diff --git a/bin/omarchy-network-qr b/bin/omarchy-network-qr
index 9502c25c..fb1c6696 100755
--- a/bin/omarchy-network-qr
+++ b/bin/omarchy-network-qr
@@ -22,7 +22,9 @@ if [[ -z $interface ]]; then
   # menu's visibility gate describe. Fall back to the first connected Wi-Fi
   # device. nmcli localizes state names, so pin the locale, and the prefix
   # match accepts states like "connected (externally)".
-  route_device=$(ip route get 1.1.1.1 2>/dev/null | awk '{ for (i = 1; i <= NF; i++) if ($i == "dev") { print $(i + 1); exit } }')
+  if ! route_device=$(ip route get 1.1.1.1 2>/dev/null | awk '{ for (i = 1; i <= NF; i++) if ($i == "dev") { print $(i + 1); exit } }'); then
+    route_device=""
+  fi
   if [[ -n $route_device && -d /sys/class/net/$route_device/wireless ]]; then
     interface=$route_device
   else
diff --git a/test/shell.d/network-qr-test.sh b/test/shell.d/network-qr-test.sh
index 071950a9..7e54ad43 100644
--- a/test/shell.d/network-qr-test.sh
+++ b/test/shell.d/network-qr-test.sh
@@ -7,10 +7,12 @@ source "$(cd -- "$(dirname -- "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" && pwd)/base-test.sh"
 tmp=$(mktemp -d)
 trap 'rm -rf "$tmp"' EXIT
 mkdir -p "$tmp/bin"
+export QR_ROUTE_EXIT=0
 
 # Loopback is never wireless, so exercise the connected-Wi-Fi fallback.
 cat >"$tmp/bin/ip" <<'EOF'
 #!/bin/bash
+[[ $QR_ROUTE_EXIT == "0" ]] || exit "$QR_ROUTE_EXIT"
 printf '1.1.1.1 dev lo\n'
 EOF
 
@@ -93,6 +95,12 @@ run_success_case \
   'WIFI:T:WPA;S:Cafe Detected;P:secret;;' \
   --meta
 
+QR_ROUTE_EXIT=2 run_success_case \
+  "network QR helper detects Wi-Fi when route lookup fails" \
+  $'Cafe No Route\nwpa-psk\nsecret\nno\n' \
+  'WIFI:T:WPA;S:Cafe No Route;P:secret;;' \
+  --meta
+
 run_success_case \
   "network QR helper supports open networks" \
   $'Cafe Open\nnone\n\nno\n' \