diff --git a/crates/ontoref-daemon/src/ui/handlers.rs b/crates/ontoref-daemon/src/ui/handlers.rs
index 77b942c..cb197cc 100644
--- a/crates/ontoref-daemon/src/ui/handlers.rs
+++ b/crates/ontoref-daemon/src/ui/handlers.rs
@@ -782,6 +782,12 @@ pub async fn project_picker(State(state): State<AppState>) -> Result<Html<String
     let mut projects: Vec<serde_json::Value> = Vec::new();
 
     for proj in registry.all() {
+        // Skip projects that lack an .ontoref/ directory — the daemon may be
+        // started from an arbitrary $PWD that has not adopted the protocol.
+        if !proj.root.join(".ontoref").is_dir() {
+            continue;
+        }
+
         // Sessions
         let actor_list = proj.actors.list();
         let sessions: Vec<serde_json::Value> = actor_list