diff --git a/app/fanout/mqtt_community.py b/app/fanout/mqtt_community.py
index 3d2433c..c1de421 100644
--- a/app/fanout/mqtt_community.py
+++ b/app/fanout/mqtt_community.py
@@ -98,15 +98,48 @@ class MqttCommunityModule(FanoutModule):
 
     @property
     def status(self) -> str:
+        if self.last_error:
+            return "error"
         if self._publisher._is_configured():
-            if self._publisher.last_error:
-                return "error"
             return "connected" if self._publisher.connected else "disconnected"
         return "disconnected"
 
     @property
     def last_error(self) -> str | None:
-        return self._publisher.last_error
+        if self._publisher.last_error:
+            return self._publisher.last_error
+        return self._key_unavailable_reason()
+
+    def _key_unavailable_reason(self) -> str | None:
+        """Explain a silent "disconnected" caused by a missing radio key.
+
+        Community MQTT can only authenticate (and derive its topic/identity)
+        with the radio's own key, which is exported from the radio on connect.
+        When the radio is fully connected and set up but the keystore is still
+        empty, the key export was refused or never answered -- typically
+        firmware without ENABLE_PRIVATE_KEY_EXPORT, or a proxy transport
+        (e.g. Meshmonitor) that does not forward the key-export command.
+
+        Surfacing this as the module's ``last_error`` promotes the fanout status
+        to "error" and lights up the existing per-card error detail, instead of
+        leaving the operator staring at a bare "Disconnected". See issue #321.
+
+        Gated on ``is_setup_complete`` so we do not falsely accuse the radio
+        during the normal connect/key-export window.
+        """
+        from app.keystore import get_public_key
+        from app.services.radio_runtime import radio_runtime as radio_manager
+
+        if get_public_key() is not None:
+            return None
+        if not (radio_manager.is_connected and radio_manager.is_setup_complete):
+            return None
+        return (
+            "Community MQTT needs the radio's private key to authenticate, but it "
+            "isn't available. Your radio firmware may not support key export "
+            "(ENABLE_PRIVATE_KEY_EXPORT=1), or you're connecting through a proxy "
+            "that doesn't forward the key-export command."
+        )
 
 
 async def _publish_community_packet(
diff --git a/tests/test_community_mqtt.py b/tests/test_community_mqtt.py
index eb4b7b3..fcc06ae 100644
--- a/tests/test_community_mqtt.py
+++ b/tests/test_community_mqtt.py
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ from app.fanout.community_mqtt import (
     _get_client_version,
 )
 from app.fanout.mqtt_community import (
+    MqttCommunityModule,
     _config_to_settings,
     _publish_community_packet,
     _render_packet_topic,
@@ -659,6 +660,85 @@ class TestPublishFailureSetsDisconnected:
         assert "if it self-resolves" in caplog.text
 
 
+class TestCommunityModuleKeyUnavailable:
+    """The module should explain a silent 'disconnected' caused by a missing radio key.
+
+    Regression coverage for issue #321: connecting RemoteTerm through a proxy
+    (e.g. Meshmonitor) that doesn't forward the key-export command leaves the
+    keystore empty, so community MQTT is never configured. Previously that
+    showed a bare "Disconnected" with no reason.
+    """
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def _make_module() -> MqttCommunityModule:
+        return MqttCommunityModule("cfg-id", {"iata": "LAX"}, name="LetsMesh")
+
+    def test_reports_reason_when_connected_setup_complete_and_no_key(self):
+        module = self._make_module()
+        with (
+            patch("app.keystore.get_public_key", return_value=None),
+            patch(
+                "app.services.radio_runtime.radio_runtime",
+                SimpleNamespace(is_connected=True, is_setup_complete=True),
+            ),
+        ):
+            reason = module.last_error
+            assert reason is not None
+            assert "key export" in reason
+            assert "ENABLE_PRIVATE_KEY_EXPORT" in reason
+            assert "proxy" in reason
+            # A populated last_error promotes the status to "error" so the
+            # fanout card shows the actionable detail instead of "Disconnected".
+            assert module.status == "error"
+
+    def test_no_reason_when_key_available(self):
+        module = self._make_module()
+        with (
+            patch("app.keystore.get_public_key", return_value=b"x" * 32),
+            patch(
+                "app.services.radio_runtime.radio_runtime",
+                SimpleNamespace(is_connected=True, is_setup_complete=True),
+            ),
+        ):
+            assert module.last_error is None
+
+    def test_no_reason_when_radio_not_connected(self):
+        module = self._make_module()
+        with (
+            patch("app.keystore.get_public_key", return_value=None),
+            patch(
+                "app.services.radio_runtime.radio_runtime",
+                SimpleNamespace(is_connected=False, is_setup_complete=False),
+            ),
+        ):
+            assert module.last_error is None
+
+    def test_no_reason_during_setup_window(self):
+        # Connected but setup still running: the key export may not have happened
+        # yet, so we must not falsely accuse the radio.
+        module = self._make_module()
+        with (
+            patch("app.keystore.get_public_key", return_value=None),
+            patch(
+                "app.services.radio_runtime.radio_runtime",
+                SimpleNamespace(is_connected=True, is_setup_complete=False),
+            ),
+        ):
+            assert module.last_error is None
+
+    def test_real_publisher_error_takes_precedence(self):
+        module = self._make_module()
+        module._publisher._last_error = "broker gone"
+        with (
+            patch("app.keystore.get_public_key", return_value=None),
+            patch(
+                "app.services.radio_runtime.radio_runtime",
+                SimpleNamespace(is_connected=True, is_setup_complete=True),
+            ),
+        ):
+            assert module.last_error == "broker gone"
+
+
 class TestBuildStatusTopic:
     def test_builds_correct_topic(self):
         settings = SimpleNamespace(community_mqtt_iata="LAX")