diff --git a/apps/dashboards/graphql/types.py b/apps/dashboards/graphql/types.py
index 0cd2736..2857fbd 100644
--- a/apps/dashboards/graphql/types.py
+++ b/apps/dashboards/graphql/types.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import strawberry
 import strawberry_django
+from asgiref.sync import sync_to_async
 
 from apps.dashboards.models import CapacityAndResource, DashboardPage, ExternalDashboard
 
@@ -37,6 +38,7 @@ class CapacityAndResourceType:
     created_by_id: strawberry.ID
 
     @strawberry.field
+    @sync_to_async
     def dashboards_count(self) -> int:
         return self.dashboards.count()  # type: ignore[reportAttributeAccessIssue]
 
diff --git a/apps/dashboards/serializers.py b/apps/dashboards/serializers.py
index 5a1a838..b80607f 100644
--- a/apps/dashboards/serializers.py
+++ b/apps/dashboards/serializers.py
@@ -36,11 +36,22 @@ class Meta:
 
     @typing.override
     def validate(self, data: dict) -> dict:  # type: ignore[reportIncompatibleMethodOverride]
+        instance = self.instance
+        is_active = data.get("is_active", instance.is_active if instance else True)
+        show_on_home = data.get("show_on_home", instance.show_on_home if instance else False)
+
+        if show_on_home and not is_active:
+            raise serializers.ValidationError(
+                {
+                    "non_field_errors": "A dashboard must be active to be shown on the home page.",
+                },
+            )
+
         # Home dashboard limit validation
-        if data.get("show_on_home"):
+        if show_on_home:
             qs = ExternalDashboard.objects.filter(show_on_home=True)
-            if self.instance:
-                qs = qs.exclude(pk=self.instance.pk)
+            if instance:
+                qs = qs.exclude(pk=instance.pk)
             if qs.count() >= self.HOME_DASHBOARD_LIMIT:
                 raise serializers.ValidationError(
                     {
@@ -51,7 +62,6 @@ def validate(self, data: dict) -> dict:  # type: ignore[reportIncompatibleMethod
                 )
 
         # Capacity & Resource validation
-        instance = self.instance
         capacity_and_resource = data.get(
             "capacity_and_resource",
             getattr(instance, "capacity_and_resource", None),
@@ -66,6 +76,7 @@ def validate(self, data: dict) -> dict:  # type: ignore[reportIncompatibleMethod
                     ),
                 },
             )
+
         return data
 
     @typing.override
diff --git a/apps/dashboards/tests/mutations_test.py b/apps/dashboards/tests/mutations_test.py
index d6d9cd9..cbca88e 100644
--- a/apps/dashboards/tests/mutations_test.py
+++ b/apps/dashboards/tests/mutations_test.py
@@ -171,6 +171,35 @@ def test_update_dashboard_wrong_page_for_capacity(self):
         assert resp["ok"] is False
         assert resp["errors"] is not None
 
+    def test_create_dashboard_show_on_home_requires_active(self):
+        self.force_login(self.staff)
+        content = self.query_check(
+            self.Mutation.CREATE_DASHBOARD,
+            variables={
+                "data": {
+                    "title": "Inactive Home Dashboard",
+                    "url": "https://app.powerbi.com/embed/inactive",
+                    "page": ExternalDashboard.Page.HOME.name,
+                    "showOnHome": True,
+                    "isActive": False,
+                },
+            },
+        )
+        resp = content["data"]["createExternalDashboard"]
+        assert resp["ok"] is False
+        assert resp["errors"] is not None
+
+    def test_update_dashboard_deactivate_while_show_on_home(self):
+        self.force_login(self.staff)
+        dashboard = ExternalDashboardFactory.create(is_active=True, show_on_home=True, created_by=self.staff)
+        content = self.query_check(
+            self.Mutation.UPDATE_DASHBOARD,
+            variables={"id": str(dashboard.pk), "data": {"isActive": False}},
+        )
+        resp = content["data"]["updateExternalDashboard"]
+        assert resp["ok"] is False
+        assert resp["errors"] is not None
+
     def test_viewer_cannot_create(self):
         self.force_login(self.viewer)
         content = self.query_check(