diff --git a/src/telemetry/emitter.py b/src/telemetry/emitter.py
index 201d16aa..52b3cf91 100644
--- a/src/telemetry/emitter.py
+++ b/src/telemetry/emitter.py
@@ -172,6 +172,20 @@ class TelemetryEmitter:
         )
         self._running = True
         self._flush_task = asyncio.create_task(self._periodic_flush())
+
+        # Pre-create the dropped-event counter children at 0 so the metric is
+        # visible in Prometheus/Grafana before any drop occurs — a labeled
+        # counter exports nothing until its first observation. Lets us alert on
+        # telemetry drops and tell "no drops" apart from "metric missing".
+        from src.telemetry.prometheus.metrics import prometheus_metrics
+
+        prometheus_metrics.initialize_telemetry_dropped_metrics(
+            reasons=[
+                f"{self.drop_reason_prefix}buffer_full",
+                f"{self.drop_reason_prefix}send_failed",
+            ]
+        )
+
         logger.info("Telemetry emitter started, endpoint: %s", self.endpoint)
 
     async def shutdown(self) -> None:
diff --git a/src/telemetry/prometheus/metrics.py b/src/telemetry/prometheus/metrics.py
index 01d7be4f..76a879ef 100644
--- a/src/telemetry/prometheus/metrics.py
+++ b/src/telemetry/prometheus/metrics.py
@@ -325,6 +325,27 @@ class PrometheusMetrics:
         except Exception as e:
             self._handle_metric_error("record_telemetry_event_dropped", e)
 
+    def initialize_telemetry_dropped_metrics(self, *, reasons: list[str]) -> None:
+        """Pre-create telemetry_events_dropped child series at 0.
+
+        A labeled Prometheus counter exports no time series until its first
+        ``labels(...)`` call, so ``telemetry_events_dropped`` stays invisible in
+        Prometheus/Grafana until an event is actually dropped — you cannot alert
+        on or graph a metric that does not exist yet. Materializing the
+        ``(namespace, reason)`` children at startup keeps the metric present at 0,
+        so a missing series signals a broken scrape rather than "no drops".
+
+        Args:
+            reasons: The reason label values the calling emitter can produce.
+        """
+        for reason in reasons:
+            try:
+                telemetry_events_dropped_counter.labels(reason=reason)
+            except Exception as e:
+                self._handle_metric_error(
+                    "initialize_telemetry_dropped_metrics", e
+                )
+
     def set_telemetry_buffer_size(self, *, size: int) -> None:
         try:
             telemetry_buffer_size_gauge.labels().set(size)