diff --git a/shell/plugins/agents/Panel.qml b/shell/plugins/agents/Panel.qml
index 67563f62..60677e91 100644
--- a/shell/plugins/agents/Panel.qml
+++ b/shell/plugins/agents/Panel.qml
@@ -422,6 +422,10 @@ Panel {
     return status !== "" && status !== "Limits paused" && !needsSignIn(item) ? status : ""
   }
 
+  function pausedWithoutLimits(item) {
+    return !!item && item.usageStatusText === "Limits paused" && limitWindows(item).length === 0
+  }
+
   // Sign an account that's already here in again, following along in the
   // add view just like adding one.
   function signInAgain(p, account) {
@@ -1343,6 +1347,12 @@ Panel {
       wrapMode: Text.WordWrap
     }
 
+    UnavailableUsage {
+      visible: !section.multi && root.pausedWithoutLimits(section.provider)
+      width: parent.width
+      record: section.provider
+    }
+
     Column {
       visible: !section.multi && section.windows.length > 0
       width: parent.width
@@ -1449,6 +1459,11 @@ Panel {
           width: parent.width
           spacing: Style.space(12)
 
+          UnavailableUsage {
+            width: parent.width
+            record: accountBlock.modelData
+          }
+
           Repeater {
             model: root.displayWindows({ limits: accountBlock.modelData.limits || [] })
 
@@ -1833,6 +1848,29 @@ Panel {
     }
   }
 
+  // With no measured windows, leave a place to discover how to get usage.
+  component UnavailableUsage: Item {
+    id: unavailable
+    property var record: null
+    visible: root.pausedWithoutLimits(record)
+    implicitHeight: unavailableLabel.implicitHeight
+
+    Text {
+      id: unavailableLabel
+      text: "Usage unavailable"
+      color: root.dim
+      font.family: root.fontFamily
+      font.pixelSize: Style.font.bodySmall
+    }
+
+    HoverHandler { id: unavailableHover }
+
+    PanelToolTip {
+      visible: unavailableHover.hovered && unavailable.visible
+      text: unavailable.record ? String(unavailable.record.authHelpText || "Usage has not been updated yet.") : ""
+    }
+  }
+
   // One line per limit window: title, meter, percentage, and reset. A
   // model-scoped allowance on the same clock ("Fable" on Weekly) is a marker
   // on this row's meter, named in the row's tooltip.
diff --git a/test/shell.d/agent-usage-claude-limits-test.sh b/test/shell.d/agent-usage-claude-limits-test.sh
index 5372075a..df39f9d8 100644
--- a/test/shell.d/agent-usage-claude-limits-test.sh
+++ b/test/shell.d/agent-usage-claude-limits-test.sh
@@ -328,6 +328,14 @@ const start = source.indexOf('function windowIsLong')
 const end = source.indexOf('// The window that decides')
 assert(start > 0 && end > start, 'agents panel exposes its limit-window helpers')
 eval(source.slice(start, end).replaceAll('root.nowMs', 'panelRoot.nowMs'))
+eval(source.slice(source.indexOf('function needsSignIn'), source.indexOf('// Sign an account')))
+
+const paused = { usageStatusText: 'Limits paused', limits: [] }
+assertEqual(pausedWithoutLimits(paused), true, 'paused usage without a cache shows a recovery placeholder')
+assertEqual(otherTrouble(paused), '', 'paused usage never puts the confusing status in the header')
+assertEqual(pausedWithoutLimits({ ...paused, limits: [{ label: 'Session (5-hour)', percent: 0, resetsAt: '' }] }), false, 'cached usage replaces the recovery placeholder')
+assertEqual(pausedWithoutLimits({ usageStatusText: 'Sign-in expired', limits: [] }), false, 'expired sign-ins retain their sign-in action')
+assertEqual(pausedWithoutLimits(null), false, 'missing records do not show a paused-usage placeholder')
 
 assertDeepEqual(
   limitWindows({ limits: [