diff --git a/backend/atlas_portal/routes/ai.py b/backend/atlas_portal/routes/ai.py
index c695d65..b534a61 100644
--- a/backend/atlas_portal/routes/ai.py
+++ b/backend/atlas_portal/routes/ai.py
@@ -36,9 +36,23 @@ def register(app) -> None:
             elapsed_ms = int((time.time() - started) * 1000)
             return jsonify({"reply": reply, "latency_ms": elapsed_ms, "source": source})
         elapsed_ms = int((time.time() - started) * 1000)
+        if mode == "quick":
+            budget = max(1, int(round(settings.AI_ATLASBOT_TIMEOUT_QUICK_SEC)))
+            fallback = (
+                f"Quick mode hit {budget}s response budget before finishing. "
+                "Try atlas-smart for a deeper answer."
+            )
+        elif mode == "smart":
+            budget = max(1, int(round(settings.AI_ATLASBOT_TIMEOUT_SMART_SEC)))
+            fallback = (
+                f"Smart mode hit {budget}s response budget before finishing. "
+                "Try atlas-genius or ask a narrower follow-up."
+            )
+        else:
+            fallback = "Atlas genius mode timed out before it could finish. Please retry with a narrower prompt."
         return jsonify(
             {
-                "reply": "Atlasbot is busy. Please try again in a moment.",
+                "reply": fallback,
                 "latency_ms": elapsed_ms,
                 "source": source,
             }