diff --git a/client/lib/aethex-database-adapter.ts b/client/lib/aethex-database-adapter.ts
index 0aeeb4e1..651a67f3 100644
--- a/client/lib/aethex-database-adapter.ts
+++ b/client/lib/aethex-database-adapter.ts
@@ -188,9 +188,12 @@ export const aethexUserService = {
       }
 
       if (isTableMissing(error)) {
-        throw new Error(
-          'Supabase table "user_profiles" is missing. Please run the required migrations.',
-        );
+        console.warn('user_profiles table missing during getProfileById - returning local fallback if available');
+        try {
+          const raw = localStorage.getItem(`demo_profile_${userId}`);
+          if (raw) return JSON.parse(raw) as AethexUserProfile;
+        } catch {}
+        return null;
       }
 
       throw error;