diff --git a/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_cli/templates/list_test.py b/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_cli/templates/list_test.py
index a1c4dbd32..7d9ff8b98 100644
--- a/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_cli/templates/list_test.py
+++ b/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_cli/templates/list_test.py
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+from pathlib import Path
+
 import pytest
 
 from clan_cli.tests.fixtures_flakes import FlakeForTest
@@ -11,7 +13,6 @@ def test_templates_list(
 ) -> None:
     with capture_output as output:
         cli.run(["templates", "list", "--flake", str(test_flake_with_core.path)])
-    print(output.out)
     assert "Available 'clan' templates" in output.out
     assert "Available 'disko' templates" in output.out
     assert "Available 'machine' templates" in output.out
@@ -21,3 +22,19 @@ def test_templates_list(
     assert "minimal:" in output.out
     assert "new-machine" in output.out
     assert "flash-installer" in output.out
+
+
+@pytest.mark.with_core
+def test_templates_list_outside_clan(
+    capture_output: CaptureOutput, temp_dir: Path
+) -> None:
+    """Test templates list command when run outside a clan directory."""
+    with capture_output as output:
+        # Use --flake pointing to a non-clan directory to trigger fallback
+        cli.run(["templates", "list", "--flake", str(temp_dir)])
+    assert "Available 'clan' templates" in output.out
+    assert "Available 'disko' templates" in output.out
+    assert "Available 'machine' templates" in output.out
+    assert "<builtin>" in output.out
+    # Should NOT show any custom templates
+    assert "inputs." not in output.out
diff --git a/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_lib/templates/__init__.py b/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_lib/templates/__init__.py
index 2e61406da..b75530a1f 100644
--- a/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_lib/templates/__init__.py
+++ b/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_lib/templates/__init__.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import logging
 from dataclasses import dataclass
 
+from clan_lib.dirs import clan_templates
 from clan_lib.flake import Flake
 from clan_lib.nix_models.clan import ClanTemplatesType
 
@@ -13,11 +14,35 @@ class TemplateList:
     custom: dict[str, ClanTemplatesType]
 
 
-def list_templates(flake: Flake) -> TemplateList:
+def get_builtin_template_list() -> TemplateList:
+    """
+    Fallback to get only builtin clan templates with no custom templates.
+    """
+    builtin_flake = Flake(str(clan_templates()))
+    builtin_templates = builtin_flake.select("clanInternals.templates")
+    custom_templates: dict[str, ClanTemplatesType] = {}
+    return TemplateList(builtin_templates, custom_templates)
+
+
+def list_templates(flake: Flake | None) -> TemplateList:
     """
     Show information about a module
     """
-    custom_templates = flake.select("clanInternals.inventoryClass.templatesPerSource")
-    builtin_templates = flake.select("clanInternals.templates")
+    if flake is None:
+        log.debug("No flake provided, falling back to clan-core builtin templates")
+        return get_builtin_template_list()
 
-    return TemplateList(builtin_templates, custom_templates)
+    try:
+        custom_templates = flake.select(
+            "clanInternals.inventoryClass.templatesPerSource"
+        )
+        builtin_templates = flake.select("clanInternals.templates")
+
+        return TemplateList(builtin_templates, custom_templates)
+
+    except (AttributeError, KeyError, Exception):
+        log.debug(
+            "Failed to get templates from clan inputs, "
+            "falling back to clan-core builtin templates"
+        )
+        return get_builtin_template_list()