diff --git a/src/app/dashboard/referrals/page.invites.test.tsx b/src/app/dashboard/referrals/page.invites.test.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..58eaf2fa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/app/dashboard/referrals/page.invites.test.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,88 @@
+// @vitest-environment jsdom
+
+import { act, fireEvent, render, screen, waitFor } from "@testing-library/react";
+import { afterEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
+import ReferralsPage from "./page";
+
+function mockFetchForInviteFailure(failure: "network" | "invalid-json") {
+  vi.stubGlobal(
+    "fetch",
+    vi.fn(async (input: RequestInfo | URL, init?: RequestInit) => {
+      const url = input.toString();
+      if (url === "/api/referrals/code") {
+        return {
+          ok: true,
+          json: async () => ({
+            code: "alice",
+            link: "https://ugig.net/?ref=alice",
+          }),
+        };
+      }
+
+      if (url === "/api/referrals" && init?.method === "POST") {
+        if (failure === "network") {
+          throw new Error("connection reset");
+        }
+
+        return {
+          ok: false,
+          json: async () => {
+            throw new Error("invalid json");
+          },
+        };
+      }
+
+      return {
+        ok: true,
+        json: async () => ({
+          data: [],
+          stats: {
+            total_invited: 0,
+            total_registered: 0,
+            conversion_rate: 0,
+          },
+        }),
+      };
+    })
+  );
+}
+
+async function submitInvite() {
+  render(<ReferralsPage />);
+
+  const textarea = await screen.findByPlaceholderText(
+    "Enter email addresses separated by commas or new lines"
+  );
+  await act(async () => {
+    fireEvent.change(textarea, { target: { value: "friend@example.com" } });
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /send invites/i }));
+  });
+}
+
+describe("ReferralsPage invite error recovery", () => {
+  afterEach(() => {
+    vi.unstubAllGlobals();
+  });
+
+  it("recovers from invite network errors", async () => {
+    mockFetchForInviteFailure("network");
+
+    await submitInvite();
+
+    await waitFor(() => {
+      expect(screen.getByText("Failed to send invites. Please try again.")).toBeTruthy();
+    });
+    expect(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /send invites/i })).not.toBeDisabled();
+  });
+
+  it("recovers from non-json invite error responses", async () => {
+    mockFetchForInviteFailure("invalid-json");
+
+    await submitInvite();
+
+    await waitFor(() => {
+      expect(screen.getByText("Failed to send invites")).toBeTruthy();
+    });
+    expect(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /send invites/i })).not.toBeDisabled();
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/app/dashboard/referrals/page.tsx b/src/app/dashboard/referrals/page.tsx
index 81c74cef..29da085b 100644
--- a/src/app/dashboard/referrals/page.tsx
+++ b/src/app/dashboard/referrals/page.tsx
@@ -84,27 +84,32 @@ export default function ReferralsPage() {
       return;
     }
 
-    const res = await fetch("/api/referrals", {
-      method: "POST",
-      headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json" },
-      body: JSON.stringify({ emails: emailList }),
-    });
-
-    const data = await res.json();
-
-    if (!res.ok) {
-      setError(data.error);
-    } else {
-      setSuccess(data.message);
-      setEmails("");
-      loadReferrals().then((d) => {
-        if (d) {
-          setReferrals(d.data || []);
-          setStats(d.stats);
-        }
+    try {
+      const res = await fetch("/api/referrals", {
+        method: "POST",
+        headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json" },
+        body: JSON.stringify({ emails: emailList }),
       });
+
+      const data = await res.json().catch(() => null);
+
+      if (!res.ok) {
+        setError(data?.error || "Failed to send invites");
+      } else {
+        setSuccess(data?.message || "Invites sent");
+        setEmails("");
+        loadReferrals().then((d) => {
+          if (d) {
+            setReferrals(d.data || []);
+            setStats(d.stats);
+          }
+        });
+      }
+    } catch {
+      setError("Failed to send invites. Please try again.");
+    } finally {
+      setSending(false);
     }
-    setSending(false);
   };
 
   const statusBadge = (status: string) => {