diff --git a/app/Http/Controllers/Meet/JoinController.php b/app/Http/Controllers/Meet/JoinController.php
index 128deb6..ebf3324 100644
--- a/app/Http/Controllers/Meet/JoinController.php
+++ b/app/Http/Controllers/Meet/JoinController.php
@@ -123,26 +123,34 @@ class JoinController extends Controller
             return back()->withErrors(['join' => $reason ?? 'Unable to join meeting.']);
         }
 
-        if ($room->isLive() && $room->activeSession()) {
-            $session = $room->activeSession();
-        } elseif ($room->isTownHall() && $user && $user->ownerRef() === $room->host_user_ref && $room->setting('green_room')) {
-            $session = app(\App\Services\Meet\TownHallService::class)->startGreenRoom($room, $user);
-        } elseif ($user && $user->ownerRef() === $room->host_user_ref) {
-            $session = $this->sessions->start($room, $user);
-        } elseif ($room->setting('join_before_host') || ($user && $user->ownerRef() === $room->host_user_ref)) {
-            if (! $room->activeSession() && $user && $user->ownerRef() === $room->host_user_ref) {
+        try {
+            if ($room->isLive() && $room->activeSession()) {
+                $session = $room->activeSession();
+            } elseif ($room->isTownHall() && $user && $user->ownerRef() === $room->host_user_ref && $room->setting('green_room')) {
+                $session = app(\App\Services\Meet\TownHallService::class)->startGreenRoom($room, $user);
+            } elseif ($user && $user->ownerRef() === $room->host_user_ref) {
                 $session = $this->sessions->start($room, $user);
-            } elseif (! $room->activeSession()) {
-                return back()->withErrors(['join' => 'Meeting has not started yet. Please wait for the host.']);
+            } elseif ($room->setting('join_before_host') || ($user && $user->ownerRef() === $room->host_user_ref)) {
+                if (! $room->activeSession() && $user && $user->ownerRef() === $room->host_user_ref) {
+                    $session = $this->sessions->start($room, $user);
+                } elseif (! $room->activeSession()) {
+                    return back()->withErrors(['join' => 'Meeting has not started yet. Please wait for the host.']);
+                } else {
+                    $session = $room->activeSession();
+                }
             } else {
+                if (! $room->activeSession()) {
+                    return back()->withErrors(['join' => 'Meeting has not started yet. Please wait for the host.']);
+                }
+
                 $session = $room->activeSession();
             }
-        } else {
-            if (! $room->activeSession()) {
-                return back()->withErrors(['join' => 'Meeting has not started yet. Please wait for the host.']);
+        } catch (\Symfony\Component\HttpKernel\Exception\HttpException $e) {
+            if (in_array($e->getStatusCode(), [402, 503], true)) {
+                return back()->withErrors(['join' => $e->getMessage() ?: 'Unable to start meeting.']);
             }
 
-            $session = $room->activeSession();
+            throw $e;
         }
 
         $role = ($user && $user->ownerRef() === $room->host_user_ref) ? 'host' : 'guest';