diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/Clients.tsx b/frontend/src/pages/Clients.tsx
index 8f9734c..ecc3bf4 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/Clients.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/Clients.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import { useCallback, useEffect, useState, type ReactNode } from 'react'
+import { Link } from 'react-router-dom'
 import { Loader2, Pencil, Plus, RefreshCw, Trash2 } from 'lucide-react'
 import { toast } from 'sonner'
 import { api, ApiError, type Client, type ClientStatus, type Vlan } from '@/lib/api'
@@ -53,6 +54,9 @@ export function Clients() {
   const [pageSize, setPageSize] = usePageSize()
   const [page, setPage] = useState(1)
   const pageCount = Math.max(1, Math.ceil(total / pageSize))
+  // A device must be assigned to a VLAN group, so adding one is impossible
+  // until at least one VLAN exists.
+  const noVlans = !loading && vlans.length === 0
 
   // Server-side pagination: fetch only the current page's rows.
   const load = useCallback(async () => {
@@ -96,12 +100,23 @@ export function Clients() {
             <RefreshCw className={loading ? 'animate-spin' : ''} />
           </Button>
           <ClientImportExport onImported={load} />
-          <Button onClick={() => setAddOpen(true)}>
+          <Button
+            onClick={() => setAddOpen(true)}
+            disabled={noVlans}
+            title={noVlans ? 'Add a VLAN before registering a device' : undefined}
+          >
             <Plus /> Add device
           </Button>
         </div>
       </div>
 
+      {noVlans && (
+        <div className="rounded-lg border border-amber-500/40 bg-amber-500/10 px-4 py-3 text-sm text-amber-700 dark:text-amber-400">
+          No VLANs exist yet. <Link to="/vlans" className="font-medium underline">Add a VLAN</Link>{' '}
+          before registering a device.
+        </div>
+      )}
+
       <div className="rounded-lg border bg-background">
         <Table>
           <TableHeader>