diff --git a/src/langbot/pkg/box/service.py b/src/langbot/pkg/box/service.py
index 77b7ad92..13469634 100644
--- a/src/langbot/pkg/box/service.py
+++ b/src/langbot/pkg/box/service.py
@@ -768,10 +768,27 @@ class BoxService:
                 'recent_error_count': len(self._recent_errors),
                 'connector_error': str(exc),
             }
-        return {
+        # Backend state can be unavailable even when the connector is healthy
+        # (operator selected nsjail but the binary is missing, Docker daemon
+        # went down after the runtime started, E2B credentials wrong, ...).
+        # Report the combined state in the top-level ``available`` so the
+        # frontend banner / ``useBoxStatus`` hook / native-tool gate all
+        # agree on "actually usable" rather than "connector alive". The
+        # detailed ``backend`` object stays in the payload so the dialog
+        # can still show which backend was tried.
+        backend_info = runtime_status.get('backend') if isinstance(runtime_status, dict) else None
+        backend_ok = bool(backend_info and backend_info.get('available', False))
+        payload = {
             **runtime_status,
-            'available': True,
+            'available': backend_ok,
             'enabled': self._enabled,
             'profile': self.profile.name,
             'recent_error_count': len(self._recent_errors),
         }
+        if not backend_ok and 'connector_error' not in payload:
+            backend_name = backend_info.get('name') if backend_info else None
+            if backend_name:
+                payload['connector_error'] = f'Configured sandbox backend "{backend_name}" is unavailable'
+            else:
+                payload['connector_error'] = 'No supported sandbox backend (Docker / nsjail / E2B) is available'
+        return payload
diff --git a/tests/unit_tests/box/test_box_service.py b/tests/unit_tests/box/test_box_service.py
index e154fe33..44f42ec1 100644
--- a/tests/unit_tests/box/test_box_service.py
+++ b/tests/unit_tests/box/test_box_service.py
@@ -1274,6 +1274,52 @@ class TestBoxDisabledByConfig:
         assert status['enabled'] is True
         assert 'docker daemon' in status['connector_error']
 
+    @pytest.mark.asyncio
+    async def test_get_status_downgrades_available_when_backend_dead(self):
+        """The connector can be healthy while the runtime reports no usable
+        backend (operator selected nsjail but binary missing, Docker daemon
+        crashed after handshake, ...). The top-level ``available`` must
+        reflect the combined state so the dashboard / useBoxStatus hook /
+        skill_service gate stay consistent with the native-tool gate."""
+        logger = Mock()
+        client = Mock(spec=BoxRuntimeClient)
+        client.initialize = AsyncMock()
+        client.get_status = AsyncMock(
+            return_value={
+                'backend': {'name': 'nsjail', 'available': False},
+                'active_sessions': 0,
+            }
+        )
+        service = BoxService(make_app(logger, enabled=True), client=client)
+        await service.initialize()
+
+        status = await service.get_status()
+        assert status['available'] is False
+        assert status['enabled'] is True
+        # The detailed backend object is preserved for the dialog
+        assert status['backend'] == {'name': 'nsjail', 'available': False}
+        assert 'nsjail' in status['connector_error']
+
+    @pytest.mark.asyncio
+    async def test_get_status_keeps_available_true_when_backend_ok(self):
+        logger = Mock()
+        client = Mock(spec=BoxRuntimeClient)
+        client.initialize = AsyncMock()
+        client.get_status = AsyncMock(
+            return_value={
+                'backend': {'name': 'docker', 'available': True},
+                'active_sessions': 2,
+            }
+        )
+        service = BoxService(make_app(logger, enabled=True), client=client)
+        await service.initialize()
+
+        status = await service.get_status()
+        assert status['available'] is True
+        assert status['backend'] == {'name': 'docker', 'available': True}
+        # No spurious connector_error overlay when everything is healthy
+        assert 'connector_error' not in status or not status['connector_error']
+
     @pytest.mark.asyncio
     async def test_disconnect_callback_is_no_op_when_disabled(self):
         logger = Mock()