diff --git a/web/src/onboarding/OnboardingPage.test.tsx b/web/src/onboarding/OnboardingPage.test.tsx
index a8760ce..e32f1cf 100644
--- a/web/src/onboarding/OnboardingPage.test.tsx
+++ b/web/src/onboarding/OnboardingPage.test.tsx
@@ -234,7 +234,7 @@ describe('onboarding step 2 (mock 1h)', () => {
     expect(regularNames()).toEqual(['Beef tacos', 'Pizza night'])
   })
 
-  it('enables "Next: notifications" once there are 3 Regulars', async () => {
+  it('enables "Next: notifications" once the server has saved 3 Regulars', async () => {
     const server = await regularsStep([
       { id: 'd1', name: 'Beef tacos' },
       { id: 'd2', name: 'Pizza night' },
@@ -242,10 +242,13 @@ describe('onboarding step 2 (mock 1h)', () => {
     expect(next()).toBeDisabled()
 
     fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole('button', { name: 'Add Burgers' }))
-    await vi.waitFor(() => expect(next()).toBeEnabled())
+    await screen.findByRole('heading', { level: 2, name: 'Your regulars · 3' })
+    // The third chip shows at once, but Next waits for the server.
+    expect(next()).toBeDisabled()
     await vi.waitFor(() => expect(server.held).toHaveLength(1))
     created(server, server.held[0]!, 'd3')
     await screen.findByRole('button', { name: 'Remove Burgers' })
+    expect(next()).toBeEnabled()
 
     fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole('button', { name: 'Remove Pizza night' }))
     await vi.waitFor(() => expect(next()).toBeDisabled())
@@ -256,4 +259,37 @@ describe('onboarding step 2 (mock 1h)', () => {
     fireEvent.click(next())
     expect(await screen.findByText('Step 3 of 3')).toBeInTheDocument()
   })
+
+  it('keeps "Next: notifications" disabled when the third add is refused', async () => {
+    const server = await regularsStep([
+      { id: 'd1', name: 'Beef tacos' },
+      { id: 'd2', name: 'Pizza night' },
+    ])
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole('button', { name: 'Add Burgers' }))
+    await screen.findByRole('heading', { level: 2, name: 'Your regulars · 3' })
+    expect(next()).toBeDisabled()
+
+    await vi.waitFor(() => expect(server.held).toHaveLength(1))
+    server.held[0]!.answer(errorResponse(409, 'duplicate_dinner'))
+    expect(await screen.findByRole('alert')).toHaveTextContent('Could not add Burgers: duplicate_dinner message')
+    expect(regularNames()).toEqual(['Beef tacos', 'Pizza night'])
+    expect(next()).toBeDisabled()
+  })
+
+  it('keeps "Next: notifications" disabled while a fourth add is unanswered', async () => {
+    const server = await regularsStep([
+      { id: 'd1', name: 'Beef tacos' },
+      { id: 'd2', name: 'Pizza night' },
+      { id: 'd3', name: 'Chili' },
+    ])
+    expect(next()).toBeEnabled()
+
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole('button', { name: 'Add Burgers' }))
+    await screen.findByRole('heading', { level: 2, name: 'Your regulars · 4' })
+    expect(next()).toBeDisabled()
+    await vi.waitFor(() => expect(server.held).toHaveLength(1))
+    server.held[0]!.answer(errorResponse(409, 'duplicate_dinner'))
+    await screen.findByRole('alert')
+    expect(next()).toBeEnabled()
+  })
 })
diff --git a/web/src/onboarding/RegularsStep.tsx b/web/src/onboarding/RegularsStep.tsx
index 92d5fb5..07cc246 100644
--- a/web/src/onboarding/RegularsStep.tsx
+++ b/web/src/onboarding/RegularsStep.tsx
@@ -11,7 +11,8 @@ import { TextInput } from '../ui/TextInput.tsx'
 import { OnboardingStep } from './OnboardingStep.tsx'
 import styles from './Onboarding.module.css'
 
-// MIN_REGULARS is how many Regulars the household adds before moving on.
+// MIN_REGULARS is how many Regulars the server has saved before the
+// household moves on.
 export const MIN_REGULARS = 3
 
 // commonPicks are offered as one-tap Regulars until the household has them.
@@ -41,6 +42,10 @@ export function RegularsStep() {
   const [draft, setDraft] = useState('')
   const list = regulars.data ?? []
   const picks = commonPicks.filter((pick) => !list.some((regular) => sameName(regular.name, pick)))
+  // Next waits for every add to be answered, so a refused add's error shows
+  // here and an add the server takes back never counts towards the three.
+  const adding = list.some((regular) => regular.pending)
+  const saved = list.filter((regular) => !regular.pending).length
 
   function onSubmit(event: FormEvent<HTMLFormElement>) {
     event.preventDefault()
@@ -57,7 +62,7 @@ export function RegularsStep() {
       action={
         <Button
           className={styles.action}
-          disabled={list.length < MIN_REGULARS}
+          disabled={adding || saved < MIN_REGULARS}
           onClick={() => void navigate('/onboarding/notifications')}
         >
           Next: notifications