diff --git a/workspaces/redhat-resource-optimization/plugins/redhat-resource-optimization-common/report-clients.api.md b/workspaces/redhat-resource-optimization/plugins/redhat-resource-optimization-common/report-clients.api.md
index ec75f5519c..cc8325195e 100644
--- a/workspaces/redhat-resource-optimization/plugins/redhat-resource-optimization-common/report-clients.api.md
+++ b/workspaces/redhat-resource-optimization/plugins/redhat-resource-optimization-common/report-clients.api.md
@@ -410,6 +410,10 @@ export class OptimizationsClient implements OptimizationsApi {
 
 // @public (undocumented)
 export interface OrchestratorSlimApi {
+  // (undocumented)
+  checkWorkflowAvailability(
+    workflowId: string,
+  ): Promise<WorkflowAvailabilityResult>;
   // (undocumented)
   executeWorkflow<D = JsonObject>(
     workflowId: string,
@@ -429,6 +433,10 @@ export class OrchestratorSlimClient implements OrchestratorSlimApi {
     identityApi: IdentityApi;
   });
   // (undocumented)
+  checkWorkflowAvailability(
+    workflowId: string,
+  ): Promise<WorkflowAvailabilityResult>;
+  // (undocumented)
   executeWorkflow<D = JsonObject>(
     workflowId: string,
     workflowInputData: D,
@@ -487,5 +495,22 @@ export interface Tag {
   values: ProjectValue[];
 }
 
+// @public (undocumented)
+export interface WorkflowAvailabilityResult {
+  // (undocumented)
+  available: boolean;
+  // (undocumented)
+  errorMessage?: string;
+  // (undocumented)
+  reason?: WorkflowUnavailableReason;
+}
+
+// @public (undocumented)
+export type WorkflowUnavailableReason =
+  | 'not_configured'
+  | 'not_found'
+  | 'access_denied'
+  | 'service_unavailable';
+
 // (No @packageDocumentation comment for this package)
 ```
diff --git a/workspaces/redhat-resource-optimization/plugins/redhat-resource-optimization-common/report.api.md b/workspaces/redhat-resource-optimization/plugins/redhat-resource-optimization-common/report.api.md
index 5ca7deb099..bd03cf3477 100644
--- a/workspaces/redhat-resource-optimization/plugins/redhat-resource-optimization-common/report.api.md
+++ b/workspaces/redhat-resource-optimization/plugins/redhat-resource-optimization-common/report.api.md
@@ -733,6 +733,10 @@ export class OptimizationsClient implements OptimizationsApi {
 
 // @public (undocumented)
 export interface OrchestratorSlimApi {
+  // (undocumented)
+  checkWorkflowAvailability(
+    workflowId: string,
+  ): Promise<WorkflowAvailabilityResult>;
   // (undocumented)
   executeWorkflow<D = JsonObject>(
     workflowId: string,
@@ -752,6 +756,10 @@ export class OrchestratorSlimClient implements OrchestratorSlimApi {
     identityApi: IdentityApi;
   });
   // (undocumented)
+  checkWorkflowAvailability(
+    workflowId: string,
+  ): Promise<WorkflowAvailabilityResult>;
+  // (undocumented)
   executeWorkflow<D = JsonObject>(
     workflowId: string,
     workflowInputData: D,
@@ -1145,5 +1153,22 @@ export type TypedResponse<T> = Omit<Response, 'json'> & {
   json: () => Promise<T>;
 };
 
+// @public (undocumented)
+export interface WorkflowAvailabilityResult {
+  // (undocumented)
+  available: boolean;
+  // (undocumented)
+  errorMessage?: string;
+  // (undocumented)
+  reason?: WorkflowUnavailableReason;
+}
+
+// @public (undocumented)
+export type WorkflowUnavailableReason =
+  | 'not_configured'
+  | 'not_found'
+  | 'access_denied'
+  | 'service_unavailable';
+
 // (No @packageDocumentation comment for this package)
 ```
diff --git a/workspaces/redhat-resource-optimization/plugins/redhat-resource-optimization-common/src/clients/orchestrator-slim/OrchestratorSlimApi.ts b/workspaces/redhat-resource-optimization/plugins/redhat-resource-optimization-common/src/clients/orchestrator-slim/OrchestratorSlimApi.ts
index fdbf835d49..de48395466 100644
--- a/workspaces/redhat-resource-optimization/plugins/redhat-resource-optimization-common/src/clients/orchestrator-slim/OrchestratorSlimApi.ts
+++ b/workspaces/redhat-resource-optimization/plugins/redhat-resource-optimization-common/src/clients/orchestrator-slim/OrchestratorSlimApi.ts
@@ -16,9 +16,26 @@
 
 import type { JsonObject } from '@backstage/types';
 
+/** @public */
+export type WorkflowUnavailableReason =
+  | 'not_configured'
+  | 'not_found'
+  | 'access_denied'
+  | 'service_unavailable';
+
+/** @public */
+export interface WorkflowAvailabilityResult {
+  available: boolean;
+  reason?: WorkflowUnavailableReason;
+  errorMessage?: string;
+}
+
 /** @public */
 export interface OrchestratorSlimApi {
   isWorkflowAvailable(workflowId: string): Promise<boolean>;
+  checkWorkflowAvailability(
+    workflowId: string,
+  ): Promise<WorkflowAvailabilityResult>;
   executeWorkflow<D = JsonObject>(
     workflowId: string,
     workflowInputData: D,
diff --git a/workspaces/redhat-resource-optimization/plugins/redhat-resource-optimization-common/src/clients/orchestrator-slim/OrchestratorSlimClient.ts b/workspaces/redhat-resource-optimization/plugins/redhat-resource-optimization-common/src/clients/orchestrator-slim/OrchestratorSlimClient.ts
index a409bf00ab..f5ace3e1b3 100644
--- a/workspaces/redhat-resource-optimization/plugins/redhat-resource-optimization-common/src/clients/orchestrator-slim/OrchestratorSlimClient.ts
+++ b/workspaces/redhat-resource-optimization/plugins/redhat-resource-optimization-common/src/clients/orchestrator-slim/OrchestratorSlimClient.ts
@@ -19,7 +19,10 @@ import {
   FetchApi,
   IdentityApi,
 } from '@backstage/core-plugin-api';
-import type { OrchestratorSlimApi } from './OrchestratorSlimApi';
+import type {
+  OrchestratorSlimApi,
+  WorkflowAvailabilityResult,
+} from './OrchestratorSlimApi';
 import type { JsonObject } from '@backstage/types';
 
 /** @public */
@@ -40,6 +43,21 @@ export class OrchestratorSlimClient implements OrchestratorSlimApi {
   }
 
   async isWorkflowAvailable(workflowId: string): Promise<boolean> {
+    const result = await this.checkWorkflowAvailability(workflowId);
+    return result.available;
+  }
+
+  async checkWorkflowAvailability(
+    workflowId: string,
+  ): Promise<WorkflowAvailabilityResult> {
+    if (!workflowId) {
+      return {
+        available: false,
+        reason: 'not_configured',
+        errorMessage: 'No workflow configured to apply recommendations',
+      };
+    }
+
     if (!this.baseUrl) {
       this.baseUrl = await this.discoveryApi.getBaseUrl('orchestrator');
     }
@@ -48,15 +66,61 @@ export class OrchestratorSlimClient implements OrchestratorSlimApi {
       workflowId,
     )}/overview`;
 
-    let result = false;
     try {
       const response = await this.fetchApi.fetch(url, { method: 'GET' });
-      result = response.ok;
-    } catch {
-      // Carry on...
-    }
 
-    return result;
+      if (response.ok) {
+        return { available: true };
+      }
+
+      // Try to extract error message from the response
+      let errorMessage: string | undefined;
+      try {
+        const errorResponse = (await response.json()) as {
+          error?: { message?: string };
+          message?: string;
+        };
+        errorMessage =
+          errorResponse?.error?.message || errorResponse?.message || undefined;
+      } catch {
+        // Ignore JSON parsing errors
+      }
+
+      if (response.status === 404) {
+        return {
+          available: false,
+          reason: 'not_found',
+          errorMessage: errorMessage || 'Workflow not found',
+        };
+      }
+
+      if (response.status === 403 || response.status === 401) {
+        return {
+          available: false,
+          reason: 'access_denied',
+          errorMessage:
+            errorMessage ||
+            'You do not have permission to access this workflow',
+        };
+      }
+
+      return {
+        available: false,
+        reason: 'service_unavailable',
+        errorMessage:
+          errorMessage || 'Workflow service is currently unavailable',
+      };
+    } catch (err) {
+      const errorMessage =
+        err instanceof Error
+          ? err.message
+          : 'Unable to connect to workflow service';
+      return {
+        available: false,
+        reason: 'service_unavailable',
+        errorMessage,
+      };
+    }
   }
 
   /** @public */
diff --git a/workspaces/redhat-resource-optimization/plugins/redhat-resource-optimization/src/pages/optimizations-breakdown/OptimizationsBreakdownPage.tsx b/workspaces/redhat-resource-optimization/plugins/redhat-resource-optimization/src/pages/optimizations-breakdown/OptimizationsBreakdownPage.tsx
index c32c824c57..ea4a4871be 100644
--- a/workspaces/redhat-resource-optimization/plugins/redhat-resource-optimization/src/pages/optimizations-breakdown/OptimizationsBreakdownPage.tsx
+++ b/workspaces/redhat-resource-optimization/plugins/redhat-resource-optimization/src/pages/optimizations-breakdown/OptimizationsBreakdownPage.tsx
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ import {
 } from '@backstage/core-components';
 import { configApiRef, useApi } from '@backstage/core-plugin-api';
 import type { RecommendationBoxPlots } from '@red-hat-developer-hub/plugin-redhat-resource-optimization-common/models';
+import type { WorkflowUnavailableReason } from '@red-hat-developer-hub/plugin-redhat-resource-optimization-common/clients';
 import { getTimeFromNow } from '../../utils/dates';
 import { BasePage } from '../../components/BasePage';
 import { type Interval, OptimizationType } from './models/ChartEnums';
@@ -143,6 +144,10 @@ export const OptimizationsBreakdownPage = () => {
       'resourceOptimization.optimizationWorkflowId',
     ) ?? '',
   );
+  const workflowUnavailableReasonRef = useRef<
+    WorkflowUnavailableReason | undefined
+  >(undefined);
+  const workflowErrorMessageRef = useRef<string | undefined>(undefined);
   const orchestratorSlimApi = useApi(orchestratorSlimApiRef);
   const optimizationsApi = useApi(optimizationsApiRef);
   const {
@@ -150,11 +155,17 @@ export const OptimizationsBreakdownPage = () => {
     loading,
     error,
   } = useAsync(async () => {
-    const isWorkflowAvailable = await orchestratorSlimApi.isWorkflowAvailable(
-      workflowIdRef.current,
-    );
-    if (!isWorkflowAvailable) {
+    const availabilityResult =
+      await orchestratorSlimApi.checkWorkflowAvailability(
+        workflowIdRef.current,
+      );
+    if (availabilityResult.available) {
+      workflowUnavailableReasonRef.current = undefined;
+      workflowErrorMessageRef.current = undefined;
+    } else {
       workflowIdRef.current = '';
+      workflowUnavailableReasonRef.current = availabilityResult.reason;
+      workflowErrorMessageRef.current = availabilityResult.errorMessage;
     }
 
     const apiQuery = {
@@ -263,6 +274,8 @@ export const OptimizationsBreakdownPage = () => {
             onRecommendationTermChange={handleRecommendationTermChange}
             onApplyRecommendation={handleApplyRecommendation}
             workflowId={workflowIdRef.current}
+            workflowUnavailableReason={workflowUnavailableReasonRef.current}
+            workflowErrorMessage={workflowErrorMessageRef.current}
           />
         </TabbedLayout.Route>
 
@@ -280,6 +293,8 @@ export const OptimizationsBreakdownPage = () => {
             onRecommendationTermChange={handleRecommendationTermChange}
             onApplyRecommendation={handleApplyRecommendation}
             workflowId={workflowIdRef.current}
+            workflowUnavailableReason={workflowUnavailableReasonRef.current}
+            workflowErrorMessage={workflowErrorMessageRef.current}
           />
         </TabbedLayout.Route>
       </TabbedLayout>
diff --git a/workspaces/redhat-resource-optimization/plugins/redhat-resource-optimization/src/pages/optimizations-breakdown/components/optimization-engine-tab/OptimizationEngineTab.tsx b/workspaces/redhat-resource-optimization/plugins/redhat-resource-optimization/src/pages/optimizations-breakdown/components/optimization-engine-tab/OptimizationEngineTab.tsx
index a5f5eebd10..425e44b227 100644
--- a/workspaces/redhat-resource-optimization/plugins/redhat-resource-optimization/src/pages/optimizations-breakdown/components/optimization-engine-tab/OptimizationEngineTab.tsx
+++ b/workspaces/redhat-resource-optimization/plugins/redhat-resource-optimization/src/pages/optimizations-breakdown/components/optimization-engine-tab/OptimizationEngineTab.tsx
@@ -14,8 +14,9 @@
  * limitations under the License.
  */
 
-import React from 'react';
-import { Button, Grid } from '@material-ui/core';
+import React, { useMemo } from 'react';
+import { Box, Button, Grid, Tooltip } from '@material-ui/core';
+import type { WorkflowUnavailableReason } from '@red-hat-developer-hub/plugin-redhat-resource-optimization-common/clients';
 import { RecommendationType } from '../../models/ChartEnums';
 import { ChartInfoCard } from './components/chart-info-card/ChartInfoCard';
 import { CodeInfoCard } from './components/CodeInfoCard';
@@ -25,6 +26,13 @@ type ContainerInfoCardProps = Parameters<typeof ContainerInfoCard>[0];
 type CodeInfoCardProps = Parameters<typeof CodeInfoCard>[0];
 type ChartInfoCardProps = Parameters<typeof ChartInfoCard>[0];
 
+const DEFAULT_WORKFLOW_MESSAGES: Record<WorkflowUnavailableReason, string> = {
+  not_configured: 'No workflow configured to apply recommendations',
+  not_found: 'Workflow not found',
+  access_denied: 'You do not have permission to access this workflow',
+  service_unavailable: 'Workflow service is currently unavailable',
+};
+
 interface OptimizationEngineTabProps extends ContainerInfoCardProps {
   currentConfiguration: CodeInfoCardProps['yamlCodeData'];
   recommendedConfiguration: CodeInfoCardProps['yamlCodeData'];
@@ -32,9 +40,32 @@ interface OptimizationEngineTabProps extends ContainerInfoCardProps {
   optimizationType: ChartInfoCardProps['optimizationType'];
   onApplyRecommendation?: React.MouseEventHandler<HTMLButtonElement>;
   workflowId?: string;
+  workflowUnavailableReason?: WorkflowUnavailableReason;
+  workflowErrorMessage?: string;
 }
 
 export const OptimizationEngineTab = (props: OptimizationEngineTabProps) => {
+  const isWorkflowAvailable = !!props.workflowId;
+
+  const tooltipMessage = useMemo(() => {
+    if (isWorkflowAvailable) {
+      return '';
+    }
+    // Prefer the actual error message from the API
+    if (props.workflowErrorMessage) {
+      return props.workflowErrorMessage;
+    }
+    // Fall back to default messages based on reason
+    if (props.workflowUnavailableReason) {
+      return DEFAULT_WORKFLOW_MESSAGES[props.workflowUnavailableReason];
+    }
+    return DEFAULT_WORKFLOW_MESSAGES.not_configured;
+  }, [
+    isWorkflowAvailable,
+    props.workflowErrorMessage,
+    props.workflowUnavailableReason,
+  ]);
+
   return (
     <Grid container>
       <Grid item xs={12}>
@@ -57,14 +88,23 @@ export const OptimizationEngineTab = (props: OptimizationEngineTabProps) => {
           showCopyCodeButton
           yamlCodeData={props.recommendedConfiguration}
           action={
-            <Button
-              variant="contained"
-              color="primary"
-              onClick={props.onApplyRecommendation}
-              disabled={!props.workflowId}
+            <Tooltip
+              title={tooltipMessage}
+              disableHoverListener={isWorkflowAvailable}
+              disableFocusListener={isWorkflowAvailable}
+              disableTouchListener={isWorkflowAvailable}
             >
-              Apply recommendation
-            </Button>
+              <Box component="span" display="inline-block">
+                <Button
+                  variant="contained"
+                  color="primary"
+                  onClick={props.onApplyRecommendation}
+                  disabled={!isWorkflowAvailable}
+                >
+                  Apply recommendation
+                </Button>
+              </Box>
+            </Tooltip>
           }
         />
       </Grid>