diff --git a/pkg/tui/views/dashboard/issue_list.go b/pkg/tui/views/dashboard/issue_list.go
index fbabee7..18504c1 100644
--- a/pkg/tui/views/dashboard/issue_list.go
+++ b/pkg/tui/views/dashboard/issue_list.go
@@ -76,16 +76,15 @@ func renderHeaders(cols []TableColumn) string {
 
 func NewIssueList(svc *service.Services, width, height int) IssueList {
 	issues, err := svc.Beads.AllIssues(context.Background())
+	if err != nil {
+		return IssueList{}
+	}
 
 	listIssues := []ListIssue{}
 	for _, issue := range issues {
 		listIssues = append(listIssues, ListIssue{Issue: issue})
 	}
 
-	if err != nil {
-		listIssues = []ListIssue{}
-	}
-
 	items := make([]list.Item, len(listIssues))
 	for i, issue := range listIssues {
 		items[i] = issue