diff --git a/test/test_web_api.py b/test/test_web_api.py
index 2bfe46bb..d65b11ff 100644
--- a/test/test_web_api.py
+++ b/test/test_web_api.py
@@ -225,6 +225,27 @@ class TestConfigAPI:
         assert 'chain length' in response.get_json()['message']
         mock_config_manager.save_config_atomic.assert_not_called()
 
+    def test_save_double_sided_vertical_checks_parallel(self, client, mock_config_manager):
+        """The vertical axis is checked against parallel, not chain_length."""
+        mock_config_manager.load_config.return_value['display']['hardware'] = {
+            'chain_length': 2, 'parallel': 3,
+        }
+
+        response = client.post(
+            '/api/v3/config/main',
+            data={
+                'double_sided_enabled': 'true',
+                'double_sided_copies': '2',
+                'double_sided_axis': 'vertical',
+            },
+            content_type='application/x-www-form-urlencoded',
+        )
+
+        # chain_length 2 would divide evenly — only parallel 3 rejects this.
+        assert response.status_code == 400
+        assert 'parallel' in response.get_json()['message']
+        mock_config_manager.save_config_atomic.assert_not_called()
+
     def test_save_double_sided_disabled_ignores_bad_values(self, client, mock_config_manager):
         """While disabled, unusable copies/axis are dropped rather than rejected."""
         mock_config_manager.load_config.return_value['display']['double_sided'] = {
diff --git a/web_interface/blueprints/api_v3.py b/web_interface/blueprints/api_v3.py
index ae1a8c38..f92c7852 100644
--- a/web_interface/blueprints/api_v3.py
+++ b/web_interface/blueprints/api_v3.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ import uuid
 import logging
 from datetime import datetime
 from pathlib import Path
-from typing import Dict, Any
+from typing import Dict, Any, Optional
 from urllib.parse import urlparse, urlunparse
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
@@ -871,7 +871,7 @@ def save_main_config():
             enabled = _coerce_to_bool(data.get('double_sided_enabled'))
             ds_config['enabled'] = enabled
 
-            def _copies_fits_hardware(copies):
+            def _copies_fits_hardware(copies: int) -> Optional[str]:
                 """Error message if copies doesn't divide the panel evenly, else None."""
                 # Use axis from this request if provided, else from stored config.
                 hw = current_config.get('display', {}).get('hardware', {})
diff --git a/web_interface/templates/v3/partials/display.html b/web_interface/templates/v3/partials/display.html
index 0add70c7..80cc0709 100644
--- a/web_interface/templates/v3/partials/display.html
+++ b/web_interface/templates/v3/partials/display.html
@@ -615,12 +615,18 @@ if (typeof window.fixInvalidNumberInputs !== 'function') {
 // `responseJSON` (that's a jQuery property) — read `responseText` and the real
 // status code, otherwise a failed save reports success.
 window.showDisplaySaveResult = function(xhr) {
-    let message = 'Display settings saved';
-    let status = xhr.status >= 400 ? 'error' : 'success';
+    // Only 2xx counts as saved. A network failure reports status 0, which any
+    // `>= 400` test would wave through as success.
+    const httpSuccess = xhr.status >= 200 && xhr.status < 300;
+    let message = httpSuccess
+        ? 'Display settings saved'
+        : 'Display settings were not saved. Check your connection and try again.';
+    let status = httpSuccess ? 'success' : 'error';
     try {
         const data = JSON.parse(xhr.responseText);
         if (data.message) message = data.message;
-        if (data.status) status = data.status;
+        // A body can refine a successful verdict but never overturn a failed one.
+        if (httpSuccess && data.status) status = data.status;
     } catch {
         // Non-JSON body — fall back to the status-code verdict above.
     }