diff --git a/src/components/DriveControls.vue b/src/components/DriveControls.vue
index 7e58466..6e12aae 100644
--- a/src/components/DriveControls.vue
+++ b/src/components/DriveControls.vue
@@ -94,6 +94,14 @@ const statusText = computed(() => {
   return null;
 });
 
+/** The scene was lost or never started: the quality choice has nothing to
+ * act on, so it reads Static and is disabled rather than claiming High. */
+const visualsUnavailable = computed(
+  () =>
+    props.policy.reason === "full" &&
+    (props.sceneStatus === "failed" || props.sceneStatus === "static"),
+);
+
 const runAction = (): void => {
   const event = action.value?.event;
   if (event === "pause") emit("pause");
@@ -334,7 +342,8 @@ onBeforeUnmount(() => {
       <label for="drive-quality">QUALITY</label>
       <select
         id="drive-quality"
-        :value="maximumQuality"
+        :value="visualsUnavailable ? 'static' : maximumQuality"
+        :disabled="visualsUnavailable"
         aria-label="Quality control"
         @change="changeQuality"
       >
diff --git a/tests/unit/SceneCanvas.test.ts b/tests/unit/SceneCanvas.test.ts
index c65b0b2..fa2b5b3 100644
--- a/tests/unit/SceneCanvas.test.ts
+++ b/tests/unit/SceneCanvas.test.ts
@@ -374,6 +374,22 @@ describe("DriveControls", () => {
     expect(wrapper.find('[role="dialog"]').exists()).toBe(false);
     expect(wrapper.get('[role="status"]').text()).toBe("Visuals unavailable");
   });
+
+  it("disables the quality choice and reads Static while visuals are unavailable", async () => {
+    const wrapper = mount(DriveControls, {
+      props: {
+        policy: policy(),
+        maximumQuality: "high",
+        sceneStatus: "failed",
+        audioState: { kind: "idle" },
+      },
+    });
+    await wrapper.get('[aria-label="Drive settings"]').trigger("click");
+    const select = wrapper.get<HTMLSelectElement>('[aria-label="Quality control"]');
+    expect(select.element.disabled).toBe(true);
+    expect(select.element.value).toBe("static");
+    wrapper.unmount();
+  });
 });
 
 describe("JourneyHud", () => {