diff --git a/resources/lang/en.json b/resources/lang/en.json
index 74eb025cc..46e49b848 100644
--- a/resources/lang/en.json
+++ b/resources/lang/en.json
@@ -682,8 +682,7 @@
     "tag_too_short": "Clan tag must be 2-5 alphanumeric characters.",
     "tag_too_long": "Clan tag cannot exceed 5 characters.",
     "tag_invalid_chars": "Clan tag can only contain letters and numbers.",
-    "tag_not_member": "Join the {tag} clan before using its tag. Click this message to join it.",
-    "tag_check_failed": "Couldn't verify clan tag. Try again or remove it."
+    "tag_not_member": "Join the {tag} clan before using its tag. Click this message to join it."
   },
   "host_modal": {
     "title": "Create Private Lobby",
diff --git a/src/client/ClanApi.ts b/src/client/ClanApi.ts
index 617d43f78..f38db93b9 100644
--- a/src/client/ClanApi.ts
+++ b/src/client/ClanApi.ts
@@ -162,9 +162,11 @@ export async function checkClanTagOwnership(
   }
 
   const exists = await fetchClanExists(tag);
-  if (exists === false) return { tag, error: null };
   if (exists === true) return { tag: null, error: "username.tag_not_member" };
-  return { tag: null, error: "username.tag_check_failed" };
+  // Tag doesn't exist (fictional) or the check was inconclusive (API
+  // unavailable, e.g. during development) — fail open and keep the tag;
+  // the server re-checks authoritatively.
+  return { tag, error: null };
 }
 
 export type ClanMemberSort =
diff --git a/src/server/Privilege.ts b/src/server/Privilege.ts
index 2605630dd..c31da062e 100644
--- a/src/server/Privilege.ts
+++ b/src/server/Privilege.ts
@@ -157,24 +157,23 @@ export type ClanTagResolution = {
 };
 
 /**
- * The clan-tag ownership rule, shared by every PrivilegeChecker:
+ * The clan-tag ownership rule:
  *   - member of the clan             -> keep the tag
  *   - not a member, tag not reserved -> fictional tag, keep it
  *   - otherwise                      -> drop it (impersonation)
- * `reservedTags` is every registered tag (uppercase); null means the reserved
- * list is unavailable (cosmetics infra still loading), in which case an
- * unverifiable tag counts as reserved and is dropped fail-closed.
+ * `reservedTags` is every registered tag (uppercase).
  */
 function decideClanTag(
   censoredTag: string | null,
   ownedClanTags: string[],
-  reservedTags: Set<string> | null,
+  reservedTags: Set<string>,
 ): ClanTagResolution {
   if (censoredTag === null) return { tag: null, dropped: false };
   const tag = censoredTag.toUpperCase();
   const isMember = ownedClanTags.some((t) => t.toUpperCase() === tag);
-  const isReserved = reservedTags === null || reservedTags.has(tag);
-  if (isMember || !isReserved) return { tag: censoredTag, dropped: false };
+  if (isMember || !reservedTags.has(tag)) {
+    return { tag: censoredTag, dropped: false };
+  }
   return { tag: null, dropped: true };
 }
 
@@ -372,13 +371,13 @@ export class FailOpenPrivilegeChecker implements PrivilegeChecker {
     return censorWithMatcher(username, clanTag, defaultMatcher);
   }
 
-  // No reserved-tag list while cosmetics infra is unavailable (null), so a
-  // non-member's tag is treated as reserved and dropped fail-closed to block
-  // impersonation. Members are still known from their own tag list.
+  // No reserved-tag list while cosmetics infra is unavailable (e.g. during
+  // development), so ownership can't be verified. Fail open and keep the tag
+  // rather than blocking everyone whenever the API service is down.
   resolveClanTag(
     censoredTag: string | null,
     ownedClanTags: string[],
   ): ClanTagResolution {
-    return decideClanTag(censoredTag, ownedClanTags, null);
+    return { tag: censoredTag, dropped: false };
   }
 }
diff --git a/tests/Privilege.test.ts b/tests/Privilege.test.ts
index 9b272b3bc..5fc8e753d 100644
--- a/tests/Privilege.test.ts
+++ b/tests/Privilege.test.ts
@@ -575,13 +575,13 @@ describe("FailOpenPrivilegeChecker#resolveClanTag", () => {
     expect(result).toEqual({ tag: "ABC", dropped: false });
   });
 
-  it("drops a non-member's tag fail-closed (no reserved set while infra is down)", () => {
+  it("keeps a non-member's tag fail-open (no reserved set while infra is down)", () => {
     const result = checker.resolveClanTag("ABC", ["other"]);
-    expect(result).toEqual({ tag: null, dropped: true });
+    expect(result).toEqual({ tag: "ABC", dropped: false });
   });
 
-  it("drops an anonymous user's tag fail-closed", () => {
+  it("keeps an anonymous user's tag fail-open", () => {
     const result = checker.resolveClanTag("ABC", []);
-    expect(result.dropped).toBe(true);
+    expect(result).toEqual({ tag: "ABC", dropped: false });
   });
 });
diff --git a/tests/client/clan/ClanApiQueries.test.ts b/tests/client/clan/ClanApiQueries.test.ts
index 3a00d2714..0254db1df 100644
--- a/tests/client/clan/ClanApiQueries.test.ts
+++ b/tests/client/clan/ClanApiQueries.test.ts
@@ -152,15 +152,15 @@ describe("checkClanTagOwnership", () => {
     });
   });
 
-  it("rejects on an inconclusive existence check", async () => {
+  it("fails open on an inconclusive existence check (API unavailable)", async () => {
     vi.mocked(getUserMe).mockResolvedValue(false);
     vi.stubGlobal(
       "fetch",
       vi.fn(() => Promise.resolve(status(503))),
     );
     await expect(checkClanTagOwnership("ABC")).resolves.toEqual({
-      tag: null,
-      error: "username.tag_check_failed",
+      tag: "ABC",
+      error: null,
     });
   });
 });