diff --git a/src/components/map/near-me-button.tsx b/src/components/map/near-me-button.tsx
index 28b9c17..f9aae7a 100644
--- a/src/components/map/near-me-button.tsx
+++ b/src/components/map/near-me-button.tsx
@@ -27,9 +27,15 @@ export function NearMeButton({ onLocated, className }: NearMeButtonProps) {
         setBusy(false);
         onLocated({ lat: pos.coords.latitude, lng: pos.coords.longitude });
       },
-      () => {
+      (err) => {
         setBusy(false);
-        setError("Could not read your location.");
+        setError(
+          err.code === err.PERMISSION_DENIED
+            ? "Allow location access in your browser settings."
+            : err.code === err.TIMEOUT
+              ? "Location request timed out. Try again."
+              : "Your location could not be determined. Try again.",
+        );
       },
       { enableHighAccuracy: true, timeout: 10000 },
     );
@@ -47,7 +53,11 @@ export function NearMeButton({ onLocated, className }: NearMeButtonProps) {
         <LocateFixed className="size-4" />
         {busy ? "Locating..." : "Near me"}
       </Button>
-      {error && <p className="mt-1 text-xs text-destructive">{error}</p>}
+      {error && (
+        <p className="mt-1 text-xs text-destructive" role="alert">
+          {error}
+        </p>
+      )}
     </div>
   );
 }
diff --git a/src/components/map/near-me-fab.tsx b/src/components/map/near-me-fab.tsx
index d3ebe0b..3dc9969 100644
--- a/src/components/map/near-me-fab.tsx
+++ b/src/components/map/near-me-fab.tsx
@@ -15,42 +15,60 @@ interface NearMeFabProps {
 /** Round floating "near me" button for the mobile map, sized for thumb reach. */
 export function NearMeFab({ onLocated, className }: NearMeFabProps) {
   const [busy, setBusy] = React.useState(false);
+  const [error, setError] = React.useState<string | null>(null);
 
   function locate() {
     if (!navigator.geolocation) {
-      toast.error("Geolocation is not available in this browser.");
+      const message = "Geolocation is not available in this browser.";
+      setError(message);
+      toast.error(message);
       return;
     }
     setBusy(true);
+    setError(null);
     navigator.geolocation.getCurrentPosition(
       (pos) => {
         setBusy(false);
         onLocated({ lat: pos.coords.latitude, lng: pos.coords.longitude });
       },
-      () => {
+      (err) => {
         setBusy(false);
-        toast.error("Could not read your location.");
+        const message =
+          err.code === err.PERMISSION_DENIED
+            ? "Allow location access in your browser settings."
+            : err.code === err.TIMEOUT
+              ? "Location request timed out. Try again."
+              : "Your location could not be determined. Try again.";
+        setError(message);
+        toast.error(message);
       },
       { enableHighAccuracy: true, timeout: 10000 },
     );
   }
 
   return (
-    <button
-      type="button"
-      onClick={locate}
-      disabled={busy}
-      aria-label="Find places near me"
-      className={cn(
-        "flex size-12 items-center justify-center rounded-full border border-border bg-card text-foreground shadow-lg transition-colors hover:bg-muted active:bg-muted/80 disabled:opacity-70",
-        className,
+    <>
+      <button
+        type="button"
+        onClick={locate}
+        disabled={busy}
+        aria-label="Find places near me"
+        className={cn(
+          "flex size-12 items-center justify-center rounded-full border border-border bg-card text-foreground shadow-lg transition-colors hover:bg-muted active:bg-muted/80 disabled:opacity-70",
+          className,
+        )}
+      >
+        {busy ? (
+          <Loader2 className="size-5 animate-spin" />
+        ) : (
+          <LocateFixed className="size-5" />
+        )}
+      </button>
+      {error && (
+        <span className="sr-only" role="alert">
+          {error}
+        </span>
       )}
-    >
-      {busy ? (
-        <Loader2 className="size-5 animate-spin" />
-      ) : (
-        <LocateFixed className="size-5" />
-      )}
-    </button>
+    </>
   );
 }