diff --git a/crates/horizon-client/src/game/lan_actions.rs b/crates/horizon-client/src/game/lan_actions.rs
index 5cc2656be2..4923cd3dec 100644
--- a/crates/horizon-client/src/game/lan_actions.rs
+++ b/crates/horizon-client/src/game/lan_actions.rs
@@ -1499,6 +1499,17 @@ impl Game<'_> {
             // loot table is still to roll, and the table stays.
             let spectator = host.hub.guest(conn).is_some_and(|g| g.spectator());
             if spectator && self.boat_loot_pending(self.boats[i].id) {
+                // ServerPlayer.openMenu: the refused spectator's action bar, red.
+                let message =
+                    horizon_client::text::Text::translate("container.spectatorCantOpen", &[])
+                        .with_color(horizon_client::text::RED);
+                host.hub.send_to(
+                    conn,
+                    &C::SystemChat(play::SystemChat {
+                        content: horizon_client::lan::data::component_nbt(&message.component()),
+                        overlay: true,
+                    }),
+                );
                 return false;
             }
             self.unpack_boat_loot(i);
diff --git a/crates/horizon-client/src/game/storage.rs b/crates/horizon-client/src/game/storage.rs
index cbcfb215e4..a37634e594 100644
--- a/crates/horizon-client/src/game/storage.rs
+++ b/crates/horizon-client/src/game/storage.rs
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ impl Game<'_> {
         }
         // BaseContainerBlockEntity.canOpen: a spectator opens no container that still
         // has a loot table to unpack (it clears while it rolls, on first open).
+        // ServerPlayer.openMenu sends the refused spectator a red action bar.
         if self
             .world
             .chunks
@@ -58,6 +59,10 @@ impl Game<'_> {
             .and_then(|c| c.saved.as_ref())
             .is_some_and(|s| s.rolled_loot.iter().any(|r| r.pos == key))
         {
+            self.send_overlay_message(
+                Text::translate("container.spectatorCantOpen", &[])
+                    .with_color(horizon_client::text::RED),
+            );
             return;
         }
         let Some(entity) = BlockEntity::for_block(&name) else {