diff --git a/apple/OmnivoreKit/Sources/App/Views/WebReader/WebReaderContainer.swift b/apple/OmnivoreKit/Sources/App/Views/WebReader/WebReaderContainer.swift
index 47461f835..c8e26c311 100644
--- a/apple/OmnivoreKit/Sources/App/Views/WebReader/WebReaderContainer.swift
+++ b/apple/OmnivoreKit/Sources/App/Views/WebReader/WebReaderContainer.swift
@@ -187,8 +187,8 @@ import WebKit
             )
           }
         } else {
-          Color.clear
-            .contentShape(Rectangle())
+          Text(viewModel.contentFetchFailed ? "Unable to fetch content." : "Processing...")
+            .padding()
             .task {
               await viewModel.loadContent(dataService: dataService, itemID: item.unwrappedID)
             }
diff --git a/apple/OmnivoreKit/Sources/App/Views/WebReader/WebReaderViewModel.swift b/apple/OmnivoreKit/Sources/App/Views/WebReader/WebReaderViewModel.swift
index 890576817..97017cfd8 100644
--- a/apple/OmnivoreKit/Sources/App/Views/WebReader/WebReaderViewModel.swift
+++ b/apple/OmnivoreKit/Sources/App/Views/WebReader/WebReaderViewModel.swift
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ struct SafariWebLink: Identifiable {
 
 @MainActor final class WebReaderViewModel: ObservableObject {
   @Published var articleContent: ArticleContent?
-  @Published var contentFetchFailed = false // update UI to reflect this
+  @Published var contentFetchFailed = false
 
   func loadContent(dataService: DataService, itemID: String) async {
     contentFetchFailed = false