diff --git a/harnesses/chain-kpis/cmd/script/defillama.go b/harnesses/chain-kpis/cmd/script/defillama.go
index c3ee658a..e221aa9d 100644
--- a/harnesses/chain-kpis/cmd/script/defillama.go
+++ b/harnesses/chain-kpis/cmd/script/defillama.go
@@ -45,7 +45,14 @@ func fetchDefillamaChain(c Chain) {
 	anyOK := false
 
 	if tvl, err := defillamaTvl(c.DefiLlama); err == nil {
-		chainTvlUsd.WithLabelValues(c.Slug).Set(tvl)
+		// Skip zero: DefiLlama serves the whole historical series as
+		// zero for chains where the relay layer holds no DeFi (Polkadot
+		// today), so we would render a "$0" card that reads as broken
+		// rather than as "no data". Card hides when the gauge stays
+		// unpublished. Non-zero values, including small ones, publish.
+		if tvl > 0 {
+			chainTvlUsd.WithLabelValues(c.Slug).Set(tvl)
+		}
 		anyOK = true
 	} else {
 		chainKpisFetchErrors.WithLabelValues(c.Slug, "defillama", classifyError(err.Error())).Inc()
diff --git a/harnesses/chain-kpis/cmd/script/registry.go b/harnesses/chain-kpis/cmd/script/registry.go
index b68a25eb..cb2aca55 100644
--- a/harnesses/chain-kpis/cmd/script/registry.go
+++ b/harnesses/chain-kpis/cmd/script/registry.go
@@ -83,4 +83,12 @@ var Registry = []Chain{
 	// stablecoin (~$1), the wrong asset for a native-token card.
 	{Slug: "fraxtal", DefiLlama: "Fraxtal", Mobula: "", NativeSymbol: "FRXETH"},
 	{Slug: "soneium", DefiLlama: "Soneium", Mobula: "", NativeSymbol: "ETH"},
+	// Polkadot relay chain. DefiLlama tracks the chain name but reports
+	// zero TVL and 500s on the DEX endpoint: relay chain has no DeFi and
+	// parachain DeFi (Acala, Moonbeam, Hydration) lives under those slugs.
+	// Stables endpoint returns real values via Asset Hub USDC/USDT
+	// issuance. DOT native price and mcap flow through Mobula. The zero
+	// TVL guard in defillama.go drops the empty TVL card so only real
+	// cards render.
+	{Slug: "polkadot", DefiLlama: "Polkadot", Mobula: "", NativeSymbol: "DOT"},
 }