diff --git a/viewers/wicket/ui/src/main/java/org/apache/isis/viewer/wicket/ui/pages/home/HomePage.java b/viewers/wicket/ui/src/main/java/org/apache/isis/viewer/wicket/ui/pages/home/HomePage.java
index a66ab4541ab..583c8b27fd4 100644
--- a/viewers/wicket/ui/src/main/java/org/apache/isis/viewer/wicket/ui/pages/home/HomePage.java
+++ b/viewers/wicket/ui/src/main/java/org/apache/isis/viewer/wicket/ui/pages/home/HomePage.java
@@ -61,7 +61,14 @@ private void buildGui() {
 
         if(ManagedObjects.isSpecified(homePageAdapter)) {
             val requestCycle = RequestCycle.get();
-            requestCycle.setResponsePage(new EntityPage(getCommonContext(), homePageAdapter));
+            try {
+                val page = new EntityPage(getCommonContext(), homePageAdapter);
+                requestCycle.setResponsePage(page);
+            } catch (Exception ignore) {
+                // fallback (eg if permissions problem)
+                Components.permanentlyHide(themeDiv, ComponentType.ACTION_PROMPT);
+                getComponentFactoryRegistry().addOrReplaceComponent(themeDiv, ComponentType.WELCOME, null);
+            }
 
         } else {
             Components.permanentlyHide(themeDiv, ComponentType.ACTION_PROMPT);