diff --git a/fetch-usage.js b/fetch-usage.js
index 423b974..c62facd 100755
--- a/fetch-usage.js
+++ b/fetch-usage.js
@@ -30,6 +30,13 @@ const CACHE_FILE = process.env.CLAUDE_USAGE_CACHE
   || path.join(process.env.TMPDIR || '/tmp', 'claude_usage.json');
 const ORG_ID = process.env.CLAUDE_ORG_ID || '';
 
+// --- Cache writer ---
+function writeCache(data) {
+  const cacheDir = path.dirname(CACHE_FILE);
+  if (!fs.existsSync(cacheDir)) fs.mkdirSync(cacheDir, { recursive: true });
+  fs.writeFileSync(CACHE_FILE, JSON.stringify(data, null, 2));
+}
+
 // --- Session Key ---
 function getSessionKey() {
   // env var first
@@ -52,7 +59,12 @@ async function getOrgId(sessionKey) {
     headers: headers(sessionKey),
     signal: AbortSignal.timeout(10000),
   });
-  if (!resp.ok) throw new Error('Failed to list orgs: ' + resp.status);
+  if (!resp.ok) {
+    if (resp.status === 401 || resp.status === 403) {
+      writeCache({ _error: 'auth_expired', _status: resp.status });
+    }
+    throw new Error('Failed to list orgs: ' + resp.status);
+  }
   const orgs = await resp.json();
   if (!orgs.length) throw new Error('No organizations found');
   return orgs[0].uuid;
@@ -85,19 +97,17 @@ async function main() {
     });
 
     if (!resp.ok) {
+      writeCache({ _error: resp.status === 401 || resp.status === 403
+        ? 'auth_expired' : 'api_error', _status: resp.status });
       console.error('API error: ' + resp.status);
       process.exit(1);
     }
 
     const data = await resp.json();
-
-    // Ensure cache dir exists
-    const cacheDir = path.dirname(CACHE_FILE);
-    if (!fs.existsSync(cacheDir)) fs.mkdirSync(cacheDir, { recursive: true });
-
-    fs.writeFileSync(CACHE_FILE, JSON.stringify(data, null, 2));
-    console.log('OK — wrote ' + CACHE_FILE);
+    writeCache(data);
+    console.log('OK \u2014 wrote ' + CACHE_FILE);
   } catch (e) {
+    writeCache({ _error: 'fetch_failed', _message: e.message });
     console.error('Fetch error: ' + e.message);
     process.exit(1);
   }
diff --git a/statusline.js b/statusline.js
index 2c889f5..c0936e9 100755
--- a/statusline.js
+++ b/statusline.js
@@ -41,8 +41,12 @@ function readCache() {
     if (!fs.existsSync(CACHE_FILE)) return null;
     const stat = fs.statSync(CACHE_FILE);
     const ageS = (Date.now() - stat.mtimeMs) / 1000;
+    const data = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(CACHE_FILE, 'utf8'));
+    // Error state written by fetcher — always show regardless of age
+    if (data._error) return data;
+    // Normal data — respect max age
     if (ageS > CACHE_MAX_AGE_S) return null;
-    return JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(CACHE_FILE, 'utf8'));
+    return data;
   } catch {
     return null;
   }
@@ -60,6 +64,11 @@ function formatMinutes(isoStr) {
 
 function getUsagePart(data) {
   if (!data) return '';
+
+  // Error state from fetcher
+  if (data._error === 'auth_expired') return 'Token: session expired — refresh cookie';
+  if (data._error) return 'Token: fetch error';
+
   const parts = [];
 
   if (data.five_hour && data.five_hour.utilization > 0) {