diff --git a/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(badges)/badges/ae_comp__badge_create_form.svelte b/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(badges)/badges/ae_comp__badge_create_form.svelte
index 99dc57e2..3e057a3c 100644
--- a/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(badges)/badges/ae_comp__badge_create_form.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(badges)/badges/ae_comp__badge_create_form.svelte
@@ -41,12 +41,14 @@ let email: string = $state('');
 let allow_tracking: boolean = $state(false);
 let badge_type_code: string = $state('');
 
-// Auto-select the first template when only one is available; otherwise let the user pick.
-// event_badge_template_id is sent to the API so the badge renders with the correct layout.
+// Always pre-select the first template. Every badged event must have at least one template —
+// without one the badge cannot render. If there's only one we auto-select silently; if there
+// are multiple the dropdown lets the user switch, but we never start with no selection.
+// The !selected_template_id guard prevents a reactive re-fire from overriding a user's pick.
 let selected_template_id: string = $state('');
 $effect(() => {
-    if (template_li.length === 1 && template_li[0].event_badge_template_id) {
-        selected_template_id = template_li[0].event_badge_template_id;
+    if (template_li.length >= 1 && !selected_template_id) {
+        selected_template_id = template_li[0].event_badge_template_id ?? '';
     }
 });
 
@@ -214,13 +216,17 @@ let step_label = $derived(
         <span class="label-text">Email</span>
         <input type="email" bind:value={email} class="input" placeholder="jane@example.com" />
     </label>
-    {#if template_li.length > 1}
+    {#if template_li.length === 0}
+        <!-- No templates configured — badge cannot render without one. Block submission. -->
+        <p class="text-error-600 dark:text-error-400 text-sm font-medium">
+            No badge templates are configured for this event. Set up a template before creating badges.
+        </p>
+    {:else if template_li.length > 1}
         <!-- Template selector — only shown when the event has multiple templates.
-             Single-template events auto-select; the selector would just add noise. -->
+             Single-template events auto-select silently; the selector would just add noise. -->
         <label class="label">
             <span class="label-text">Badge Template</span>
             <select bind:value={selected_template_id} class="select">
-                <option value="">-- Select Template --</option>
                 {#each template_li as tmpl (tmpl.event_badge_template_id)}
                     <option value={tmpl.event_badge_template_id}>{tmpl.name}</option>
                 {/each}
@@ -275,7 +281,7 @@ let step_label = $derived(
         <button
             type="submit"
             class="btn preset-filled-primary"
-            disabled={is_submitting || !given_name || !family_name}>
+            disabled={is_submitting || !given_name || !family_name || template_li.length === 0}>
             Create Badge
         </button>
     </div>