diff --git a/src/calls-main-window.c b/src/calls-main-window.c
index 5297065..8e6d717 100644
--- a/src/calls-main-window.c
+++ b/src/calls-main-window.c
@@ -56,6 +56,9 @@ struct _CallsMainWindow
   HdyViewSwitcherBar *switcher_bar;
   GtkStack *main_stack;
 
+  GtkRevealer *permanent_error_revealer;
+  GtkLabel *permanent_error_label;
+
   CallsNewCallBox *new_call;
 };
 
@@ -158,6 +161,36 @@ set_property (GObject      *object,
 }
 
 
+static void
+state_changed_cb (CallsMainWindow *self,
+                  GParamSpec      *pspec,
+                  CallsManager    *manager)
+{
+  const gchar *error = NULL;
+  switch (calls_manager_get_state (manager))
+    {
+    case CALLS_MANAGER_STATE_READY:
+      break;
+
+    case CALLS_MANAGER_STATE_NO_ORIGIN:
+      error = _("Can't place calls: No SIM card");
+      break;
+
+    case CALLS_MANAGER_STATE_UNKNOWN:
+    case CALLS_MANAGER_STATE_NO_PROVIDER:
+      error = _("Can't place calls: No backend service");
+      break;
+
+    case CALLS_MANAGER_STATE_NO_PLUGIN:
+      error = _("Can't place calls: No plugin");
+      break;
+    }
+
+  gtk_label_set_text (self->permanent_error_label, error);
+  gtk_revealer_set_reveal_child (self->permanent_error_revealer, error != NULL);
+}
+
+
 static void
 constructed (GObject *object)
 {
@@ -218,6 +251,13 @@ constructed (GObject *object)
                                self->title_label,
                                NULL);
 
+  g_signal_connect_swapped (calls_manager_get_default (),
+                            "notify::state",
+                            G_CALLBACK (state_changed_cb),
+                            self);
+
+  state_changed_cb (self, NULL, calls_manager_get_default ());
+
   G_OBJECT_CLASS (calls_main_window_parent_class)->constructed (object);
 }
 
@@ -289,6 +329,8 @@ calls_main_window_class_init (CallsMainWindowClass *klass)
   gtk_widget_class_bind_template_child (widget_class, CallsMainWindow, narrow_switcher);
   gtk_widget_class_bind_template_child (widget_class, CallsMainWindow, switcher_bar);
   gtk_widget_class_bind_template_child (widget_class, CallsMainWindow, main_stack);
+  gtk_widget_class_bind_template_child (widget_class, CallsMainWindow, permanent_error_revealer);
+  gtk_widget_class_bind_template_child (widget_class, CallsMainWindow, permanent_error_label);
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/style.css b/src/style.css
index 9fe7b51..64268ac 100644
--- a/src/style.css
+++ b/src/style.css
@@ -14,3 +14,10 @@ hdykeypad > button, .dial-button, .delete-button {
 .phone-number-entry {
   font-size: 24px;
 }
+
+.error-state-message {
+  background-color: @error_color;
+  border-bottom: 1px solid darker(@error_color);
+  color: @theme_base_color;
+  padding: 6px;
+}
diff --git a/src/ui/main-window.ui b/src/ui/main-window.ui
index a7117c4..21046c2 100644
--- a/src/ui/main-window.ui
+++ b/src/ui/main-window.ui
@@ -24,6 +24,23 @@
             <property name="visible">True</property>
             <property name="can_focus">False</property>
             <property name="orientation">vertical</property>
+            <child>
+              <object class="GtkRevealer" id="permanent_error_revealer">
+                <property name="visible">True</property>
+                <property name="can_focus">False</property>
+                <property name="reveal_child">True</property>
+                <child>
+                  <object class="GtkLabel" id="permanent_error_label">
+                    <property name="visible">True</property>
+                    <property name="can_focus">False</property>
+                    <property name="label" translatable="yes">No modem found</property>
+                    <style>
+                      <class name="error-state-message"/>
+                    </style>
+                  </object>
+                </child>
+              </object>
+            </child>
             <child>
               <object class="GtkStack" id="main_stack">
                 <property name="visible">True</property>