diff --git a/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(badges)/badges/[badge_id]/ae_comp__badge_print_controls.svelte b/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(badges)/badges/[badge_id]/ae_comp__badge_print_controls.svelte
index b279bf53..b603fdcd 100644
--- a/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(badges)/badges/[badge_id]/ae_comp__badge_print_controls.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(badges)/badges/[badge_id]/ae_comp__badge_print_controls.svelte
@@ -269,13 +269,27 @@ async function handle_print_badge() {
 
 // --- Badge type list from template ---
 // Each item: { code: string, name: string }. Used for the badge type dropdown.
+// Falls back to a default list when the template has no badge_type_list configured.
+// Keep in sync with ae_comp__badge_search.svelte and ae_comp__badge_create_form.svelte.
+// TODO: drive all three from the template so this is event-agnostic.
+const default_badge_type_code_li = [
+    { code: 'attendee', name: 'In-Person Attendee' },
+    { code: 'sponsor', name: 'Adapt26 Sponsor' },
+    { code: 'staff', name: 'Staff' },
+    { code: 'guest', name: 'Guest' },
+    { code: 'volunteer', name: 'Volunteer' },
+    { code: 'member', name: 'Member' },
+    { code: 'nonmember', name: 'Non-Member' },
+    { code: 'test', name: 'Test' }
+];
 let badge_type_code_li = $derived.by((): { code: string; name: string }[] => {
     const raw = $lq__event_badge_template_obj?.badge_type_list;
-    if (!raw) return [];
+    if (!raw) return default_badge_type_code_li;
     try {
-        return JSON.parse(raw);
+        const parsed = JSON.parse(raw);
+        return Array.isArray(parsed) && parsed.length > 0 ? parsed : default_badge_type_code_li;
     } catch {
-        return [];
+        return default_badge_type_code_li;
     }
 });