diff --git a/TODO.md b/TODO.md
index baedf40..2910b41 100644
--- a/TODO.md
+++ b/TODO.md
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ trial run of the finished image: https://git.eeqj.de/sneak/dnswatcher/issues/149
 
 # Completed Steps
 
+- 2026-10-02: the startup notification no longer says every notification
+  endpoint works; it says it is a test sent to each of them (closes #230).
 - 2026-10-02: a Mattermost webhook that answers an HTTP error is logged as
   `mattermost notification failed`, not as a Slack failure (closes #227).
 - 2026-10-02: durations in the log are written as text such as `2m0s`, not as a
diff --git a/internal/watcher/watcher.go b/internal/watcher/watcher.go
index 4e006cc..50fe163 100644
--- a/internal/watcher/watcher.go
+++ b/internal/watcher/watcher.go
@@ -1154,8 +1154,9 @@ func (w *Watcher) saveState() {
 
 // maybeSendTestNotification sends a startup status notification
 // after the first full scan completes, if SEND_TEST_NOTIFICATION
-// is enabled. The message is clearly informational ("all ok")
-// and not an error or anomaly alert.
+// is enabled. The message is informational, not an error or anomaly
+// alert. It is written before it reaches any endpoint, so it claims
+// nothing about whether the endpoints work.
 func (w *Watcher) maybeSendTestNotification(ctx context.Context) {
 	if !w.config.SendTestNotification {
 		return
@@ -1167,7 +1168,8 @@ func (w *Watcher) maybeSendTestNotification(ctx context.Context) {
 		"dnswatcher has started and completed its initial scan.\n"+
 			"Monitoring %d domain(s) and %d hostname(s).\n"+
 			"Tracking %d port endpoint(s) and %d TLS certificate(s).\n"+
-			"All notification channels are working.",
+			"This is a test notification, sent to every configured "+
+			"notification endpoint.",
 		len(snap.Domains),
 		len(snap.Hostnames),
 		len(snap.Ports),
diff --git a/internal/watcher/watcher_test.go b/internal/watcher/watcher_test.go
index 45bfd93..46b40cc 100644
--- a/internal/watcher/watcher_test.go
+++ b/internal/watcher/watcher_test.go
@@ -875,18 +875,27 @@ func TestSendTestNotification_ViaRun(t *testing.T) {
 
 	notifications := deps.notifier.getNotifications()
 
+	// No names are configured, so every count is 0.
+	wantMessage := "dnswatcher has started and completed its initial scan.\n" +
+		"Monitoring 0 domain(s) and 0 hostname(s).\n" +
+		"Tracking 0 port endpoint(s) and 0 TLS certificate(s).\n" +
+		"This is a test notification, sent to every configured " +
+		"notification endpoint."
+
 	found := false
 
 	for _, n := range notifications {
 		if n.Priority == "success" &&
-			n.Title == "✅ dnswatcher startup complete" {
+			n.Title == "✅ dnswatcher startup complete" &&
+			n.Message == wantMessage {
 			found = true
 		}
 	}
 
 	if !found {
 		t.Errorf(
-			"expected startup test notification, got: %v",
+			"expected startup test notification with message %q, got: %v",
+			wantMessage,
 			notifications,
 		)
 	}