diff --git a/apps/app_seeds/lib/i18n/ast.i18n.json b/apps/app_seeds/lib/i18n/ast.i18n.json
index 488fae8..1d2feba 100644
--- a/apps/app_seeds/lib/i18n/ast.i18n.json
+++ b/apps/app_seeds/lib/i18n/ast.i18n.json
@@ -168,7 +168,9 @@
     "noMatches": "Nenguna simiente concasa colos filtros.",
     "clearFilters": "Quitar filtros",
     "uncategorized": "Ensin categoría",
-    "needsReproductionFilter": "Por reproducir"
+    "needsReproductionFilter": "Por reproducir",
+    "loadError": "Nun se pudo abrir el to bancu de granes. Seique taba ocupáu: prueba otra vuelta.",
+    "retry": "Volver probar"
   },
   "draft": {
     "capture": "Capturar semeyes",
diff --git a/apps/app_seeds/lib/i18n/en.i18n.json b/apps/app_seeds/lib/i18n/en.i18n.json
index 8862366..3d4f76a 100644
--- a/apps/app_seeds/lib/i18n/en.i18n.json
+++ b/apps/app_seeds/lib/i18n/en.i18n.json
@@ -169,7 +169,9 @@
     "noMatches": "No seeds match your filters.",
     "clearFilters": "Clear filters",
     "uncategorized": "Uncategorized",
-    "needsReproductionFilter": "To regrow"
+    "needsReproductionFilter": "To regrow",
+    "loadError": "Couldn't open your seed bank. It may just have been busy — try again.",
+    "retry": "Try again"
   },
   "draft": {
     "capture": "Capture photos",
diff --git a/apps/app_seeds/lib/i18n/es.i18n.json b/apps/app_seeds/lib/i18n/es.i18n.json
index 95f4f61..a7529de 100644
--- a/apps/app_seeds/lib/i18n/es.i18n.json
+++ b/apps/app_seeds/lib/i18n/es.i18n.json
@@ -168,7 +168,9 @@
     "noMatches": "Ninguna semilla coincide con los filtros.",
     "clearFilters": "Quitar filtros",
     "uncategorized": "Sin categoría",
-    "needsReproductionFilter": "Por reproducir"
+    "needsReproductionFilter": "Por reproducir",
+    "loadError": "No se pudo abrir tu banco de semillas. Quizá estaba ocupado: inténtalo de nuevo.",
+    "retry": "Reintentar"
   },
   "draft": {
     "capture": "Capturar fotos",
diff --git a/apps/app_seeds/lib/i18n/pt.i18n.json b/apps/app_seeds/lib/i18n/pt.i18n.json
index df16e7e..1bd4334 100644
--- a/apps/app_seeds/lib/i18n/pt.i18n.json
+++ b/apps/app_seeds/lib/i18n/pt.i18n.json
@@ -169,7 +169,9 @@
     "noMatches": "Nenhuma semente corresponde aos teus filtros.",
     "clearFilters": "Limpar filtros",
     "uncategorized": "Sem categoria",
-    "needsReproductionFilter": "Para reproduzir"
+    "needsReproductionFilter": "Para reproduzir",
+    "loadError": "Não foi possível abrir o teu banco de sementes. Talvez estivesse ocupado — tenta de novo.",
+    "retry": "Tentar de novo"
   },
   "draft": {
     "capture": "Capturar fotos",
diff --git a/apps/app_seeds/lib/i18n/strings.g.dart b/apps/app_seeds/lib/i18n/strings.g.dart
index daf1e26..14f6883 100644
--- a/apps/app_seeds/lib/i18n/strings.g.dart
+++ b/apps/app_seeds/lib/i18n/strings.g.dart
@@ -4,9 +4,9 @@
 /// To regenerate, run: `dart run slang`
 ///
 /// Locales: 4
-/// Strings: 2000 (500 per locale)
+/// Strings: 2008 (502 per locale)
 ///
-/// Built on 2026-07-11 at 11:22 UTC
+/// Built on 2026-07-11 at 11:29 UTC
 
 // coverage:ignore-file
 // ignore_for_file: type=lint, unused_import
diff --git a/apps/app_seeds/lib/i18n/strings_ast.g.dart b/apps/app_seeds/lib/i18n/strings_ast.g.dart
index ed86fb1..8f6b5b8 100644
--- a/apps/app_seeds/lib/i18n/strings_ast.g.dart
+++ b/apps/app_seeds/lib/i18n/strings_ast.g.dart
@@ -324,6 +324,8 @@ class _Translations$inventory$ast extends Translations$inventory$en {
 	@override String get clearFilters => 'Quitar filtros';
 	@override String get uncategorized => 'Ensin categoría';
 	@override String get needsReproductionFilter => 'Por reproducir';
+	@override String get loadError => 'Nun se pudo abrir el to bancu de granes. Seique taba ocupáu: prueba otra vuelta.';
+	@override String get retry => 'Volver probar';
 }
 
 // Path: draft
@@ -1423,6 +1425,8 @@ extension on TranslationsAst {
 			'inventory.clearFilters' => 'Quitar filtros',
 			'inventory.uncategorized' => 'Ensin categoría',
 			'inventory.needsReproductionFilter' => 'Por reproducir',
+			'inventory.loadError' => 'Nun se pudo abrir el to bancu de granes. Seique taba ocupáu: prueba otra vuelta.',
+			'inventory.retry' => 'Volver probar',
 			'draft.capture' => 'Capturar semeyes',
 			'draft.captured' => ({required Object n}) => '${n} capturaes por catalogar',
 			'draft.triageTitle' => 'Por catalogar',
diff --git a/apps/app_seeds/lib/i18n/strings_en.g.dart b/apps/app_seeds/lib/i18n/strings_en.g.dart
index b17323b..66c4933 100644
--- a/apps/app_seeds/lib/i18n/strings_en.g.dart
+++ b/apps/app_seeds/lib/i18n/strings_en.g.dart
@@ -575,6 +575,12 @@ class Translations$inventory$en {
 
 	/// en: 'To regrow'
 	String get needsReproductionFilter => 'To regrow';
+
+	/// en: 'Couldn't open your seed bank. It may just have been busy — try again.'
+	String get loadError => 'Couldn\'t open your seed bank. It may just have been busy — try again.';
+
+	/// en: 'Try again'
+	String get retry => 'Try again';
 }
 
 // Path: draft
@@ -2411,6 +2417,8 @@ extension on Translations {
 			'inventory.clearFilters' => 'Clear filters',
 			'inventory.uncategorized' => 'Uncategorized',
 			'inventory.needsReproductionFilter' => 'To regrow',
+			'inventory.loadError' => 'Couldn\'t open your seed bank. It may just have been busy — try again.',
+			'inventory.retry' => 'Try again',
 			'draft.capture' => 'Capture photos',
 			'draft.captured' => ({required Object n}) => '${n} captured to catalogue',
 			'draft.triageTitle' => 'To catalogue',
diff --git a/apps/app_seeds/lib/i18n/strings_es.g.dart b/apps/app_seeds/lib/i18n/strings_es.g.dart
index b3baf10..3fa19c7 100644
--- a/apps/app_seeds/lib/i18n/strings_es.g.dart
+++ b/apps/app_seeds/lib/i18n/strings_es.g.dart
@@ -324,6 +324,8 @@ class _Translations$inventory$es extends Translations$inventory$en {
 	@override String get clearFilters => 'Quitar filtros';
 	@override String get uncategorized => 'Sin categoría';
 	@override String get needsReproductionFilter => 'Por reproducir';
+	@override String get loadError => 'No se pudo abrir tu banco de semillas. Quizá estaba ocupado: inténtalo de nuevo.';
+	@override String get retry => 'Reintentar';
 }
 
 // Path: draft
@@ -1425,6 +1427,8 @@ extension on TranslationsEs {
 			'inventory.clearFilters' => 'Quitar filtros',
 			'inventory.uncategorized' => 'Sin categoría',
 			'inventory.needsReproductionFilter' => 'Por reproducir',
+			'inventory.loadError' => 'No se pudo abrir tu banco de semillas. Quizá estaba ocupado: inténtalo de nuevo.',
+			'inventory.retry' => 'Reintentar',
 			'draft.capture' => 'Capturar fotos',
 			'draft.captured' => ({required Object n}) => '${n} capturadas por catalogar',
 			'draft.triageTitle' => 'Por catalogar',
diff --git a/apps/app_seeds/lib/i18n/strings_pt.g.dart b/apps/app_seeds/lib/i18n/strings_pt.g.dart
index 6198d88..7ce472d 100644
--- a/apps/app_seeds/lib/i18n/strings_pt.g.dart
+++ b/apps/app_seeds/lib/i18n/strings_pt.g.dart
@@ -325,6 +325,8 @@ class _Translations$inventory$pt extends Translations$inventory$en {
 	@override String get clearFilters => 'Limpar filtros';
 	@override String get uncategorized => 'Sem categoria';
 	@override String get needsReproductionFilter => 'Para reproduzir';
+	@override String get loadError => 'Não foi possível abrir o teu banco de sementes. Talvez estivesse ocupado — tenta de novo.';
+	@override String get retry => 'Tentar de novo';
 }
 
 // Path: draft
@@ -1423,6 +1425,8 @@ extension on TranslationsPt {
 			'inventory.clearFilters' => 'Limpar filtros',
 			'inventory.uncategorized' => 'Sem categoria',
 			'inventory.needsReproductionFilter' => 'Para reproduzir',
+			'inventory.loadError' => 'Não foi possível abrir o teu banco de sementes. Talvez estivesse ocupado — tenta de novo.',
+			'inventory.retry' => 'Tentar de novo',
 			'draft.capture' => 'Capturar fotos',
 			'draft.captured' => ({required Object n}) => '${n} capturadas para catalogar',
 			'draft.triageTitle' => 'Para catalogar',
diff --git a/apps/app_seeds/lib/state/inventory_cubit.dart b/apps/app_seeds/lib/state/inventory_cubit.dart
index 210af20..5dedbf3 100644
--- a/apps/app_seeds/lib/state/inventory_cubit.dart
+++ b/apps/app_seeds/lib/state/inventory_cubit.dart
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ class InventoryState extends Equatable {
     this.sowThisMonthOnly = false,
     this.filterMonth = 0,
     this.loading = true,
+    this.error,
     this.selectionMode = false,
     this.selectedIds = const {},
   });
@@ -63,6 +64,11 @@ class InventoryState extends Equatable {
 
   final bool loading;
 
+  /// Set when the inventory stream fails (e.g. the encrypted DB wasn't ready).
+  /// The UI shows a retry affordance instead of an endless spinner; null when
+  /// fine. See [InventoryCubit.retry].
+  final String? error;
+
   /// Whether the list is in multi-select mode — used to pick a subset of the
   /// inventory to print labels for.
   final bool selectionMode;
@@ -131,6 +137,7 @@ class InventoryState extends Equatable {
     bool? sowThisMonthOnly,
     int? filterMonth,
     bool? loading,
+    String? Function()? error,
     bool? selectionMode,
     Set<String>? selectedIds,
   }) {
@@ -147,6 +154,7 @@ class InventoryState extends Equatable {
       sowThisMonthOnly: sowThisMonthOnly ?? this.sowThisMonthOnly,
       filterMonth: filterMonth ?? this.filterMonth,
       loading: loading ?? this.loading,
+      error: error != null ? error() : this.error,
       selectionMode: selectionMode ?? this.selectionMode,
       selectedIds: selectedIds ?? this.selectedIds,
     );
@@ -165,6 +173,7 @@ class InventoryState extends Equatable {
     sowThisMonthOnly,
     filterMonth,
     loading,
+    error,
     selectionMode,
     selectedIds,
   ];
@@ -176,22 +185,81 @@ class InventoryCubit extends Cubit<InventoryState> {
   InventoryCubit(this._repo, {int Function()? nowMonth})
       : _nowMonth = nowMonth ?? (() => DateTime.now().month),
         super(const InventoryState()) {
-    // One combined subscription (list + draft tray). Two separate StreamGroups
-    // here re-emit in a loop that hangs widget tests — see watchInventoryView.
-    _sub = _repo.watchInventoryView().listen(
-      (view) => emit(
-        state.copyWith(items: view.items, drafts: view.drafts, loading: false),
-      ),
-    );
+    _subscribe();
   }
 
   final VarietyRepository _repo;
   final int Function() _nowMonth;
-  late final StreamSubscription<
+  StreamSubscription<
     ({List<VarietyListItem> items, List<VarietyListItem> drafts})
-  >
+  >?
   _sub;
 
+  /// Pending auto-retry, cancelled on a fresh (re)subscribe or on close.
+  Timer? _retryTimer;
+
+  /// Consecutive stream failures since the last good emission. Drives the
+  /// backoff and, once [_maxAutoRetries] is hit, the switch to a manual retry.
+  int _failures = 0;
+
+  /// How many times we silently re-open the stream before giving up and asking
+  /// the user. The startup DB-not-ready race clears in well under a second, so
+  /// a handful of backed-off attempts recovers it without the user noticing.
+  static const _maxAutoRetries = 6;
+
+  /// (Re)opens the combined inventory subscription (list + draft tray). One
+  /// subscription only: two separate StreamGroups here re-emit in a loop that
+  /// hangs widget tests — see watchInventoryView.
+  ///
+  /// The onError handler is load-bearing: without it a transient stream failure
+  /// (e.g. the encrypted DB not yet ready at startup) would go unhandled and
+  /// leave [InventoryState.loading] true forever — the "stuck spinner" that a
+  /// restart clears. On error we auto-retry with backoff (staying in [loading]
+  /// so the user just sees the spinner briefly), and only surface [error] for a
+  /// manual [retry] once the transient window has clearly passed.
+  void _subscribe() {
+    _retryTimer?.cancel();
+    _sub?.cancel();
+    _sub = _repo.watchInventoryView().listen(
+      (view) {
+        _failures = 0;
+        emit(
+          state.copyWith(
+            items: view.items,
+            drafts: view.drafts,
+            loading: false,
+            error: () => null,
+          ),
+        );
+      },
+      onError: _onStreamError,
+    );
+  }
+
+  void _onStreamError(Object e) {
+    if (isClosed) return;
+    _failures++;
+    if (_failures <= _maxAutoRetries) {
+      // Exponential backoff capped at ~4s: 250ms, 500ms, 1s, 2s, 4s, 4s.
+      final delayMs = (250 * (1 << (_failures - 1))).clamp(250, 4000);
+      // Stay in loading — an auto-recovering spinner, not an error screen.
+      _retryTimer = Timer(Duration(milliseconds: delayMs), () {
+        if (!isClosed) _subscribe();
+      });
+    } else {
+      // Transient window has passed; hand it to the user.
+      emit(state.copyWith(loading: false, error: () => '$e'));
+    }
+  }
+
+  /// Re-opens the inventory stream on demand (from the manual retry button),
+  /// resetting the auto-retry budget and returning to the loading state.
+  void retry() {
+    _failures = 0;
+    emit(state.copyWith(loading: true, error: () => null));
+    _subscribe();
+  }
+
   void search(String query) => emit(state.copyWith(query: query));
 
   /// Toggles a category in the filter (add if absent, remove if present).
@@ -270,7 +338,8 @@ class InventoryCubit extends Cubit<InventoryState> {
 
   @override
   Future<void> close() async {
-    await _sub.cancel();
+    _retryTimer?.cancel();
+    await _sub?.cancel();
     return super.close();
   }
 }
diff --git a/apps/app_seeds/lib/ui/inventory_list_screen.dart b/apps/app_seeds/lib/ui/inventory_list_screen.dart
index aee28d1..dddb729 100644
--- a/apps/app_seeds/lib/ui/inventory_list_screen.dart
+++ b/apps/app_seeds/lib/ui/inventory_list_screen.dart
@@ -49,7 +49,9 @@ class InventoryListScreen extends StatelessWidget {
                   ),
                   child: const Icon(Icons.add),
                 ),
-          body: state.loading
+          body: state.error != null
+              ? _LoadError(onRetry: context.read<InventoryCubit>().retry)
+              : state.loading
               ? const Center(child: CircularProgressIndicator())
               : Column(
                   children: [
@@ -240,6 +242,38 @@ class InventoryListScreen extends StatelessWidget {
 
 /// A tappable banner announcing how many photo-first captures are waiting to be
 /// named. Opens the "to catalogue" tray.
+/// Shown when the inventory stream fails to open — instead of an endless
+/// spinner, offer a clear message and a way to try again.
+class _LoadError extends StatelessWidget {
+  const _LoadError({required this.onRetry});
+
+  final VoidCallback onRetry;
+
+  @override
+  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
+    final t = context.t;
+    return Center(
+      child: Padding(
+        padding: const EdgeInsets.all(24),
+        child: Column(
+          mainAxisSize: MainAxisSize.min,
+          children: [
+            const Icon(Icons.cloud_off_outlined, size: 48, color: seedGreen),
+            const SizedBox(height: 16),
+            Text(t.inventory.loadError, textAlign: TextAlign.center),
+            const SizedBox(height: 16),
+            FilledButton(
+              key: const Key('inventory.retry'),
+              onPressed: onRetry,
+              child: Text(t.inventory.retry),
+            ),
+          ],
+        ),
+      ),
+    );
+  }
+}
+
 class _TriageBanner extends StatelessWidget {
   const _TriageBanner({required this.count});
 
diff --git a/apps/app_seeds/pubspec.yaml b/apps/app_seeds/pubspec.yaml
index 00d79fd..1b66d56 100644
--- a/apps/app_seeds/pubspec.yaml
+++ b/apps/app_seeds/pubspec.yaml
@@ -86,6 +86,8 @@ dev_dependencies:
     sdk: flutter
 
   flutter_lints: ^6.0.0
+  # Virtual clock to fast-forward the inventory auto-retry backoff in tests.
+  fake_async: ^1.3.1
   build_runner: ^2.4.13
   drift_dev: ^2.28.0
   slang_build_runner: ^4.7.0
diff --git a/apps/app_seeds/test/state/inventory_cubit_test.dart b/apps/app_seeds/test/state/inventory_cubit_test.dart
index da74a88..fbabece 100644
--- a/apps/app_seeds/test/state/inventory_cubit_test.dart
+++ b/apps/app_seeds/test/state/inventory_cubit_test.dart
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 import 'dart:typed_data';
 
+import 'package:commons_core/commons_core.dart';
+import 'package:fake_async/fake_async.dart';
 import 'package:flutter_test/flutter_test.dart';
 import 'package:tane/data/variety_repository.dart';
 import 'package:tane/db/database.dart';
@@ -8,6 +10,25 @@ import 'package:tane/state/inventory_cubit.dart';
 
 import '../support/test_support.dart';
 
+/// A repository whose inventory stream errors for the first
+/// [failuresBeforeHealthy] subscriptions, then behaves normally — mimics the
+/// transient DB-not-ready failure that used to leave the spinner stuck forever.
+/// The default never recovers, for the "give up" path.
+class _FailingRepository extends VarietyRepository {
+  // ignore: use_super_parameters
+  _FailingRepository(AppDatabase db, {this.failuresBeforeHealthy = 1 << 30})
+    : super(db, idGen: IdGen(), nodeId: 'test-node');
+
+  final int failuresBeforeHealthy;
+  int subscriptions = 0;
+
+  @override
+  Stream<({List<VarietyListItem> items, List<VarietyListItem> drafts})>
+  watchInventoryView() => subscriptions++ < failuresBeforeHealthy
+      ? Stream.error(StateError('boom'))
+      : super.watchInventoryView();
+}
+
 /// Waits until the cubit's state satisfies [predicate], whether it already
 /// does or a later stream emission gets it there.
 Future<InventoryState> waitFor(
@@ -39,6 +60,53 @@ void main() {
     expect(state.items.single.label, 'Maize');
   });
 
+  group('stream failure', () {
+    test('a transient failure recovers on its own — no error, no manual retry',
+        () async {
+      // Fails the first two subscribes, then the DB is ready.
+      final failing = _FailingRepository(db, failuresBeforeHealthy: 2);
+      await failing.addQuickVariety(label: 'Maize');
+      final failCubit = InventoryCubit(failing);
+      addTearDown(failCubit.close);
+
+      // Auto-retry with backoff brings it back without ever showing an error.
+      final state = await waitFor(failCubit, (s) => !s.loading && s.error == null);
+      expect(state.items.single.label, 'Maize');
+      expect(failing.subscriptions, greaterThan(1));
+    });
+
+    test('stays in loading (spinner), never flips to error, while auto-retrying',
+        () async {
+      final failing = _FailingRepository(db, failuresBeforeHealthy: 2);
+      await failing.addQuickVariety(label: 'Maize');
+      final failCubit = InventoryCubit(failing);
+      addTearDown(failCubit.close);
+
+      final errors = <String?>[];
+      final sub = failCubit.stream.listen((s) => errors.add(s.error));
+      addTearDown(sub.cancel);
+
+      await waitFor(failCubit, (s) => !s.loading && s.error == null);
+      expect(errors.every((e) => e == null), isTrue,
+          reason: 'no error state should be emitted during auto-recovery');
+    });
+
+    test('gives up after the retry budget and surfaces a manual-retry error',
+        () {
+      fakeAsync((async) {
+        final failing = _FailingRepository(db); // never recovers
+        final failCubit = InventoryCubit(failing);
+        addTearDown(failCubit.close);
+
+        // Fast-forward past all backoff windows (~12s of retries).
+        async.elapse(const Duration(seconds: 30));
+
+        expect(failCubit.state.loading, isFalse);
+        expect(failCubit.state.error, contains('boom'));
+      });
+    });
+  });
+
   test('drafts stay in the tray and never mix into the list', () async {
     await repo.addDraftVariety(Uint8List.fromList([1, 2, 3]));
     var state = await waitFor(cubit, (s) => s.drafts.isNotEmpty);