diff --git a/apps/web/src/dashboard/query-builder.js b/apps/web/src/dashboard/query-builder.js
index 3b8705d..6972555 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/dashboard/query-builder.js
+++ b/apps/web/src/dashboard/query-builder.js
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ class QueryBuilder {
     this.onChange = onChange;
     this.logic = '$and';
     this.consider = 'up'; // 'up' | 'down'
-    this.rules = [this._emptyRule()];
+    this.rules = this._defaultRules();
     this.render();
   }
 
@@ -28,6 +28,16 @@ class QueryBuilder {
     return { field: 'status', operator: '$eq', value: '', headerName: '', selectorValue: '', jsonPath: '' };
   }
 
+  // The runtime default when no query is set: status is 2xx. Pre-populate the
+  // builder with this so users see what "default" actually means and can edit
+  // it instead of guessing.
+  _defaultRules() {
+    return [
+      { field: 'status', operator: '$gte', value: '200', headerName: '', selectorValue: '', jsonPath: '' },
+      { field: 'status', operator: '$lt',  value: '300', headerName: '', selectorValue: '', jsonPath: '' },
+    ];
+  }
+
   getQuery() {
     const conditions = this.rules
       .map(r => this._ruleToQuery(r))
@@ -83,7 +93,7 @@ class QueryBuilder {
 
   setQuery(query) {
     if (!query || typeof query !== 'object') {
-      this.rules = [this._emptyRule()];
+      this.rules = this._defaultRules();
       this.logic = '$and';
       this.consider = 'up';
       this.render();
diff --git a/apps/web/src/views/partials/monitor-form.ejs b/apps/web/src/views/partials/monitor-form.ejs
index 0a5d206..6429937 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/views/partials/monitor-form.ejs
+++ b/apps/web/src/views/partials/monitor-form.ejs
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@
 
   <div>
     <label class="block text-sm text-gray-400 mb-1.5"><%= isEdit ? 'Conditions' : 'Query Conditions' %> <span class="text-gray-600">(optional)</span></label>
-    <p class="text-xs text-gray-600 mb-3">Define <% if (isEdit) { %>up/down conditions<% } else { %>when this monitor should be considered "up"<% } %>. Defaults to status &lt; 400.</p>
+    <p class="text-xs text-gray-600 mb-3">Define <% if (isEdit) { %>up/down conditions<% } else { %>when this monitor should be considered "up"<% } %>. Defaults to a 2xx status (shown below — edit to customise).</p>
     <div id="<%= prefix %>query-builder"></div>
   </div>