diff --git a/app/web_ui/src/lib/stores.test.ts b/app/web_ui/src/lib/stores.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fa3bbb4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/web_ui/src/lib/stores.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+import { get } from "svelte/store"
+import { projects, current_project } from "./stores"
+import { describe, it, expect, beforeEach } from "vitest"
+
+const testProject = {
+  name: "Test Project",
+  path: "/test/path",
+  description: "Test Description",
+  created_at: new Date(),
+  created_by: "Test User",
+}
+
+describe("stores", () => {
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    // Reset the projects store before each test
+    projects.set(null)
+  })
+
+  describe("projects store", () => {
+    it("should initialize with null", () => {
+      expect(get(projects)).toBeNull()
+    })
+
+    it("should update when set", () => {
+      const testProjects = {
+        projects: [testProject],
+        current_project_path: "/test/path",
+        error: null,
+      }
+      projects.set(testProjects)
+      expect(get(projects)).toEqual(testProjects)
+    })
+  })
+
+  describe("current_project function", () => {
+    it("should return null when projects store is null", () => {
+      expect(current_project()).toBeNull()
+    })
+
+    it("should return null when current_project_path is null", () => {
+      projects.set({
+        projects: [testProject],
+        current_project_path: null,
+        error: null,
+      })
+      expect(current_project()).toBeNull()
+    })
+
+    it("should return null when no project matches current_project_path", () => {
+      projects.set({
+        projects: [testProject],
+        current_project_path: "/non-existent/path",
+        error: null,
+      })
+      expect(current_project()).toBeNull()
+    })
+
+    it("should return the correct project when it exists", () => {
+      projects.set({
+        projects: [testProject],
+        current_project_path: "/test/path",
+        error: null,
+      })
+      expect(current_project()).toEqual(testProject)
+    })
+  })
+})
diff --git a/app/web_ui/src/lib/stores.ts b/app/web_ui/src/lib/stores.ts
index 81e1cc4..61dd347 100644
--- a/app/web_ui/src/lib/stores.ts
+++ b/app/web_ui/src/lib/stores.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,59 @@
-import { writable } from "svelte/store"
+import { writable, get } from "svelte/store"
+import { post_error_handler, createKilnError } from "./utils/error_handlers"
 
-export const current_project = writable<string | null>(null)
+type ProjectInfo = {
+  name: string
+  description: string
+  path: string
+  created_at: Date
+  created_by: string
+}
+
+type AllProjects = {
+  projects: ProjectInfo[]
+  current_project_path: string | null
+  error: string | null
+}
+
+export const projects = writable<AllProjects | null>(null)
+
+export function current_project(): ProjectInfo | null {
+  const all_projects = get(projects)
+
+  if (!all_projects) {
+    return null
+  }
+  const current_project_path = all_projects.current_project_path
+  if (!current_project_path) {
+    return null
+  }
+  const project = all_projects.projects.find(
+    (project) => project.path === current_project_path,
+  )
+  if (!project) {
+    return null
+  }
+  return project
+}
+
+export async function load_projects() {
+  try {
+    const response = await fetch("http://localhost:8757/api/projects")
+    const data = await response.json()
+    post_error_handler(response, data)
+
+    const all_projects: AllProjects = {
+      projects: data.projects,
+      current_project_path: data.current_project_path,
+      error: null,
+    }
+    projects.set(all_projects)
+  } catch (error: unknown) {
+    const all_projects: AllProjects = {
+      projects: [],
+      current_project_path: null,
+      error: "Issue loading projects. " + createKilnError(error).getMessage(),
+    }
+    projects.set(all_projects)
+  }
+}
diff --git a/app/web_ui/src/lib/utils/json_schema_editor/json_schema_form_element.svelte b/app/web_ui/src/lib/utils/json_schema_editor/json_schema_form_element.svelte
index b6ac624..e8e9d3f 100644
--- a/app/web_ui/src/lib/utils/json_schema_editor/json_schema_form_element.svelte
+++ b/app/web_ui/src/lib/utils/json_schema_editor/json_schema_form_element.svelte
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@
     })
     // Trigger reactivity
     schema_model = schema_model
-    console.log(schema_model)
     // Scroll new item into view. Async to allow rendering first
     setTimeout(() => {
       const property = document.getElementById(
diff --git a/app/web_ui/src/routes/(app)/+layout.svelte b/app/web_ui/src/routes/(app)/+layout.svelte
index 54764e1..1a28e63 100644
--- a/app/web_ui/src/routes/(app)/+layout.svelte
+++ b/app/web_ui/src/routes/(app)/+layout.svelte
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 <script>
   import "../../app.css"
-  import { current_project } from "$lib/stores"
 </script>
 
 <div class="drawer lg:drawer-open">
@@ -55,7 +54,6 @@
       </li>
       <li><a href="/?1">Sidebar Item 1</a></li>
       <li><a href="/?2">Sidebar Item 2</a></li>
-      <li>{$current_project}</li>
     </ul>
   </div>
 </div>
diff --git a/app/web_ui/src/routes/(fullscreen)/setup/(setup)/create_project/edit_project.svelte b/app/web_ui/src/routes/(fullscreen)/setup/(setup)/create_project/edit_project.svelte
index 4c1bb18..a46848e 100644
--- a/app/web_ui/src/routes/(fullscreen)/setup/(setup)/create_project/edit_project.svelte
+++ b/app/web_ui/src/routes/(fullscreen)/setup/(setup)/create_project/edit_project.svelte
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 <script lang="ts">
   import { goto } from "$app/navigation"
-  import { current_project } from "$lib/stores"
+  import { load_projects } from "$lib/stores"
   import FormContainer from "$lib/utils/form_container.svelte"
   import FormElement from "$lib/utils/form_element.svelte"
   import {
@@ -36,14 +36,9 @@
       })
       const data = await response.json()
       post_error_handler(response, data)
-      if (data["path"]) {
-        current_project.set(data["path"])
-      } else {
-        throw new KilnError(
-          "Project created, but failed to return location.",
-          null,
-        )
-      }
+
+      // now reload the projects, which should fetch the new project as current_project
+      await load_projects()
       error = null
       if (redirect_on_created) {
         goto(redirect_on_created)
diff --git a/app/web_ui/src/routes/(fullscreen)/setup/(setup)/create_task/edit_task.svelte b/app/web_ui/src/routes/(fullscreen)/setup/(setup)/create_task/edit_task.svelte
index 0419e5d..46cf02a 100644
--- a/app/web_ui/src/routes/(fullscreen)/setup/(setup)/create_task/edit_task.svelte
+++ b/app/web_ui/src/routes/(fullscreen)/setup/(setup)/create_task/edit_task.svelte
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@
 
   async function create_task() {
     try {
-      if (!$current_project) {
+      if (!current_project()) {
         error = new KilnError(
           "You must create a project before creating a task",
           null,
@@ -62,7 +62,11 @@
           schema_from_model(task_output_schema),
         )
       }
-      const encodedProjectPath = encodeURIComponent($current_project)
+      const project_path = current_project()?.path
+      if (!project_path) {
+        throw new KilnError("Current project not found", null)
+      }
+      const encodedProjectPath = encodeURIComponent(project_path)
       const response = await fetch(
         `http://localhost:8757/api/task?project_path=${encodedProjectPath}`,
         {
diff --git a/app/web_ui/src/routes/+layout.svelte b/app/web_ui/src/routes/+layout.svelte
index 821da8d..ae03752 100644
--- a/app/web_ui/src/routes/+layout.svelte
+++ b/app/web_ui/src/routes/+layout.svelte
@@ -5,32 +5,56 @@
   import { slide } from "svelte/transition"
   import { onMount } from "svelte"
   import { goto } from "$app/navigation"
-  import { current_project } from "$lib/stores"
+  import { current_project, load_projects, projects } from "$lib/stores"
+  import { get } from "svelte/store"
+  import { KilnError } from "$lib/utils/error_handlers"
+  import { createKilnError } from "$lib/utils/error_handlers"
+  let loading = true
+  let load_error: string | null = null
 
   const check_needs_setup = async () => {
     try {
-      let res = await fetch("http://localhost:8757/api/settings")
-      let data = await res.json()
-      let projects = data["projects"]
-      let current_project_path = data["current_project"]
-
-      if (!projects || projects.length === 0) {
+      await load_projects()
+      const all_projects = get(projects)
+      if (all_projects?.error) {
+        throw new KilnError(all_projects.error, null)
+      }
+      if (!current_project()) {
         goto("/setup")
-      } else {
-        // Set the current_project to the current project, or first project
-        current_project.set(current_project_path || projects[0])
       }
-    } catch (e) {
-      console.error("check_needs_setup error", e)
+    } catch (e: unknown) {
+      load_error = createKilnError(e).getMessage()
+    } finally {
+      loading = false
     }
   }
 
   onMount(() => {
-    // Check if we need setup (async okay)
     check_needs_setup()
   })
 </script>
 
+{#if loading || load_error}
+  <div
+    class="fixed w-full top-0 right-0 left-0 bottom-0 bg-base-200 z-[1000] flex place-items-center place-content-center"
+  >
+    {#if load_error}
+      <span class="text-center flex flex-col gap-4">
+        <h1 class="text-2xl font-bold">Error loading projects</h1>
+        <p class="text-error">{load_error}</p>
+        <button
+          class="btn btn-primary btn-sm"
+          on:click={() => window.location.reload()}
+        >
+          Retry
+        </button>
+      </span>
+    {:else}
+      <span class="loading loading-spinner loading-lg"></span>
+    {/if}
+  </div>
+{/if}
+
 {#if $navigating}
   <!--
     Loading animation for next page since svelte doesn't show any indicator.
diff --git a/libs/studio/kiln_studio/project_management.py b/libs/studio/kiln_studio/project_management.py
index f49cf5a..91a89df 100644
--- a/libs/studio/kiln_studio/project_management.py
+++ b/libs/studio/kiln_studio/project_management.py
@@ -40,3 +40,34 @@ async def create_project(project: Project):
         returnProject = project.model_dump()
         returnProject["path"] = project.path
         return returnProject
+
+    @app.get("/api/projects")
+    async def get_projects():
+        project_paths = Config.shared().projects
+        projects = []
+        for project_path in project_paths:
+            try:
+                project = Project.load_from_file(project_path)
+                json_project = project.model_dump()
+                path = str(project.path)
+                if path is None:
+                    raise ValueError("Project path is None")
+                json_project["path"] = path
+                projects.append(json_project)
+            except Exception as e:
+                print(f"Error loading project, skipping: {project_path}: {e}")
+
+        current_project_path = None
+        if Config.shared().current_project is not None:
+            current_project_path = str(Config.shared().current_project)
+
+        # Check if the current project path is in the list of projects
+        if not current_project_path or current_project_path not in [
+            project["path"] for project in projects
+        ]:
+            current_project_path = projects[0]["path"] if len(projects) > 0 else None
+
+        return {
+            "projects": projects,
+            "current_project_path": current_project_path,
+        }
diff --git a/libs/studio/kiln_studio/test_project_management.py b/libs/studio/kiln_studio/test_project_management.py
index 17f56a1..0fe2f39 100644
--- a/libs/studio/kiln_studio/test_project_management.py
+++ b/libs/studio/kiln_studio/test_project_management.py
@@ -126,3 +126,108 @@ def test_create_and_load_project(client):
             # Verify the project is in the list of projects
             assert project_file in Config.shared().projects
             assert Config.shared().current_project == project_file
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def mock_projects():
+    return [
+        Project(
+            name="Project 1", description="Description 1", path="/path/to/project1.json"
+        ),
+        Project(
+            name="Project 2", description="Description 2", path="/path/to/project2.json"
+        ),
+    ]
+
+
+def test_get_projects_empty(client):
+    with patch.object(Config, "shared") as mock_config:
+        mock_config.return_value.projects = []
+        response = client.get("/api/projects")
+
+    assert response.status_code == 200
+    assert response.json() == {"projects": [], "current_project_path": None}
+
+
+def test_get_projects_success(client, mock_projects):
+    with patch.object(Config, "shared") as mock_config, patch(
+        "libs.core.kiln_ai.datamodel.Project.load_from_file"
+    ) as mock_load:
+        mock_config.return_value.projects = [p.path for p in mock_projects]
+        mock_load.side_effect = mock_projects
+
+        response = client.get("/api/projects")
+
+    assert response.status_code == 200
+    result = response.json()
+    assert "projects" in result
+    assert len(result["projects"]) == 2
+
+    for i, project in enumerate(result["projects"]):
+        assert project["name"] == f"Project {i+1}"
+        assert project["description"] == f"Description {i+1}"
+        assert project["path"] == str(mock_projects[i].path)
+
+
+def test_get_projects_file_not_found(client, mock_projects):
+    with patch.object(Config, "shared") as mock_config, patch(
+        "libs.core.kiln_ai.datamodel.Project.load_from_file"
+    ) as mock_load:
+        mock_config.return_value.projects = [p.path for p in mock_projects]
+        mock_load.side_effect = [mock_projects[0], FileNotFoundError]
+
+        response = client.get("/api/projects")
+
+    assert response.status_code == 200
+    result = response.json()
+    assert "projects" in result
+    assert len(result["projects"]) == 1
+    assert result["projects"][0]["name"] == "Project 1"
+
+
+def test_get_projects_with_current_project(client, mock_projects):
+    with patch.object(Config, "shared") as mock_config, patch(
+        "libs.core.kiln_ai.datamodel.Project.load_from_file"
+    ) as mock_load:
+        mock_config.return_value.projects = [p.path for p in mock_projects]
+        mock_config.return_value.current_project = mock_projects[1].path
+        mock_load.side_effect = mock_projects
+
+        response = client.get("/api/projects")
+
+    assert response.status_code == 200
+    result = response.json()
+    assert "projects" in result
+    assert len(result["projects"]) == 2
+    assert "current_project_path" in result
+    assert result["current_project_path"] == str(mock_projects[1].path)
+
+
+def test_get_projects_with_invalid_current_project(client, mock_projects):
+    with patch.object(Config, "shared") as mock_config, patch(
+        "libs.core.kiln_ai.datamodel.Project.load_from_file"
+    ) as mock_load:
+        mock_config.return_value.projects = [p.path for p in mock_projects]
+        mock_config.return_value.current_project = "/invalid/path"
+        mock_load.side_effect = mock_projects
+
+        response = client.get("/api/projects")
+
+    assert response.status_code == 200
+    result = response.json()
+    assert "projects" in result
+    assert len(result["projects"]) == 2
+    assert "current_project_path" in result
+    assert result["current_project_path"] == str(mock_projects[0].path)
+
+
+def test_get_projects_with_no_projects(client):
+    with patch.object(Config, "shared") as mock_config:
+        mock_config.return_value.projects = []
+        mock_config.return_value.current_project = None
+
+        response = client.get("/api/projects")
+
+    assert response.status_code == 200
+    result = response.json()
+    assert result["projects"] == []