diff --git a/web/src/beanflows/analytics.py b/web/src/beanflows/analytics.py
index 374a1a0..c054c9c 100644
--- a/web/src/beanflows/analytics.py
+++ b/web/src/beanflows/analytics.py
@@ -107,8 +107,12 @@ def _get_conn() -> duckdb.DuckDBPyConnection:
 
 
 async def fetch_analytics(sql: str, params: list | None = None) -> list[dict]:
-    """Run a read-only DuckDB query off the event loop. Returns list of dicts."""
-    assert _db_path, "Analytics DB not configured — call open_analytics_db() first"
+    """Run a read-only DuckDB query off the event loop. Returns list of dicts.
+    Returns empty list if analytics DB is not configured (SERVING_DUCKDB_PATH unset
+    or file missing at startup) — dashboard routes degrade gracefully.
+    """
+    if not _db_path:
+        return []
 
     def _query():
         conn = _get_conn()