diff --git a/steward/ansible/routes.py b/steward/ansible/routes.py
index 28b36a3..5217b84 100644
--- a/steward/ansible/routes.py
+++ b/steward/ansible/routes.py
@@ -373,7 +373,6 @@ async def schedules():
         {"name": s["name"], "playbooks": src_module.discover_playbooks(s["path"])}
         for s in _get_sources()
     ]
-    all_playbooks = sorted({p for sd in source_data for p in sd["playbooks"]})
 
     rows = []
     editing = None
@@ -386,6 +385,12 @@ async def schedules():
         if editing_id and s.id == editing_id:
             editing = s
 
+    # Default the source dropdown to the first source (or the edited schedule's
+    # source), and pre-render that source's playbooks so the playbook dropdown
+    # starts on a real item rather than a placeholder.
+    sel_source = editing.source_name if editing else (source_data[0]["name"] if source_data else "")
+    sel_playbooks = next((sd["playbooks"] for sd in source_data if sd["name"] == sel_source), [])
+
     # Edit mode: pre-render the selected playbook's declared variables so their
     # saved values show (fresh loads fetch these via HTMX from /playbook-vars).
     edit_variables: list = []
@@ -401,7 +406,7 @@ async def schedules():
     return await render_template(
         "ansible/schedules.html",
         rows=rows, groups=groups, targets=targets,
-        source_data=source_data, all_playbooks=all_playbooks,
+        source_data=source_data, sel_source=sel_source, sel_playbooks=sel_playbooks,
         editing=editing, interval_presets=INTERVAL_PRESETS,
         edit_variables=edit_variables, edit_description=edit_meta["description"],
         edit_category=edit_meta["category"], edit_confirm=edit_meta["confirm"],
diff --git a/steward/templates/ansible/_playbook_options.html b/steward/templates/ansible/_playbook_options.html
index 59a9522..fad228f 100644
--- a/steward/templates/ansible/_playbook_options.html
+++ b/steward/templates/ansible/_playbook_options.html
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 {# <option> list for a playbook <select>, populated when a source is chosen.
-   Returned by /ansible/playbook-options. `selected` pre-selects one (edit). #}
-<option value="">— choose playbook —</option>
+   Returned by /ansible/playbook-options. `selected` pre-selects one; with none
+   given the browser selects the first, so the dropdown never sits on a
+   placeholder. #}
 {% for pb in playbooks %}
 <option value="{{ pb }}" {% if pb == selected %}selected{% endif %}>{{ pb }}</option>
 {% endfor %}
diff --git a/steward/templates/ansible/schedules.html b/steward/templates/ansible/schedules.html
index bc21fe7..bf53e42 100644
--- a/steward/templates/ansible/schedules.html
+++ b/steward/templates/ansible/schedules.html
@@ -89,20 +89,21 @@
         <label>Source</label>
         <select name="source_name" required
                 hx-get="/ansible/playbook-options" hx-trigger="change"
-                hx-target="#sch-playbook" hx-swap="innerHTML" hx-include="this">
-          <option value="">— choose source —</option>
+                hx-target="#sch-playbook" hx-swap="innerHTML" hx-include="this"
+                hx-on::after-settle="htmx.trigger('#sch-playbook','change')">
           {% for sd in source_data %}
-          <option value="{{ sd.name }}" {% if editing and editing.source_name == sd.name %}selected{% endif %}>{{ sd.name }}</option>
+          <option value="{{ sd.name }}" {% if sd.name == sel_source %}selected{% endif %}>{{ sd.name }}</option>
           {% endfor %}
+          {% if not source_data %}<option value="" disabled>No Ansible sources — add one in Settings</option>{% endif %}
         </select>
       </div>
       <div class="form-group" style="margin-bottom:0;">
         <label>Playbook</label>
         <select name="playbook_path" id="sch-playbook" required
-                hx-get="/ansible/playbook-vars?schedule=1" hx-trigger="change"
+                hx-get="/ansible/playbook-vars?schedule=1"
+                hx-trigger="{% if not editing %}load, {% endif %}change"
                 hx-target="#sch-playbook-vars" hx-swap="innerHTML" hx-include="closest form">
-          <option value="">— choose playbook —</option>
-          {% for pb in all_playbooks %}
+          {% for pb in sel_playbooks %}
           <option value="{{ pb }}" {% if editing and editing.playbook_path == pb %}selected{% endif %}>{{ pb }}</option>
           {% endfor %}
         </select>
diff --git a/steward/templates/hosts/detail.html b/steward/templates/hosts/detail.html
index f553834..39f6f3a 100644
--- a/steward/templates/hosts/detail.html
+++ b/steward/templates/hosts/detail.html
@@ -161,9 +161,9 @@
       <div class="form-group">
         <label>Source</label>
         <select name="source_name" required
-                hx-get="/ansible/playbook-options" hx-trigger="change"
-                hx-target="#hp-playbook" hx-swap="innerHTML" hx-include="this">
-          <option value="">— choose source —</option>
+                hx-get="/ansible/playbook-options" hx-trigger="load, change"
+                hx-target="#hp-playbook" hx-swap="innerHTML" hx-include="this"
+                hx-on::after-settle="htmx.trigger('#hp-playbook','change')">
           {% for s in ansible_sources %}<option value="{{ s }}">{{ s }}</option>{% endfor %}
         </select>
       </div>
@@ -172,7 +172,6 @@
         <select name="playbook_path" id="hp-playbook" required
                 hx-get="/ansible/playbook-vars" hx-trigger="change"
                 hx-target="#hp-vars" hx-swap="innerHTML" hx-include="closest form">
-          <option value="">— choose a source first —</option>
         </select>
       </div>
       <div id="hp-vars"></div>