diff --git a/chromium-setup/emmc-provisioning/dashboard/app.py b/chromium-setup/emmc-provisioning/dashboard/app.py
index ab5ebe0..00aa23d 100644
--- a/chromium-setup/emmc-provisioning/dashboard/app.py
+++ b/chromium-setup/emmc-provisioning/dashboard/app.py
@@ -151,6 +151,22 @@ def api_status():
     return jsonify(read_status())
 
 
+@app.route("/api/status-clear", methods=["POST"])
+def api_status_clear():
+    """Reset status to idle (e.g. to dismiss a 'Golden image not found' error so you can try again)."""
+    try:
+        with open(STATUS_FILE, "w") as f:
+            json.dump({
+                "phase": "idle",
+                "message": DEFAULT_STATUS["message"],
+                "progress": None,
+                "updated": None,
+            }, f)
+        return jsonify({"ok": True})
+    except (PermissionError, OSError):
+        return jsonify({"ok": False, "error": "Could not write status"}), 500
+
+
 @app.route("/api/log")
 def api_log():
     return jsonify({"log": read_log_tail()})
diff --git a/chromium-setup/emmc-provisioning/dashboard/templates/index.html b/chromium-setup/emmc-provisioning/dashboard/templates/index.html
index c9861ea..3801639 100644
--- a/chromium-setup/emmc-provisioning/dashboard/templates/index.html
+++ b/chromium-setup/emmc-provisioning/dashboard/templates/index.html
@@ -368,6 +368,10 @@
         <span id="statusMsg" class="status-msg">Waiting for device</span>
       </div>
       <div id="statusErr" class="status-err" style="display:none;"></div>
+      <div id="statusGoldenHint" class="backup-deploy-hint" style="display:none; margin-top:0.75rem;">
+        No golden image is required to <strong>capture</strong>. Connect a device in USB boot mode (or register over network); when it appears under “Capture image or deploy”, click <strong>Backup</strong> to save its image. Then set that backup as golden in the list below.
+        <button type="button" id="statusClearBtn" class="btn btn-outline btn-sm" style="margin-left:0.5rem;">Clear message</button>
+      </div>
       <div id="statusMeta" class="status-meta" style="display:none;"></div>
       <div id="progressWrap" class="progress-track" style="display:none;">
         <div id="progressFill" class="progress-fill"></div>
@@ -467,6 +471,12 @@
         statusErr.style.display = 'none';
       }
 
+      var goldenHint = document.getElementById('statusGoldenHint');
+      if (goldenHint) {
+        var isGoldenError = phase === 'error' && /golden|Golden image/i.test((data.error || '') + (data.message || ''));
+        goldenHint.style.display = isGoldenError ? 'block' : 'none';
+      }
+
       if (data.updated) {
         statusMeta.textContent = 'Updated ' + data.updated;
         statusMeta.style.display = 'block';
@@ -670,6 +680,10 @@
       return d.innerHTML;
     }
 
+    document.getElementById('statusClearBtn').addEventListener('click', function() {
+      fetch('/api/status-clear', { method: 'POST' }).then(function(r) { return r.json(); }).then(function(d) { if (d.ok) fetchStatus(); });
+    });
+
     fetchStatus();
     fetchLog();
     fetchPending();