diff --git a/workspaces/orchestrator/.changeset/active-textinput-missing-selector.md b/workspaces/orchestrator/.changeset/active-textinput-missing-selector.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..cba63efe43
--- /dev/null
+++ b/workspaces/orchestrator/.changeset/active-textinput-missing-selector.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+'@red-hat-developer-hub/backstage-plugin-orchestrator-form-widgets': patch
+---
+
+Make fetch-driven form widgets resilient to invalid or partial JSONata and dynamic selector input so the UI no longer crashes while users edit fields.
diff --git a/workspaces/orchestrator/plugins/orchestrator-form-widgets/src/utils/applySelector.test.ts b/workspaces/orchestrator/plugins/orchestrator-form-widgets/src/utils/applySelector.test.ts
index acca77ec0d..1866b8bb34 100644
--- a/workspaces/orchestrator/plugins/orchestrator-form-widgets/src/utils/applySelector.test.ts
+++ b/workspaces/orchestrator/plugins/orchestrator-form-widgets/src/utils/applySelector.test.ts
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
  * limitations under the License.
  */
 
-import { applySelectorArray } from './applySelector';
+import { applySelectorArray, applySelectorString } from './applySelector';
 import { JsonObject } from '@backstage/types';
 
 describe('applySelectorArray', () => {
@@ -258,6 +258,79 @@ describe('applySelectorArray', () => {
   });
 });
 
+describe('applySelectorString', () => {
+  const data: JsonObject = { status: 'UP', nested: { name: 'x' } };
+
+  it('returns string when selector evaluates to a string', async () => {
+    await expect(applySelectorString(data, 'status')).resolves.toBe('UP');
+  });
+
+  it('throws when selector is missing and emptyStringWhenMissing is false', async () => {
+    await expect(applySelectorString(data, 'doesNotExist')).rejects.toThrow(
+      'Unexpected result of "doesNotExist" selector, expected string type',
+    );
+  });
+
+  it('returns empty string when selector is missing and emptyStringWhenMissing is true', async () => {
+    await expect(applySelectorString(data, 'doesNotExist', true)).resolves.toBe(
+      '',
+    );
+  });
+
+  it('returns empty string when JSONata yields null and emptyStringWhenMissing is true', async () => {
+    const withNull: JsonObject = { absent: null };
+    await expect(applySelectorString(withNull, 'absent', true)).resolves.toBe(
+      '',
+    );
+  });
+
+  it('returns empty string when JSONata yields a number and emptyStringWhenMissing is true', async () => {
+    const withNum: JsonObject = { n: 42 };
+    await expect(applySelectorString(withNum, 'n', true)).resolves.toBe('');
+  });
+
+  it('returns empty string for invalid JSONata syntax when emptyStringWhenMissing is true', async () => {
+    await expect(
+      applySelectorString({} as JsonObject, '.', true),
+    ).resolves.toBe('');
+    await expect(
+      applySelectorString({} as JsonObject, '/', true),
+    ).resolves.toBe('');
+  });
+
+  it('throws a clear error for invalid JSONata syntax when strict', async () => {
+    await expect(applySelectorString({} as JsonObject, '.')).rejects.toThrow(
+      'Invalid JSONata',
+    );
+  });
+});
+
+describe('applySelectorArray invalid JSONata', () => {
+  const data: JsonObject = { args: { tag: ['a'] } };
+
+  it('returns empty array for invalid syntax when emptyArrayIfNeeded is true', async () => {
+    await expect(
+      applySelectorArray(data, '.', true, true),
+    ).resolves.toStrictEqual([]);
+    await expect(
+      applySelectorArray(data, '/', true, true),
+    ).resolves.toStrictEqual([]);
+  });
+
+  it('throws for invalid syntax when not lenient', async () => {
+    await expect(applySelectorArray(data, '.')).rejects.toThrow(
+      'Invalid JSONata',
+    );
+  });
+
+  it('returns empty array when JSONata yields a number and emptyArrayIfNeeded is true', async () => {
+    const withNum: JsonObject = { n: 7 };
+    await expect(
+      applySelectorArray(withNum, 'n', true, true),
+    ).resolves.toStrictEqual([]);
+  });
+});
+
 describe('applySelectorArray - complex queries', () => {
   it('handles complex queries', async () => {
     const data = [
diff --git a/workspaces/orchestrator/plugins/orchestrator-form-widgets/src/utils/applySelector.ts b/workspaces/orchestrator/plugins/orchestrator-form-widgets/src/utils/applySelector.ts
index dcff1d0c3a..b6769cb224 100644
--- a/workspaces/orchestrator/plugins/orchestrator-form-widgets/src/utils/applySelector.ts
+++ b/workspaces/orchestrator/plugins/orchestrator-form-widgets/src/utils/applySelector.ts
@@ -17,14 +17,46 @@ import jsonata from 'jsonata';
 import { JsonArray, JsonObject } from '@backstage/types';
 import { isJsonObject } from '@red-hat-developer-hub/backstage-plugin-orchestrator-common';
 
+const jsonataReason = (reason: unknown): string =>
+  reason instanceof Error ? reason.message : String(reason);
+
+const compileJsonata = (selector: string) => {
+  try {
+    return jsonata(selector);
+  } catch (reason) {
+    throw new Error(
+      `Invalid JSONata selector ${JSON.stringify(selector)}: ${jsonataReason(reason)}`,
+    );
+  }
+};
+
 export const applySelectorArray = async (
   data: JsonObject | JsonArray,
   selector: string,
   createArrayIfNeeded: boolean = false,
   emptyArrayIfNeeded: boolean = false,
 ): Promise<string[]> => {
-  const expression = jsonata(selector);
-  const value = await expression.evaluate(data);
+  let expression;
+  try {
+    expression = compileJsonata(selector);
+  } catch (reason) {
+    if (emptyArrayIfNeeded) {
+      return [];
+    }
+    throw reason;
+  }
+
+  let value;
+  try {
+    value = await expression.evaluate(data);
+  } catch (reason) {
+    if (emptyArrayIfNeeded) {
+      return [];
+    }
+    throw new Error(
+      `JSONata evaluation failed for ${JSON.stringify(selector)}: ${jsonataReason(reason)}`,
+    );
+  }
 
   if (emptyArrayIfNeeded && !value) {
     return [];
@@ -38,6 +70,11 @@ export const applySelectorArray = async (
     return [...value];
   }
 
+  if (emptyArrayIfNeeded) {
+    // Dynamic selectors while typing may yield numbers, objects, or mixed arrays.
+    return [];
+  }
+
   throw new Error(
     `Unexpected result of "${selector}" selector, expected string[] type. Value ${JSON.stringify(value)}`,
   );
@@ -46,14 +83,39 @@ export const applySelectorArray = async (
 export const applySelectorString = async (
   data: JsonObject,
   selector: string,
+  emptyStringWhenMissing: boolean = false,
 ): Promise<string> => {
-  const expression = jsonata(selector);
-  const value = await expression.evaluate(data);
+  let expression;
+  try {
+    expression = compileJsonata(selector);
+  } catch (reason) {
+    if (emptyStringWhenMissing) {
+      return '';
+    }
+    throw reason;
+  }
+
+  let value;
+  try {
+    value = await expression.evaluate(data);
+  } catch (reason) {
+    if (emptyStringWhenMissing) {
+      return '';
+    }
+    throw new Error(
+      `JSONata evaluation failed for ${JSON.stringify(selector)}: ${jsonataReason(reason)}`,
+    );
+  }
 
   if (typeof value === 'string') {
     return value;
   }
 
+  if (emptyStringWhenMissing) {
+    // Missing path, numbers/booleans from literals (e.g. selector "1"), objects, etc.
+    return '';
+  }
+
   throw new Error(
     `Unexpected result of "${selector}" selector, expected string type. Value "${JSON.stringify(value)}"`,
   );
@@ -63,8 +125,15 @@ export const applySelectorObject = async (
   data: JsonObject,
   selector: string,
 ): Promise<JsonObject> => {
-  const expression = jsonata(selector);
-  const value = await expression.evaluate(data);
+  const expression = compileJsonata(selector);
+  let value;
+  try {
+    value = await expression.evaluate(data);
+  } catch (reason) {
+    throw new Error(
+      `JSONata evaluation failed for ${JSON.stringify(selector)}: ${jsonataReason(reason)}`,
+    );
+  }
 
   if (isJsonObject(value)) {
     return value;
diff --git a/workspaces/orchestrator/plugins/orchestrator-form-widgets/src/utils/evaluateTemplate.test.ts b/workspaces/orchestrator/plugins/orchestrator-form-widgets/src/utils/evaluateTemplate.test.ts
index 754e1de0ff..cb5f75d45c 100644
--- a/workspaces/orchestrator/plugins/orchestrator-form-widgets/src/utils/evaluateTemplate.test.ts
+++ b/workspaces/orchestrator/plugins/orchestrator-form-widgets/src/utils/evaluateTemplate.test.ts
@@ -278,4 +278,48 @@ describe('evaluate template', () => {
       }),
     ).resolves.toBe("a in $split(a,b, ',') ? 'update' : 'create'");
   });
+
+  it('evaluateFetchResponseSelectorTemplate stringifies numeric template results for JSONata', async () => {
+    await expect(
+      evaluateFetchResponseSelectorTemplate({
+        unitEvaluator: unitEvaluatorAsInWidgets,
+        key: 'fetch:response:value',
+        formData: { step: { sel: 1 } },
+        template: '$${{current.step.sel}}',
+      }),
+    ).resolves.toBe('1');
+  });
+
+  it('evaluateFetchResponseSelectorTemplate returns empty string for null template expansion', async () => {
+    await expect(
+      evaluateFetchResponseSelectorTemplate({
+        unitEvaluator: async () => null,
+        key: 'fetch:response:value',
+        formData: {},
+        template: '$${{x}}',
+      }),
+    ).resolves.toBe('');
+  });
+
+  it('evaluateFetchResponseSelectorTemplate returns empty string for solo object expansion', async () => {
+    await expect(
+      evaluateFetchResponseSelectorTemplate({
+        unitEvaluator: async () => ({ a: 1 }),
+        key: 'fetch:response:value',
+        formData: {},
+        template: '$${{x}}',
+      }),
+    ).resolves.toBe('');
+  });
+
+  it('evaluateFetchResponseSelectorTemplate returns empty string on malformed template', async () => {
+    await expect(
+      evaluateFetchResponseSelectorTemplate({
+        unitEvaluator: unitEvaluatorAsInWidgets,
+        key: 'fetch:response:value',
+        formData: {},
+        template: '$${{foo',
+      }),
+    ).resolves.toBe('');
+  });
 });
diff --git a/workspaces/orchestrator/plugins/orchestrator-form-widgets/src/utils/evaluateTemplate.ts b/workspaces/orchestrator/plugins/orchestrator-form-widgets/src/utils/evaluateTemplate.ts
index cb897116be..de0c51ecf7 100644
--- a/workspaces/orchestrator/plugins/orchestrator-form-widgets/src/utils/evaluateTemplate.ts
+++ b/workspaces/orchestrator/plugins/orchestrator-form-widgets/src/utils/evaluateTemplate.ts
@@ -133,13 +133,25 @@ export const evaluateTemplateString = async (
 export const evaluateFetchResponseSelectorTemplate = async (
   props: evaluateTemplateStringProps,
 ): Promise<string> => {
-  const evaluated = await evaluateTemplateString(props);
-  if (typeof evaluated !== 'string') {
-    throw new Error(
-      `Template evaluation for "${props.key}" must produce a string (JSONata expression), got ${typeof evaluated}`,
-    );
+  let evaluated: JsonValue;
+  try {
+    evaluated = await evaluateTemplateString(props);
+  } catch {
+    // Malformed `$${{…}}` or evaluator errors while editing should not break fetch widgets.
+    return '';
   }
-  return evaluated;
+  if (typeof evaluated === 'string') {
+    return evaluated;
+  }
+  if (evaluated === undefined || evaluated === null) {
+    return '';
+  }
+  if (typeof evaluated === 'number' || typeof evaluated === 'boolean') {
+    // Form fields may be numeric/boolean while the selector must be JSONata text.
+    return String(evaluated);
+  }
+  // Solo object/array from template expansion is not a usable JSONata selector string.
+  return '';
 };
 
 export const evaluateTemplate = async (
diff --git a/workspaces/orchestrator/plugins/orchestrator-form-widgets/src/utils/useRequestInit.test.ts b/workspaces/orchestrator/plugins/orchestrator-form-widgets/src/utils/useRequestInit.test.ts
index 1d4c4339d7..318d39f903 100644
--- a/workspaces/orchestrator/plugins/orchestrator-form-widgets/src/utils/useRequestInit.test.ts
+++ b/workspaces/orchestrator/plugins/orchestrator-form-widgets/src/utils/useRequestInit.test.ts
@@ -95,4 +95,26 @@ describe('getRequestInit', () => {
       name: 'Zara',
     });
   });
+
+  it('omits fetch:body fields when jsonata: expression is invalid syntax', async () => {
+    const uiProps: JsonObject = {
+      'fetch:method': 'POST',
+      'fetch:body': {
+        ok: 'literal-only',
+        badCompile: 'jsonata:.',
+        badSlash: 'jsonata:/',
+      },
+    };
+    const formData: JsonObject = {};
+
+    const requestInit = await getRequestInit(
+      uiProps,
+      'fetch',
+      unitEvaluator,
+      formData,
+    );
+    expect(JSON.parse(requestInit.body as string)).toEqual({
+      ok: 'literal-only',
+    });
+  });
 });
diff --git a/workspaces/orchestrator/plugins/orchestrator-form-widgets/src/utils/useRequestInit.ts b/workspaces/orchestrator/plugins/orchestrator-form-widgets/src/utils/useRequestInit.ts
index 9eec19df6c..f9cc167554 100644
--- a/workspaces/orchestrator/plugins/orchestrator-form-widgets/src/utils/useRequestInit.ts
+++ b/workspaces/orchestrator/plugins/orchestrator-form-widgets/src/utils/useRequestInit.ts
@@ -53,9 +53,16 @@ const evaluateJsonataInValue = async (
     if (!expression) {
       return value;
     }
-    const compiled = jsonata(expression);
-    const evaluated = await compiled.evaluate(formData);
-    return evaluated === undefined ? UNDEFINED_VALUE : (evaluated as JsonValue);
+    try {
+      const compiled = jsonata(expression);
+      const evaluated = await compiled.evaluate(formData);
+      return evaluated === undefined
+        ? UNDEFINED_VALUE
+        : (evaluated as JsonValue);
+    } catch {
+      // Invalid or failing JSONata (e.g. user-typed fragments) must not break fetch body evaluation.
+      return UNDEFINED_VALUE;
+    }
   }
   if (Array.isArray(value)) {
     const evaluatedArray = await Promise.all(
diff --git a/workspaces/orchestrator/plugins/orchestrator-form-widgets/src/widgets/ActiveTextInput.tsx b/workspaces/orchestrator/plugins/orchestrator-form-widgets/src/widgets/ActiveTextInput.tsx
index cbc7197b0f..04bc568d78 100644
--- a/workspaces/orchestrator/plugins/orchestrator-form-widgets/src/widgets/ActiveTextInput.tsx
+++ b/workspaces/orchestrator/plugins/orchestrator-form-widgets/src/widgets/ActiveTextInput.tsx
@@ -153,6 +153,7 @@ export const ActiveTextInput: Widget<
           const fetchedValue = await applySelectorString(
             data,
             resolvedSelector,
+            true,
           );
 
           if (
diff --git a/workspaces/orchestrator/plugins/orchestrator-form-widgets/src/widgets/SchemaUpdater.tsx b/workspaces/orchestrator/plugins/orchestrator-form-widgets/src/widgets/SchemaUpdater.tsx
index ba5895d366..64f71d1497 100644
--- a/workspaces/orchestrator/plugins/orchestrator-form-widgets/src/widgets/SchemaUpdater.tsx
+++ b/workspaces/orchestrator/plugins/orchestrator-form-widgets/src/widgets/SchemaUpdater.tsx
@@ -95,10 +95,19 @@ export const SchemaUpdater: Widget<
             responseData: data,
             uiProps,
           });
-          typedData = (await applySelectorObject(
-            data,
-            resolvedSelector,
-          )) as unknown as SchemaChunksResponse;
+          if (resolvedSelector.trim()) {
+            try {
+              typedData = (await applySelectorObject(
+                data,
+                resolvedSelector,
+              )) as unknown as SchemaChunksResponse;
+            } catch (reason) {
+              setLocalError(
+                reason instanceof Error ? reason.message : String(reason),
+              );
+              return;
+            }
+          }
         }
 
         // validate received response before updating