diff --git a/core/archipelago/src/api/rpc/assistant_chat.rs b/core/archipelago/src/api/rpc/assistant_chat.rs
index 60c6896e..331cfa23 100644
--- a/core/archipelago/src/api/rpc/assistant_chat.rs
+++ b/core/archipelago/src/api/rpc/assistant_chat.rs
@@ -344,6 +344,7 @@ impl RpcHandler {
             "content.indeehub-projects" => self.handle_content_indeehub_projects().await,
             "system.settings.get" => self.handle_system_settings_get(params).await,
             "system.settings.set" => self.handle_system_settings_set(params).await,
+            "system.node-ca.generate" => self.handle_system_node_ca_generate().await,
             "system.kiosk-display.get" => self.handle_system_kiosk_display_get().await,
             "system.kiosk-display.set" => self.handle_system_kiosk_display_set(params).await,
             "bitcoin.relay-update-settings" => {
diff --git a/core/archipelago/src/api/rpc/dispatcher.rs b/core/archipelago/src/api/rpc/dispatcher.rs
index 9cfb5460..f68fc812 100644
--- a/core/archipelago/src/api/rpc/dispatcher.rs
+++ b/core/archipelago/src/api/rpc/dispatcher.rs
@@ -503,6 +503,7 @@ impl RpcHandler {
             "ai.permissions.set" => self.handle_ai_permissions_set(params).await,
             "system.settings.get" => self.handle_system_settings_get(params).await,
             "system.settings.set" => self.handle_system_settings_set(params).await,
+            "system.node-ca.generate" => self.handle_system_node_ca_generate().await,
             "system.kiosk-display.get" => self.handle_system_kiosk_display_get().await,
             "system.kiosk-display.set" => self.handle_system_kiosk_display_set(params).await,
 
diff --git a/core/archipelago/src/api/rpc/system/handlers.rs b/core/archipelago/src/api/rpc/system/handlers.rs
index 9622c72f..9f89721b 100644
--- a/core/archipelago/src/api/rpc/system/handlers.rs
+++ b/core/archipelago/src/api/rpc/system/handlers.rs
@@ -1248,6 +1248,30 @@ impl RpcHandler {
         }
     }
 
+    /// system.node-ca.generate — run the node's (idempotent) CA setup so the
+    /// dashboard can offer certificate generation as a button. WebUI rule:
+    /// users must never be pointed at a terminal; the script reuses an
+    /// existing CA and only reissues the leaf, so re-running is safe.
+    pub(in crate::api::rpc) async fn handle_system_node_ca_generate(
+        &self,
+    ) -> Result<serde_json::Value> {
+        let script = "/opt/archipelago/scripts/setup-node-ca.sh";
+        if tokio::fs::metadata(script).await.is_err() {
+            anyhow::bail!(
+                "The certificate setup script is not on this node yet — it arrives with the next update."
+            );
+        }
+        let status = host_sudo(&["/usr/bin/bash", script]).await?;
+        if !status.success() {
+            anyhow::bail!(
+                "Certificate generation failed (exit {:?}) — see the node log for detail",
+                status.code()
+            );
+        }
+        info!("Node CA generated/reissued via dashboard");
+        Ok(serde_json::json!({ "generated": true }))
+    }
+
     /// system.kiosk-display.get — Current kiosk display preset + whether this
     /// node has a kiosk at all (no kiosk unit -> the Settings section hides).
     pub(in crate::api::rpc) async fn handle_system_kiosk_display_get(
diff --git a/neode-ui/src/views/settings/NodeCertificateSection.vue b/neode-ui/src/views/settings/NodeCertificateSection.vue
index 87a18359..2cf8a490 100644
--- a/neode-ui/src/views/settings/NodeCertificateSection.vue
+++ b/neode-ui/src/views/settings/NodeCertificateSection.vue
@@ -26,7 +26,30 @@ async function computeFingerprint(pem: string): Promise<string> {
     .join(':')
 }
 
-onMounted(async () => {
+const generating = ref(false)
+const generateError = ref('')
+
+// WebUI rule: never point a user at a terminal — the backend runs the
+// (idempotent) CA setup script for us.
+async function generateCa() {
+  generating.value = true
+  generateError.value = ''
+  try {
+    const { rpcClient } = await import('@/api/rpc-client')
+    await rpcClient.call({ method: 'system.node-ca.generate', timeout: 60000 })
+    loading.value = true
+    await probe()
+    if (!caAvailable.value) {
+      generateError.value = 'Generation reported success but the certificate is not being served yet — try reloading in a few seconds.'
+    }
+  } catch (e: unknown) {
+    generateError.value = e instanceof Error ? e.message : 'Certificate generation failed'
+  } finally {
+    generating.value = false
+  }
+}
+
+async function probe() {
   try {
     const res = await fetch('/ca.crt', { cache: 'no-store' })
     if (!res.ok) throw new Error(`HTTP ${res.status}`)
@@ -48,7 +71,9 @@ onMounted(async () => {
   } finally {
     loading.value = false
   }
-})
+}
+
+onMounted(probe)
 </script>
 
 <template>
@@ -70,9 +95,13 @@ onMounted(async () => {
       v-else-if="!caAvailable"
       class="p-3 bg-white/5 border border-white/10 rounded-lg text-sm text-white/70"
     >
-      This node has not generated a certificate authority yet. Run
-      <code class="px-1 py-0.5 bg-black/30 rounded text-xs">scripts/setup-node-ca.sh</code>
-      on the node, then reload this page.
+      <p class="mb-3">This node has not generated its certificate yet.</p>
+      <button
+        :disabled="generating"
+        @click="generateCa"
+        class="px-4 py-2 glass-button rounded-lg text-sm font-semibold disabled:opacity-60"
+      >{{ generating ? 'Generating…' : 'Generate certificate' }}</button>
+      <p v-if="generateError" class="mt-2 text-xs text-orange-300/90">{{ generateError }}</p>
     </div>
 
     <div v-else class="space-y-4">
diff --git a/neode-ui/src/views/settings/SystemSection.vue b/neode-ui/src/views/settings/SystemSection.vue
index ab75b4ce..83218a4d 100644
--- a/neode-ui/src/views/settings/SystemSection.vue
+++ b/neode-ui/src/views/settings/SystemSection.vue
@@ -16,8 +16,8 @@ import SystemDangerZone from '@/views/settings/SystemDangerZone.vue'
   <InterfaceModeSection />
   <KioskDisplaySection />
   <ClaudeAuthSection />
-  <AIDataAccessSection />
   <RoutstrBudgetSection />
+  <AIDataAccessSection />
   <WebhookSection />
   <TelemetrySection />
   <NodeCertificateSection />