diff --git a/frontend/src/composables/__tests__/useWallet.test.ts b/frontend/src/composables/__tests__/useWallet.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..058258c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/composables/__tests__/useWallet.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+import { describe, it, expect, vi, beforeEach, afterEach } from 'vitest'
+
+// Test the NWC timeout/error behavior in isolation
+// Full component test would require too many mocks, so we test the promise pattern
+
+describe('NWC payment timeout handling', () => {
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    vi.useFakeTimers()
+  })
+
+  afterEach(() => {
+    vi.useRealTimers()
+  })
+
+  it('timeout produces proper rejection error', async () => {
+    // Simulate the payViaNWC timeout pattern
+    const payPromise = new Promise<string | undefined>((_, reject) => {
+      setTimeout(() => {
+        reject(new Error('NWC payment timed out'))
+      }, 30_000)
+    })
+
+    vi.advanceTimersByTime(30_000)
+
+    await expect(payPromise).rejects.toThrow('NWC payment timed out')
+  })
+
+  it('websocket error produces proper rejection', async () => {
+    const payPromise = new Promise<string | undefined>((_, reject) => {
+      // Simulate immediate ws error
+      queueMicrotask(() => reject(new Error('NWC WebSocket error')))
+    })
+
+    await expect(payPromise).rejects.toThrow('NWC WebSocket error')
+  })
+
+  it('undefined preimage is treated as failure', () => {
+    const preimage: string | undefined = undefined
+    // The fixed code checks: if (preimage) { ...confirm... }
+    // So undefined preimage falls through to polling
+    expect(!preimage).toBe(true)
+  })
+})
diff --git a/frontend/src/composables/useWallet.ts b/frontend/src/composables/useWallet.ts
index 251545c..a4ed7e5 100644
--- a/frontend/src/composables/useWallet.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/composables/useWallet.ts
@@ -173,16 +173,22 @@ export function useWallet() {
       }
       if (nwcUrl && nwcValid) {
         paymentStatus.value = 'paying'
-        const preimage = await payViaNWC(nwcUrl, bolt11)
-
-        // Tell server payment is confirmed (skip lookup_invoice polling)
-        await authFetch(`/api/payments/confirm/${paymentId}`, {
-          method: 'POST',
-          headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
-          body: JSON.stringify({ preimage, pubkey: pubkey.value }),
-        })
-        paymentStatus.value = 'confirmed'
-        return paymentId
+        try {
+          const preimage = await payViaNWC(nwcUrl, bolt11)
+          if (preimage) {
+            await authFetch(`/api/payments/confirm/${paymentId}`, {
+              method: 'POST',
+              headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
+              body: JSON.stringify({ preimage, pubkey: pubkey.value }),
+            })
+            paymentStatus.value = 'confirmed'
+            return paymentId
+          }
+        } catch (err) {
+          console.warn('[Wallet] NWC payment failed, falling back to polling:', err)
+        }
+        // NWC failed or returned no preimage — fall through to polling
+        paymentStatus.value = 'pending'
       }
 
       // No NWC — poll for confirmation (manual payment / QR code flow)
@@ -268,7 +274,7 @@ async function payViaNWC(nwcUrl: string, bolt11: string): Promise<string | undef
     const ws = new WebSocket(nwc.relay)
     const timeout = setTimeout(() => {
       ws.close()
-      resolve(undefined)
+      reject(new Error('NWC payment timed out'))
     }, 30_000)
 
     ws.onopen = () => {
@@ -309,7 +315,7 @@ async function payViaNWC(nwcUrl: string, bolt11: string): Promise<string | undef
 
     ws.onerror = () => {
       clearTimeout(timeout)
-      resolve(undefined)
+      reject(new Error('NWC WebSocket error'))
     }
   })
 }