diff --git a/src/routes/idaa/(idaa)/+layout.svelte b/src/routes/idaa/(idaa)/+layout.svelte
index f3b56b88..c89cbd93 100644
--- a/src/routes/idaa/(idaa)/+layout.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/idaa/(idaa)/+layout.svelte
@@ -358,9 +358,21 @@ async function verify_novi_uuid(uuid: string, is_retry: boolean = false) {
             return;
         }
 
+        if (response.status === 503) {
+            // Novi unreachable or Novi 5xx — Aether backend returns 503.
+            // Mirror the network-error retry path: one automatic 3s wait before giving up.
+            if (is_retry) {
+                throw new Error(`Novi verification: Novi unreachable (503) — retry also failed`);
+            }
+            console.warn(`IDAA Layout: Novi unreachable (503) for ${uuid}. Retrying in 3s...`);
+            verifying_status_msg = 'Connection issue — retrying...';
+            await new Promise<void>((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 3_000));
+            await verify_novi_uuid(uuid, true);
+            return;
+        }
+
         if (!response.ok) {
             // 404 = not a member (Novi 404, or Novi empty-200 anti-pattern handled server-side).
-            // 503 = Novi unreachable / Novi 5xx — show api_error UI so user can retry.
             throw new Error(`Novi verification returned ${response.status} for UUID ${uuid}`);
         }