diff --git a/solstone/apps/reflections/copy.py b/solstone/apps/reflections/copy.py
index 5c357cf8c..878cc6d6e 100644
--- a/solstone/apps/reflections/copy.py
+++ b/solstone/apps/reflections/copy.py
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ EMPTY_UNTIL_THEN = (
     "Until then, this page will be empty. "
     "Reflections appear here every week, newest first."
 )
+DETAIL_EMPTY_HEADING = "No reflection for this week"
+DETAIL_EMPTY_DESC = "This week does not have a reflection yet."
 
 SAMPLE_LINK_LABEL = "see a sample reflection →"
 
diff --git a/solstone/apps/reflections/routes.py b/solstone/apps/reflections/routes.py
index 571d96b02..cc0a155a6 100644
--- a/solstone/apps/reflections/routes.py
+++ b/solstone/apps/reflections/routes.py
@@ -237,7 +237,16 @@ def api_week(day: str) -> Any:
     try:
         _path, _raw_markdown, post = _load_reflection(canonical_day)
     except FileNotFoundError:
-        return error_response(FILE_NOT_FOUND, detail="Reflection not found")
+        return error_response(
+            FILE_NOT_FOUND,
+            detail="Reflection not found",
+            extra={
+                "copy": {
+                    "heading": reflections_copy.DETAIL_EMPTY_HEADING,
+                    "desc": reflections_copy.DETAIL_EMPTY_DESC,
+                }
+            },
+        )
 
     return jsonify(
         {
diff --git a/solstone/apps/reflections/tests/test_spa_routes.py b/solstone/apps/reflections/tests/test_spa_routes.py
index 18b6412b5..3abd64871 100644
--- a/solstone/apps/reflections/tests/test_spa_routes.py
+++ b/solstone/apps/reflections/tests/test_spa_routes.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ from __future__ import annotations
 
 import ast
 import json
+import re
 from datetime import datetime, timedelta
 from pathlib import Path
 from zoneinfo import ZoneInfo
@@ -69,6 +70,21 @@ def _render_template_call_functions() -> list[str]:
     return functions
 
 
+def _function_source(source: str, name: str) -> str:
+    start = source.index(f"function {name}(")
+    open_brace = source.index("{", start)
+    depth = 0
+    for index in range(open_brace, len(source)):
+        char = source[index]
+        if char == "{":
+            depth += 1
+        elif char == "}":
+            depth -= 1
+            if depth == 0:
+                return source[start : index + 1]
+    raise AssertionError(f"function {name} is not closed")
+
+
 def test_reflections_page_routes_serve_spa_shell(reflections_env):
     for path in (
         "/app/reflections/",
@@ -140,6 +156,40 @@ def test_reflections_empty_body_matches_approved_replacement():
     )
 
 
+def test_reflections_workspace_missing_detail_uses_copy_gated_empty_surface():
+    source = WORKSPACE_PATH.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+    render_empty = _function_source(source, "renderDetailEmpty")
+    load = _function_source(source, "load")
+
+    assert "window.SurfaceState.empty({" in render_empty
+    assert "window.ConveyIcons.svg('calendar-days')" in render_empty
+    assert "heading: copy.heading" in render_empty
+    assert "desc: copy.desc" in render_empty
+    assert "err?.status === 404 && err?.payload?.copy" in load
+    assert "renderDetailEmpty(err.payload.copy);" in load
+    assert "renderError(err, load);" in load
+    assert load.index("renderDetailEmpty(err.payload.copy);") < load.index(
+        "renderError(err, load);"
+    )
+
+
+def test_reflections_workspace_non_copy_errors_fall_through_to_retry_error_surface():
+    source = WORKSPACE_PATH.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+    render_error = _function_source(source, "renderError")
+    load = _function_source(source, "load")
+
+    assert "window.SurfaceState.error({" in render_error
+    assert "retry: true" in render_error
+    assert re.search(
+        r"if \(err\?\.status === 404 && err\?\.payload\?\.copy\) \{"
+        r"[\s\S]*?renderDetailEmpty\(err\.payload\.copy\);"
+        r"[\s\S]*?return;"
+        r"[\s\S]*?\}"
+        r"\s*renderError\(err, load\);",
+        load,
+    )
+
+
 def test_reflections_index_payload_shape(reflections_env):
     _seed_reflection(reflections_env.journal, "20260308")
     _seed_reflection(reflections_env.journal, "20260405")
diff --git a/solstone/apps/reflections/workspace.html b/solstone/apps/reflections/workspace.html
index 344b6bcca..a5cfee7e5 100644
--- a/solstone/apps/reflections/workspace.html
+++ b/solstone/apps/reflections/workspace.html
@@ -408,6 +408,16 @@
     renderReflectionGrid(copy);
   }
 
+  function renderDetailEmpty(copy) {
+    content.innerHTML = window.SurfaceState
+      ? window.SurfaceState.empty({
+          icon: window.ConveyIcons.svg('calendar-days'),
+          heading: copy.heading,
+          desc: copy.desc
+        })
+      : `<p>${escapeHtml(copy.heading)}</p><p>${escapeHtml(copy.desc)}</p>`;
+  }
+
   function renderDetail(payload, requestedDay) {
     if (payload.day && requestedDay && payload.day !== requestedDay) {
       window.history.replaceState(
@@ -465,6 +475,10 @@
         renderIndex(payload);
       }
     } catch (err) {
+      if (err?.status === 404 && err?.payload?.copy) {
+        renderDetailEmpty(err.payload.copy);
+        return;
+      }
       renderError(err, load);
     }
   }
diff --git a/tests/test_app_reflections.py b/tests/test_app_reflections.py
index d7be4c2e7..4d96aabac 100644
--- a/tests/test_app_reflections.py
+++ b/tests/test_app_reflections.py
@@ -222,11 +222,27 @@ def test_reflections_missing_week_returns_api_404(journal_copy):
 
     page_response = client.get("/app/reflections/20260315")
     api_response = client.get("/app/reflections/api/20260315")
+    body = api_response.get_json()
 
     assert page_response.status_code == 200
     assert b'data-solstone-shell="spa"' in page_response.data
     assert api_response.status_code == 404
-    assert api_response.get_json()["reason_code"] == "file_not_found"
+    assert body["reason_code"] == "file_not_found"
+    assert body["copy"] == {
+        "heading": reflections_copy.DETAIL_EMPTY_HEADING,
+        "desc": reflections_copy.DETAIL_EMPTY_DESC,
+    }
+
+
+def test_reflections_unparseable_week_error_has_no_empty_copy(journal_copy):
+    client = _make_client(journal_copy)
+
+    response = client.get("/app/reflections/api/notaday")
+    body = response.get_json()
+
+    assert response.status_code == 404
+    assert body["reason_code"] == "file_not_found"
+    assert "copy" not in body
 
 
 def test_reflections_raw_returns_markdown(journal_copy):