diff --git a/backend/app/api/backups.py b/backend/app/api/backups.py
index 609304a4..cd07ac1d 100644
--- a/backend/app/api/backups.py
+++ b/backend/app/api/backups.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import logging
 import os
 from flask import Blueprint, request, jsonify
 from flask_jwt_extended import jwt_required
@@ -11,6 +12,10 @@ from app.exceptions import field_required, not_found
 from app.api._request import json_object
 
 backups_bp = Blueprint('backups', __name__)
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+_STORAGE_UNAVAILABLE = ('Backup storage is not accessible: the panel cannot create or read '
+                        'its backup directory. Check its ownership and permissions.')
 
 
 # UI-facing metadata for the CORE target types. Extension kinds
@@ -62,7 +67,12 @@ def list_target_types():
 def list_backups():
     """List all backups."""
     backup_type = request.args.get('type')
-    backups = BackupService.list_backups(backup_type)
+    try:
+        backups = BackupService.list_backups(backup_type)
+    except OSError:
+        # e.g. PermissionError creating /var/backups/serverkit: keep the page usable.
+        logger.exception('Backup directory is not accessible')
+        return jsonify({'backups': [], 'warning': _STORAGE_UNAVAILABLE}), 200
     return jsonify({'backups': backups}), 200
 
 
@@ -70,7 +80,14 @@ def list_backups():
 @admin_required
 def get_stats():
     """Get backup statistics."""
-    stats = BackupService.get_backup_stats()
+    try:
+        stats = BackupService.get_backup_stats()
+    except OSError:
+        logger.exception('Backup directory is not accessible')
+        stats = {'total_backups': 0, 'application_backups': 0, 'database_backups': 0,
+                 'file_backups': 0, 'total_size': 0, 'total_size_human': '0 B',
+                 'remote_count': 0, 'remote_size': 0, 'remote_size_human': '0 B',
+                 'warning': _STORAGE_UNAVAILABLE}
     return jsonify(stats), 200
 
 
diff --git a/backend/tests/test_backups_unwritable_dir.py b/backend/tests/test_backups_unwritable_dir.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..5d34f9fa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/tests/test_backups_unwritable_dir.py
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+"""GET /backups must not 500 when the backup directory cannot be created."""
+import pytest
+
+from app.services.backup_service import BackupService
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def unwritable(monkeypatch):
+    def deny():
+        raise PermissionError(13, 'Permission denied', '/var/backups/serverkit')
+    monkeypatch.setattr(BackupService, 'ensure_backup_dirs', deny)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize('path', ['/api/v1/backups', '/api/v1/backups/stats'])
+def test_get_degrades_with_a_warning(client, auth_headers, unwritable, path):
+    resp = client.get(path, headers=auth_headers)
+
+    assert resp.status_code == 200
+    body = resp.get_json()
+    assert 'not accessible' in body['warning']
+    assert '/var/backups' not in body['warning']
+    assert body.get('backups', []) == []
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/Backups.jsx b/frontend/src/pages/Backups.jsx
index 3a697e13..eeb3be23 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/Backups.jsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/Backups.jsx
@@ -216,6 +216,7 @@ const Backups = () => {
             ]);
 
             setBackups(backupsRes.backups || []);
+            if (backupsRes.warning) setError(backupsRes.warning);
             setStats(statsRes);
             setConfig(configRes);
             if (refreshSchedules) await reloadSchedules();