diff --git a/crates/ide-host/src/trust.rs b/crates/ide-host/src/trust.rs
index ea9b9604..0e828db4 100644
--- a/crates/ide-host/src/trust.rs
+++ b/crates/ide-host/src/trust.rs
@@ -274,6 +274,15 @@ pub fn restricted_command_allowed(cmd: &str) -> bool {
             | "plugin_set_theme_frame"
             | "plugin_catalog"
             | "plugin_assets"
+            | "plugin_market"
+            | "plugin_market_url"
+            | "plugin_set_market_url"
+            | "plugin_market_download"
+            | "plugin_unpack_package"
+            | "plugin_stage_package"
+            | "plugin_preview_install"
+            | "plugin_read_intellij_theme"
+            | "plugin_installed_intellij_themes"
             | "notebook_open"
             | "notebook_get"
             | "notebook_edit"
@@ -319,12 +328,31 @@ pub fn restricted_command_allowed(cmd: &str) -> bool {
     ) || cmd.starts_with("plugin:")
 }
 
+/// Commands that change which plugin code runs: allowed where no project is open (the
+/// welcome screen), otherwise only in a trusted project.
+pub fn projectless_command_allowed(cmd: &str) -> bool {
+    matches!(
+        cmd,
+        "plugin_install_dir"
+            | "plugin_uninstall"
+            | "plugin_set_enabled"
+            | "plugin_grant"
+            | "plugin_set_capability"
+            | "plugin_roll_back"
+            | "plugin_reload"
+    )
+}
+
 impl crate::Host {
     pub fn authorize_command(&self, window: &str, command: &str) -> IdeResult<()> {
         if restricted_command_allowed(command) {
             return Ok(());
         }
-        self.project(window)?.require_trust()
+        match self.project(window) {
+            Ok(project) => project.require_trust(),
+            Err(_) if projectless_command_allowed(command) => Ok(()),
+            Err(error) => Err(error),
+        }
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/crates/ide-host/tests/trust.rs b/crates/ide-host/tests/trust.rs
index eb2868ad..a5ec8d05 100644
--- a/crates/ide-host/tests/trust.rs
+++ b/crates/ide-host/tests/trust.rs
@@ -58,6 +58,11 @@ async fn application_commands_work_in_restricted_projects_and_without_a_project(
         "vcs_write_patch",
         "remote_bootstrap_list",
         "deploy_test_connection",
+        "plugin_market",
+        "plugin_market_url",
+        "plugin_set_market_url",
+        "plugin_market_download",
+        "plugin_preview_install",
     ] {
         assert!(ide_host::trust::restricted_command_allowed(command), "{command}");
         for window in ["main", "welcome"] {
@@ -72,8 +77,6 @@ async fn application_commands_work_in_restricted_projects_and_without_a_project(
         "tools_list",
         "tools_install",
         "tools_uninstall",
-        "plugin_install_dir",
-        "plugin_reload",
         "vcs_git_version",
         "docker_compose_op",
         "db_execute",
@@ -93,6 +96,12 @@ async fn application_commands_work_in_restricted_projects_and_without_a_project(
             assert!(host.authorize_command(window, command).is_err(), "{window}: {command}");
         }
     }
+    // Plugin installs run plugin code: from the welcome screen, but not in an untrusted project.
+    for command in ["plugin_install_dir", "plugin_uninstall", "plugin_set_enabled", "plugin_reload"] {
+        assert!(!ide_host::trust::restricted_command_allowed(command), "{command}");
+        assert!(host.authorize_command("main", command).is_err(), "{command}");
+        assert!(host.authorize_command("welcome", command).is_ok(), "{command}");
+    }
     // These requests validate the vendor before any network access, independently of project trust.
     for window in ["main", "welcome"] {
         let error = ide_host::ops::tools::jdk_download_releases(
diff --git a/src/features/plugins/PluginsPage.tsx b/src/features/plugins/PluginsPage.tsx
index 3f8da6c6..f2dac512 100644
--- a/src/features/plugins/PluginsPage.tsx
+++ b/src/features/plugins/PluginsPage.tsx
@@ -924,7 +924,7 @@ export function PluginsPage() {
                   <CategoryFilter market={market ?? []} value={category} onChange={setCategory} />
                 </li>
               )}
-              {!marketUrl && (
+              {!marketUrl && !marketError && (
                 <li className={styles.notice} role="note">
                   <Icon name="info" size={14} />
                   <span>{tx`${NO_REPOSITORY}. Showing plugin packages available on this machine.`}</span>
diff --git a/src/features/plugins/__tests__/plugins.test.tsx b/src/features/plugins/__tests__/plugins.test.tsx
index b06c349a..b9747879 100644
--- a/src/features/plugins/__tests__/plugins.test.tsx
+++ b/src/features/plugins/__tests__/plugins.test.tsx
@@ -570,6 +570,21 @@ describe("PluginsPage", () => {
     expect(within(list).getAllByText("Installed").length).toBeGreaterThan(0);
     expect(notes.at(-1)).toMatchObject({ title: "Installed Toy Language 0.1.0" });
   });
+
+  it("shows why the marketplace couldn't be read instead of claiming there is none", async () => {
+    // Commands without a result type reject with the backend's error object, not an Error.
+    setPluginsBackend({
+      ...createMemoryPluginsBackend([], sampleCatalog()),
+      marketUrl: () => Promise.reject({ kind: "unavailable", message: "Index unreachable", data: null }),
+    });
+    const user = userEvent.setup();
+    render(<PluginsPage />);
+    await user.click(screen.getByRole("tab", { name: /Available/ }));
+    const list = await screen.findByRole("list", { name: "Available plugins" });
+    expect(await within(list).findByText("Index unreachable")).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(within(list).queryByText("[object Object]")).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(within(list).queryByText(new RegExp(NO_REPOSITORY))).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
 });
 
 describe("secrets", () => {
diff --git a/src/features/plugins/store.ts b/src/features/plugins/store.ts
index 797b7658..047a4ce1 100644
--- a/src/features/plugins/store.ts
+++ b/src/features/plugins/store.ts
@@ -54,7 +54,13 @@ export const usePlugins = create<PluginsState>(() => ({
   marketError: null,
 }));
 
-export const errorText = (e: unknown) => (e instanceof Error ? e.message : String(e));
+/** A rejection's message: an `Error`, or an `IdeError` object from a command without a result type. */
+export const errorText = (e: unknown): string =>
+  e instanceof Error
+    ? e.message
+    : typeof e === "object" && e !== null && "message" in e && typeof e.message === "string"
+      ? e.message
+      : String(e);
 
 /** Statuses whose contributions are in effect. */
 export const isLive = (status: PluginStatus) => status === "active" || status === "inactive" || status === "static";