diff --git a/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_cli/clan/show.py b/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_cli/clan/show.py
index 281f8f744..e08dc5562 100644
--- a/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_cli/clan/show.py
+++ b/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_cli/clan/show.py
@@ -15,7 +15,10 @@ log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
 @API.register
-def show_clan_meta(uri: str | Path) -> Meta:
+def show_clan_meta(uri: str) -> Meta:
+    if uri.startswith("/") and not Path(uri).exists():
+        msg = f"Path {uri} does not exist"
+        raise ClanError(msg, description="clan directory does not exist")
     cmd = nix_eval(
         [
             f"{uri}#clanInternals.inventory.meta",
diff --git a/pkgs/webview-ui/app/src/App.tsx b/pkgs/webview-ui/app/src/App.tsx
index d5ad8b40e..a6117cf9d 100644
--- a/pkgs/webview-ui/app/src/App.tsx
+++ b/pkgs/webview-ui/app/src/App.tsx
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import { createSignal } from "solid-js";
 import { makePersisted } from "@solid-primitives/storage";
+import { callApi } from "./api";
 
 const [activeURI, setActiveURI] = makePersisted(
   createSignal<string | null>(null),
@@ -17,3 +18,22 @@ const [clanList, setClanList] = makePersisted(createSignal<string[]>([]), {
 });
 
 export { clanList, setClanList };
+
+(async function () {
+  const curr = activeURI();
+  if (curr) {
+    const result = await callApi("show_clan_meta", { uri: curr });
+    console.log("refetched meta for ", curr);
+    if (result.status === "error") {
+      result.errors.forEach((error) => {
+        if (error.description === "clan directory does not exist") {
+          setActiveURI(null);
+          setClanList((clans) => clans.filter((clan) => clan !== curr));
+        }
+      });
+    }
+  }
+})();
+
+// ensure to null out activeURI on startup if the clan was deleted
+// => throws user back to the view for selecting a clan