diff --git a/e2e/ux.spec.ts b/e2e/ux.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2d9aacb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/e2e/ux.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,82 @@
+import { test, expect } from '@playwright/test';
+
+async function fetchVerifyLink(email: string): Promise<string> {
+  for (let i = 0; i < 30; i++) {
+    const res = await fetch('http://localhost:8025/api/v1/messages?limit=30');
+    const data = await res.json() as { messages: { ID: string; To: { Address: string }[] }[] };
+    const msg = data.messages.find((m) => m.To.some((t) => t.Address === email));
+    if (msg) {
+      const body = await (await fetch(`http://localhost:8025/api/v1/message/${msg.ID}`)).json() as { Text: string };
+      const m = body.Text.match(/https?:\/\/[^\s]+verify-email\?token=[^\s]+/);
+      if (m) return m[0];
+    }
+    await new Promise((r) => setTimeout(r, 250));
+  }
+  throw new Error('no verify link for ' + email);
+}
+
+async function registerVerifyLogin(page: import('@playwright/test').Page, name: string, email: string, password: string) {
+  await page.goto('/register');
+  await page.getByLabel(/Naam/).fill(name);
+  await page.getByLabel(/E-mailadres/).fill(email);
+  await page.getByLabel(/Wachtwoord/).fill(password);
+  await page.getByRole('button', { name: /Account aanmaken/ }).click();
+  await expect(page.getByText(/bevestigingsmail/i)).toBeVisible({ timeout: 10_000 });
+  const link = await fetchVerifyLink(email);
+  await page.goto(link);
+  await expect(page.getByRole('link', { name: 'Naar inloggen' })).toBeVisible({ timeout: 10_000 });
+  await page.goto('/login');
+  await page.getByLabel(/E-mailadres/).fill(email);
+  await page.getByLabel(/Wachtwoord/).fill(password);
+  await page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Inloggen' }).click();
+  await expect(page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Account menu' })).toBeVisible({ timeout: 15_000 });
+}
+
+test('search opens with ⌘K, finds a lesson, navigates to detail', async ({ page }) => {
+  const email = `search+${Date.now()}@example.com`;
+  await registerVerifyLogin(page, 'SearchUser', email, 'secretpass');
+  await page.goto('/lessons');
+  await page.getByPlaceholder(/Nieuwe wortel-les/).fill('Aardrijkskunde');
+  await page.getByRole('button', { name: /Toevoegen/ }).first().click();
+  await expect(page.getByRole('link', { name: /Aardrijkskunde/ }).first()).toBeVisible();
+
+  await page.keyboard.press('Control+K');
+  const searchInput = page.getByPlaceholder(/Zoek lessen en kaarten/);
+  await expect(searchInput).toBeVisible();
+  await searchInput.fill('aardrijk');
+  // Scope to the palette result row so we wait for the debounced search result,
+  // not the background lessons-tree link.
+  const resultRow = page.getByRole('listitem').filter({ hasText: /door SearchUser/ }).first();
+  await expect(resultRow).toBeVisible({ timeout: 5_000 });
+  await resultRow.click();
+  await expect(page).toHaveURL(/\/lessons\/\d+/);
+  await expect(page.getByRole('heading', { name: /Aardrijkskunde/ })).toBeVisible();
+});
+
+test('lesson detail page shows start practice', async ({ page }) => {
+  const email = `detail+${Date.now()}@example.com`;
+  await registerVerifyLogin(page, 'DetailUser', email, 'secretpass');
+  await page.goto('/lessons');
+  await page.getByPlaceholder(/Nieuwe wortel-les/).fill('Wiskunde-test');
+  await page.getByRole('button', { name: /Toevoegen/ }).first().click();
+  await page.getByRole('link', { name: /Wiskunde-test/ }).first().click();
+  await expect(page.getByRole('heading', { name: /Wiskunde-test/ })).toBeVisible();
+  await expect(page.getByRole('link', { name: /Start oefenen/ })).toBeVisible();
+});
+
+test('stats page renders three sections', async ({ page }) => {
+  const email = `stats+${Date.now()}@example.com`;
+  await registerVerifyLogin(page, 'StatsUser', email, 'secretpass');
+  await page.goto('/stats');
+  await expect(page.getByRole('heading', { name: 'Statistieken' })).toBeVisible();
+  await expect(page.getByText(/Te reviewen/)).toBeVisible();
+  await expect(page.getByText(/Voortgang per les/)).toBeVisible();
+  await expect(page.getByText(/Activiteit/)).toBeVisible();
+});
+
+test('legacy /admin redirects to /lessons', async ({ page }) => {
+  const email = `legacy+${Date.now()}@example.com`;
+  await registerVerifyLogin(page, 'Legacy', email, 'secretpass');
+  await page.goto('/admin');
+  await expect(page).toHaveURL(/\/lessons$/);
+});
diff --git a/packages/frontend/playwright.config.ts b/packages/frontend/playwright.config.ts
index f1bc9aa..55e764e 100644
--- a/packages/frontend/playwright.config.ts
+++ b/packages/frontend/playwright.config.ts
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ export default defineConfig({
   webServer: [
     {
       command:
-        'rm -f packages/backend/data/e2e.db data/e2e.db && DB_PATH=./data/e2e.db SMTP_HOST=localhost SMTP_PORT=1025 APP_URL=http://localhost:5173 npm -w @flashcard/backend run db:migrate && DB_PATH=./data/e2e.db SMTP_HOST=localhost SMTP_PORT=1025 APP_URL=http://localhost:5173 npm -w @flashcard/backend run dev',
+        'rm -f packages/backend/data/e2e.db data/e2e.db && DB_PATH=./data/e2e.db SMTP_HOST=localhost SMTP_PORT=1025 APP_URL=http://localhost:5173 npm -w @flashcard/backend run db:migrate && NODE_ENV=test DB_PATH=./data/e2e.db SMTP_HOST=localhost SMTP_PORT=1025 APP_URL=http://localhost:5173 npm -w @flashcard/backend run dev',
       cwd: '../..',
       port: 3000,
       reuseExistingServer: false,
diff --git a/packages/frontend/src/pages/LessonDetail.tsx b/packages/frontend/src/pages/LessonDetail.tsx
index 59b357d..e85e41d 100644
--- a/packages/frontend/src/pages/LessonDetail.tsx
+++ b/packages/frontend/src/pages/LessonDetail.tsx
@@ -153,9 +153,9 @@ export function LessonDetailPage() {
 
       <section>
         <h2 className="mb-3 font-display text-xl font-bold">Kaarten</h2>
-        {cards.length === 0 ? (
+        {cards.length === 0 && !isOwner ? (
           <div className="surface p-6 text-center text-sm text-slate-500">
-            {isOwner ? 'Nog geen kaarten — voeg er hieronder een toe.' : 'Deze les heeft nog geen kaarten.'}
+            Deze les heeft nog geen kaarten.
           </div>
         ) : (
           <div className="surface overflow-hidden p-1">