diff --git a/pump/combov2/src/main/kotlin/info/nightscout/pump/combov2/activities/ComboV2PairingActivity.kt b/pump/combov2/src/main/kotlin/info/nightscout/pump/combov2/activities/ComboV2PairingActivity.kt
index 61c72a3c95..44daeb1f0f 100644
--- a/pump/combov2/src/main/kotlin/info/nightscout/pump/combov2/activities/ComboV2PairingActivity.kt
+++ b/pump/combov2/src/main/kotlin/info/nightscout/pump/combov2/activities/ComboV2PairingActivity.kt
@@ -35,6 +35,27 @@ class ComboV2PairingActivity : DaggerAppCompatActivity() {
     override fun onCreate(savedInstanceState: Bundle?) {
         super.onCreate(savedInstanceState)
 
+        val binding: Combov2PairingActivityBinding = DataBindingUtil.setContentView(
+            this, R.layout.combov2_pairing_activity)
+
+        // In the NotInitialized state, the PumpManager is unavailable because it cannot
+        // function without Bluetooth permissions. Several of ComboV2Plugin's functions
+        // such as getPairingProgressFlow() depend on PumpManager though. To prevent UI
+        // controls from becoming active without having a PumpManager, show instead a
+        // view on the activity that explains why pairing is currently not possible.
+        if (combov2Plugin.driverStateUIFlow.value == ComboV2Plugin.DriverState.NotInitialized) {
+            aapsLogger.info(LTag.PUMP, "Cannot pair right now; disabling pairing UI controls, showing message instead")
+
+            binding.combov2PairingSectionInitial.visibility = View.GONE
+            binding.combov2PairingSectionCannotPairDriverNotInitialized.visibility = View.VISIBLE
+
+            binding.combov2CannotPairGoBack.setOnClickListener {
+                finish()
+            }
+
+            return
+        }
+
         // Install an activity result caller for when the user presses
         // "deny" or "reject" in the dialog that pops up when Android
         // asks for permission to enable device discovery. In such a
@@ -54,9 +75,6 @@ class ComboV2PairingActivity : DaggerAppCompatActivity() {
             startPairingActivityLauncher.launch(intent)
         }
 
-        val binding: Combov2PairingActivityBinding = DataBindingUtil.setContentView(
-            this, R.layout.combov2_pairing_activity)
-
         binding.combov2PairingFinishedOk.setOnClickListener {
             finish()
         }
@@ -263,20 +281,26 @@ class ComboV2PairingActivity : DaggerAppCompatActivity() {
     }
 
     override fun onDestroy() {
-        // Reset the pairing progress reported to allow for future pairing attempts.
-        // Do this only after pairing was finished or aborted. onDestroy() can be
-        // called in the middle of a pairing process, and we do not want to reset
-        // the progress reporter mid-pairing.
-        when (combov2Plugin.getPairingProgressFlow().value.stage) {
-            BasicProgressStage.Finished,
-            is BasicProgressStage.Aborted -> {
-                aapsLogger.debug(
-                    LTag.PUMP,
-                    "Resetting pairing progress reporter after pairing was finished/aborted"
-                )
-                combov2Plugin.resetPairingProgress()
+        // In the NotInitialized state, getPairingProgressFlow() crashes because there
+        // is no PumpManager present. But in that state, the pairing progress flow needs
+        // no reset because no pairing can happen in that state anyway.
+        if (combov2Plugin.driverStateUIFlow.value != ComboV2Plugin.DriverState.NotInitialized) {
+            // Reset the pairing progress reported to allow for future pairing attempts.
+            // Do this only after pairing was finished or aborted. onDestroy() can be
+            // called in the middle of a pairing process, and we do not want to reset
+            // the progress reporter mid-pairing.
+            when (combov2Plugin.getPairingProgressFlow().value.stage) {
+                BasicProgressStage.Finished,
+                is BasicProgressStage.Aborted -> {
+                    aapsLogger.debug(
+                        LTag.PUMP,
+                        "Resetting pairing progress reporter after pairing was finished/aborted"
+                    )
+                    combov2Plugin.resetPairingProgress()
+                }
+
+                else                          -> Unit
             }
-            else -> Unit
         }
 
         super.onDestroy()
diff --git a/pump/combov2/src/main/res/layout/combov2_pairing_activity.xml b/pump/combov2/src/main/res/layout/combov2_pairing_activity.xml
index 960e9ccb5d..f3c7664f6f 100644
--- a/pump/combov2/src/main/res/layout/combov2_pairing_activity.xml
+++ b/pump/combov2/src/main/res/layout/combov2_pairing_activity.xml
@@ -41,6 +41,43 @@
 
         </androidx.appcompat.widget.LinearLayoutCompat>
 
+        <ScrollView
+            android:id="@+id/combov2_pairing_section_cannot_pair_driver_not_initialized"
+            android:layout_width="match_parent"
+            android:layout_height="wrap_content"
+            android:visibility="gone">
+
+            <LinearLayout
+                android:layout_width="match_parent"
+                android:layout_height="wrap_content"
+                android:orientation="vertical">
+
+                <TextView
+                    android:layout_width="match_parent"
+                    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
+                    android:padding="16dp"
+                    android:singleLine="false"
+                    android:text="@string/combov2_cannot_pair_driver_not_initialized_explanation"
+                    android:textSize="16sp" />
+
+                <LinearLayout
+                    android:layout_width="match_parent"
+                    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
+                    android:gravity="center_horizontal"
+                    android:orientation="horizontal">
+
+                    <Button
+                        android:id="@+id/combov2_cannot_pair_go_back"
+                        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
+                        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
+                        android:text="@string/combov2_go_back" />
+
+                </LinearLayout>
+
+            </LinearLayout>
+
+        </ScrollView>
+
         <ScrollView
             android:id="@+id/combov2_pairing_section_initial"
             android:layout_width="match_parent"
diff --git a/pump/combov2/src/main/res/values/strings.xml b/pump/combov2/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
index 73466f753f..1d7557ae9e 100644
--- a/pump/combov2/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
+++ b/pump/combov2/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
@@ -137,4 +137,6 @@ buttons at the same time to cancel pairing)\n
     <string name="combov2_dst_ended">Daylight savings time (DST) ended</string>
     <string name="combov2_cannot_connect_pump_error_observed">Cannot connect to pump because the pump reported an error. User must handle the error and then either wait 5 minutes or press the Refresh button in the driver tab.</string>
     <string name="combov2_refresh_pump_status_after_error">Refreshing pump status after the pump reported an error</string>
+    <string name="combov2_go_back">Go back</string>
+    <string name="combov2_cannot_pair_driver_not_initialized_explanation">Cannot perform pairing because the driver is not initialized. This typically happens because the necessary Bluetooth permissions have not been granted. Go back, grant the Bluetooth permissions, then try again to pair.</string>
 </resources>