diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 0ce9615..2bca8e9 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -43,8 +43,9 @@ Invoke it as `aura <command> …` (examples below use the plain name).
 
 ## Running & orchestrating a loaded blueprint
 
-These verbs all take the **blueprint file as their first positional argument**
-and drive a family of runs over it. `walkforward`, `mc`, and `generalize` share
+These verbs all take the **blueprint file as their first positional argument**.
+Most drive a family of runs over it; `graph` renders its structure so a mis-wire
+is visible before a run. `walkforward`, `mc`, and `generalize` share
 `sweep`'s generic grammar — the blueprint positional plus `--real` and a
 repeatable `--axis <name>=<csv>` (`generalize` takes `--real <SYM1,SYM2,…>`, at
 least two instruments, with a single value per axis) — see `--help`.
@@ -52,6 +53,7 @@ least two instruments, with a single value per axis) — see `--help`.
 | Command | Purpose |
 |---|---|
 | `aura run <bp.json>` | Run one backtest of a **closed** blueprint and print its report. An open (free-knob) blueprint is refused with a clean error — bind it, or use `sweep`. |
+| `aura graph <bp.json>` | **Render** the blueprint's structure as an interactive HTML DAG so a mis-wire is visible before a run. Omit the file to render the built-in sample; a named-but-unreadable file is a usage error. |
 | `aura sweep <bp.json> --list-axes` | **Discover** the blueprint's open, sweepable knobs. Prints each as `<name>:<kind>`. Run this first to learn the axis names. |
 | `aura sweep <bp.json> --axis <name>=<csv> [--axis …]` | Run a **grid family** over the named axes and persist it. |
 | `aura mc <bp.json> --seeds <n>` | Run a **synthetic Monte-Carlo family** of `n` seeded realizations. Wants a **closed** blueprint (the inverse of sweep). |
diff --git a/crates/aura-cli/src/main.rs b/crates/aura-cli/src/main.rs
index 42ce15e..0a205e6 100644
--- a/crates/aura-cli/src/main.rs
+++ b/crates/aura-cli/src/main.rs
@@ -2685,7 +2685,7 @@ fn dispatch_graph(a: GraphCmd, env: &project::Env) {
                 });
                 print!("{}", render::render_html(&bp));
             }
-            None => {
+            None if a.blueprint.is_none() => {
                 let bp = blueprint_from_json(
                     include_str!("../examples/r_sma_open.json"),
                     &|t| env.resolve(t),
@@ -2693,6 +2693,14 @@ fn dispatch_graph(a: GraphCmd, env: &project::Env) {
                 .expect("the shipped r-sma example reloads into a renderable blueprint");
                 print!("{}", render::render_html(&bp));
             }
+            None => {
+                eprintln!(
+                    "aura: Usage: aura graph [<blueprint.json>] [build|introspect|register]; \
+                     {} is not a readable .json blueprint",
+                    a.blueprint.as_deref().unwrap_or_default()
+                );
+                std::process::exit(2);
+            }
         },
         Some(GraphSub::Build) => graph_construct::build_cmd(env),
         Some(GraphSub::Introspect(i)) => graph_construct::introspect_cmd(i, env),
diff --git a/docs/authoring-guide.md b/docs/authoring-guide.md
index dda5834..9c2605c 100644
--- a/docs/authoring-guide.md
+++ b/docs/authoring-guide.md
@@ -86,7 +86,10 @@ $ aura graph build < smacross.json
  "input_roles":[{"name":"price",...,"source":"F64"}],"output":[...]}}
 ```
 
-Introspection is build-free wherever possible:
+The built blueprint renders visually, too: `aura graph blueprint.json` emits an
+interactive HTML DAG so a mis-wire is visible before any run (`aura graph` with
+no file renders the built-in sample; a named-but-unreadable file is a usage
+error). Introspection is build-free wherever possible:
 
 ```
 $ aura graph introspect --vocabulary        # one node type per line