diff --git a/asteroid.lisp b/asteroid.lisp
index 8db2551..cbddc52 100644
--- a/asteroid.lisp
+++ b/asteroid.lisp
@@ -825,22 +825,24 @@
   "Main front page"
   ;; Register this visitor for geo stats (captures real IP from X-Forwarded-For)
   (register-web-listener)
-  (clip:process-to-string 
-   (load-template "front-page")
-   :title "ASTEROID RADIO"
-   :station-name "ASTEROID RADIO"
-   :status-message "🟢 LIVE - Broadcasting asteroid music for hackers"
-   :listeners "0"
-   :stream-quality "128kbps MP3"
-   :stream-base-url *stream-base-url*
-   :curated-channel-name (get-curated-channel-name)
-   :default-stream-url (format nil "~a/asteroid.aac" *stream-base-url*)
-   :default-stream-encoding "audio/aac"
-   :default-stream-encoding-desc "AAC 96kbps Stereo"
-   :now-playing-artist "The Void"
-   :now-playing-track "Silence"
-   :now-playing-album "Startup Sounds"
-   :now-playing-duration "∞"))
+  (let ((now-playing-stats (icecast-now-playing *stream-base-url*)))
+    (clip:process-to-string
+     (load-template "front-page")
+     :title "ASTEROID RADIO"
+     :station-name "ASTEROID RADIO"
+     :status-message "🟢 LIVE - Broadcasting asteroid music for hackers"
+     :listeners "0"
+     :connection-error (not now-playing-stats)
+     :stream-quality "128kbps MP3"
+     :stream-base-url *stream-base-url*
+     :curated-channel-name (get-curated-channel-name)
+     :default-stream-url (format nil "~a/asteroid.aac" *stream-base-url*)
+     :default-stream-encoding "audio/aac"
+     :default-stream-encoding-desc "AAC 96kbps Stereo"
+     :now-playing-artist "The Void"
+     :now-playing-track "Silence"
+     :now-playing-album "Startup Sounds"
+     :now-playing-duration "∞")))
 
 ;; Frameset wrapper for persistent player mode
 (define-page frameset-wrapper #@"/frameset" ()
diff --git a/template/front-page.ctml b/template/front-page.ctml
index 984b714..96d6f0a 100644
--- a/template/front-page.ctml
+++ b/template/front-page.ctml
@@ -117,7 +117,9 @@
         </c:if>
       </div>
       
-      <div id="now-playing" class="now-playing"></div>
+      <div id="now-playing" class="now-playing">
+        <c:h>(asteroid::load-template "partial/now-playing")</c:h>
+      </div>
       
       <!-- Recently Played Tracks -->
       <div id="recently-played-panel" class="recently-played-panel">
diff --git a/template/partial/now-playing.ctml b/template/partial/now-playing.ctml
index 367adf3..3c51130 100644
--- a/template/partial/now-playing.ctml
+++ b/template/partial/now-playing.ctml
@@ -8,11 +8,11 @@
                     <span class="star-icon">☆</span>
                 </button>
             </div>
-            <p>Listeners: <span lquery="(text listeners)">1</span></p>
+            <p>Listeners: <span id="current-listeners" lquery="(text listeners)">1</span></p>
+            <input type="hidden" id="current-track-id" lquery="(val track-id)" value="">
+            <input type="hidden" id="favorite-count-value" lquery="(val favorite-count)" value="0">
+            <p class="favorite-count" id="favorite-count-display"></p>
         </c:using>
-        <input type="hidden" id="current-track-id" lquery="(val track-id)" value="">
-        <input type="hidden" id="favorite-count-value" lquery="(val favorite-count)" value="0">
-        <p class="favorite-count" id="favorite-count-display"></p>
     </c:then>
     <c:else>
         <c:if test="connection-error">