                profile: parsed.data.profile ?? null
+            })
             const reply = 'The Overseer brain is not configured on this hub (set OVERSEER_BRAIN_URL). I can still show raw events and inbox items, but I cannot answer in conversation yet.'
             persistOverseerConvoExchange(overseer, assembled, {
                 operatorText: lastOperator,
@@ -289,9 +297,19 @@ export function createOverseerRoutes(getSyncEngine: () => SyncEngine | null): Ho
             if (error instanceof BrainUnavailableError) {
                 // Reachable-but-failed (http 4xx/5xx, malformed body) is a converse
                 // bug, not an offline brain — do not mislabel it as GPU/VR downtime.
+                // Soft 200 for clients — structured warn so journalctl can find it.
+                console.warn('[Overseer][Converse] brain unavailable', {
+                    reason: error.reachable ? 'request_error' : 'unreachable',
+                    kind: error.kind,
+                    reachable: error.reachable,
+                    status: error.status ?? null,
+                    model: config.model,
+                    profile: parsed.data.profile ?? null,
+                    message: error.message.slice(0, 200)
+                })
                 const reply = error.reachable
                     ? 'I reached the Overseer brain but could not complete the tool conversation (request error). This is a converse-loop issue, not the brain being offline — please retry, and flag it if it persists.'
-                    : 'The Overseer brain is offline right now (the GPU may be in use for VR). Try again shortly — your events and inbox are still being captured.'
+                    : 'The Overseer brain is offline right now. Try again shortly — your events and inbox are still being captured.'
                 persistOverseerConvoExchange(overseer, assembled, {
                     operatorText: lastOperator,
                     overseerText: reply,
diff --git a/web/src/components/settings/OverseerChatDebugControls.tsx b/web/src/components/settings/OverseerChatDebugControls.tsx
index 45be2a8a47..86813d9eb7 100644
--- a/web/src/components/settings/OverseerChatDebugControls.tsx
+++ b/web/src/components/settings/OverseerChatDebugControls.tsx
@@ -40,7 +40,15 @@ export function OverseerChatDebugControls() {
     useEffect(() => {
         if (!open || !api || profiles.length > 0) return
         void api.fetchOverseerBrains()
-            .then((res) => setProfiles(res.profiles))
+            .then((res) => {
+                setProfiles(res.profiles)
+                // Prefer hub active brain — do not stick on hard-coded "default" when
+                // the operator saved a working profile (e.g. local loopback).
+                if (res.active?.profile) {
+                    setSelectedProfile(res.active.profile)
+                    setSelectedModel(res.active.model ?? '')
+                }
+            })
             .catch(() => { /* brains list is optional chrome */ })
     }, [open, api, profiles.length])