diff --git a/client/scripts/quest_hud_controller.gd b/client/scripts/quest_hud_controller.gd
index c243172..450b479 100644
--- a/client/scripts/quest_hud_controller.gd
+++ b/client/scripts/quest_hud_controller.gd
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ extends Node
 const QuestProgressClient := preload("res://scripts/quest_progress_client.gd")
 const GATHER_QUEST_ID := "prototype_quest_gather_intro"
 const ACCEPT_IDLE_HINT := "Quest accept: — (Q gather / Shift+Q next)"
+const ACCEPT_SENDING_HINT := "Quest accept: sending…"
 
 var _progress_client: Node = null
 var _defs_client: Node = null
@@ -293,7 +294,9 @@ func _request_accept(quest_id: String) -> bool:
 		_render_accept_feedback_label("Quest accept: failed — client unavailable")
 		return false
 	var started: bool = bool(_progress_client.call("request_accept", quest_id))
-	if not started:
+	if started:
+		_render_accept_feedback_label(ACCEPT_SENDING_HINT)
+	else:
 		_render_accept_feedback_label("Quest accept: failed — could not start")
 	return started
 
diff --git a/client/test/quest_hud_controller_test.gd b/client/test/quest_hud_controller_test.gd
index 497e616..d7a3338 100644
--- a/client/test/quest_hud_controller_test.gd
+++ b/client/test/quest_hud_controller_test.gd
@@ -60,6 +60,21 @@ class PendingAcceptHttpTransport:
 		return OK
 
 
+class FailStartAcceptHttpTransport:
+	extends Node
+	signal request_completed(
+		result: int, response_code: int, headers: PackedStringArray, body: PackedByteArray
+	)
+
+	func request(
+		_url: String,
+		_custom_headers: PackedStringArray = PackedStringArray(),
+		_method: HTTPClient.Method = HTTPClient.METHOD_POST,
+		_request_data: String = ""
+	) -> Error:
+		return ERR_UNAVAILABLE
+
+
 func _make_progress_client(sync_transport: Node, accept_transport: Node = null) -> Node:
 	var c: Node = QuestProgressClient.new()
 	c.set("injected_sync_http", sync_transport)
@@ -123,6 +138,38 @@ func test_try_accept_key_input_handles_q_key() -> void:
 	var handled: bool = bool(built["controller"].call("try_accept_key_input", event))
 	# Assert
 	assert_bool(handled).is_true()
+	assert_str(built["accept_label"].text).contains("sending")
+
+
+func test_try_accept_key_input_shows_busy_while_accept_in_flight() -> void:
+	# Arrange
+	var built: Dictionary = await _build_controller(
+		NoopHttpTransport.new(), PendingAcceptHttpTransport.new(), NoopHttpTransport.new()
+	)
+	var event := InputEventKey.new()
+	event.pressed = true
+	event.keycode = KEY_Q
+	built["controller"].call("try_accept_key_input", event)
+	# Act
+	var handled: bool = bool(built["controller"].call("try_accept_key_input", event))
+	# Assert
+	assert_bool(handled).is_true()
+	assert_str(built["accept_label"].text).contains("busy")
+
+
+func test_try_accept_key_input_shows_failed_when_post_wont_start() -> void:
+	# Arrange
+	var built: Dictionary = await _build_controller(
+		NoopHttpTransport.new(), FailStartAcceptHttpTransport.new(), NoopHttpTransport.new()
+	)
+	var event := InputEventKey.new()
+	event.pressed = true
+	event.keycode = KEY_Q
+	# Act
+	var handled: bool = bool(built["controller"].call("try_accept_key_input", event))
+	# Assert
+	assert_bool(handled).is_true()
+	assert_str(built["accept_label"].text).contains("could not start")
 
 
 func test_progress_label_shows_loading_before_snapshot() -> void:
@@ -196,6 +243,20 @@ func test_request_accept_shows_busy_feedback() -> void:
 	assert_str(accept_label.text).contains("busy")
 
 
+func test_request_accept_shows_sending_when_post_starts() -> void:
+	# Arrange
+	var built: Dictionary = await _build_controller(
+		NoopHttpTransport.new(), PendingAcceptHttpTransport.new(), NoopHttpTransport.new()
+	)
+	var controller: Node = built["controller"]
+	var accept_label: Label = built["accept_label"]
+	# Act
+	var started: bool = bool(controller.call("_request_accept", QuestHudController.GATHER_QUEST_ID))
+	# Assert
+	assert_bool(started).is_true()
+	assert_str(accept_label.text).contains("sending")
+
+
 func _not_started_snapshot() -> Dictionary:
 	return {
 		"schemaVersion": 1,