diff --git a/drb-frontend/components/SdrSettings.tsx b/drb-frontend/components/SdrSettings.tsx
index fcda4a9..41564db 100644
--- a/drb-frontend/components/SdrSettings.tsx
+++ b/drb-frontend/components/SdrSettings.tsx
@@ -26,10 +26,11 @@ const selectClass =
   "bg-gray-800 border border-gray-700 rounded px-2 py-1 text-gray-200 text-xs focus:outline-none focus:border-indigo-500 disabled:opacity-60 max-w-[13rem]";
 
 function DeviceSelect({
-  value, devices, autoLabel, label, disabled, onChange,
+  value, devices, devicesKnown, autoLabel, label, disabled, onChange,
 }: {
   value: string;
   devices: SdrDevice[];
+  devicesKnown: boolean;
   autoLabel: string;
   label: string;
   disabled: boolean;
@@ -44,7 +45,9 @@ function DeviceSelect({
           SDR {d.index + 1} · serial {d.serial ?? "unknown"}{d.duplicate_serial ? " (shared serial!)" : ""}
         </option>
       ))}
-      {value && !known && <option value={value}>serial {value} (not plugged in)</option>}
+      {value && !known && (
+        <option value={value}>serial {value} ({devicesKnown ? "not plugged in" : "not reported"})</option>
+      )}
     </select>
   );
 }
@@ -57,6 +60,7 @@ export function SdrSettings({ node, canEdit }: { node: NodeRecord; canEdit: bool
   const reported = node.secondary_sdr_running != null;
   const running = node.secondary_sdr_running ?? [];
   const devices = node.sdr_devices ?? [];
+  const devicesKnown = reported && node.sdr_devices != null;
 
   const [rows, setRows] = useState<Row[]>(() => rowsFrom(priority, pins));
   const [op25Pin, setOp25Pin] = useState(pins.op25 ?? "");
@@ -114,7 +118,7 @@ export function SdrSettings({ node, canEdit }: { node: NodeRecord; canEdit: bool
     <section>
       <h2 className="text-sm font-semibold text-gray-400 uppercase tracking-wider mb-1">SDRs</h2>
       <p className="text-xs text-gray-500 font-mono mb-3">
-        {reported && node.sdr_devices != null
+        {devicesKnown
           ? `This node reports ${devices.length} SDR${devices.length === 1 ? "" : "s"}.`
           : "This node hasn't reported its SDRs yet."}
       </p>
@@ -134,6 +138,7 @@ export function SdrSettings({ node, canEdit }: { node: NodeRecord; canEdit: bool
           <DeviceSelect
             value={op25Pin}
             devices={devices}
+            devicesKnown={devicesKnown}
             autoLabel="Automatic (first SDR)"
             label="OP25 SDR"
             disabled={!canEdit}
@@ -143,7 +148,7 @@ export function SdrSettings({ node, canEdit }: { node: NodeRecord; canEdit: bool
 
         {rows.map((row, i) => {
           const meta = MODES.find((x) => x.mode === row.mode)!;
-          const pinMissing = !!row.pin && !devices.some((d) => d.serial === row.pin);
+          const pinMissing = devicesKnown && !!row.pin && !devices.some((d) => d.serial === row.pin);
           const state = !row.enabled
             ? "Off"
             : dirty
@@ -173,6 +178,7 @@ export function SdrSettings({ node, canEdit }: { node: NodeRecord; canEdit: bool
               <DeviceSelect
                 value={row.pin}
                 devices={devices}
+                devicesKnown={devicesKnown}
                 autoLabel="Any spare SDR"
                 label={`${meta.name} SDR`}
                 disabled={!canEdit}