diff --git a/TODO.md b/TODO.md
index e8dd4f6..90614f5 100644
--- a/TODO.md
+++ b/TODO.md
@@ -22,6 +22,16 @@ the tag exists and is exercised; what is left is merging `next` to
 
 # Completed Steps
 
+- 2026-10-07: Made two messages say only what is true
+  ([issue #240](https://git.eeqj.de/sneak/vaultik/issues/240)). A config
+  file that others can read was warned about as containing S3
+  credentials even when it set none, as a `file://` config does. The
+  warning now names the credentials only when `s3.access_key_id` or
+  `s3.secret_access_key` is set, and otherwise says the file is readable
+  by others. `snapshot purge` against a destination store it could not
+  list gave an error with `listing remote snapshots:` in it twice; the
+  prefix now appears once.
+
 - 2026-10-07: Made per-name retention work when the hostname contains `_`
   ([issue #230](https://git.eeqj.de/sneak/vaultik/issues/230)). A
   snapshot ID is `hostname_name_timestamp`, and the name was read as
diff --git a/internal/config/config.go b/internal/config/config.go
index 1448a32..c5b3d7b 100644
--- a/internal/config/config.go
+++ b/internal/config/config.go
@@ -304,7 +304,7 @@ func Load(path string) (*Config, error) {
 	if statErr == nil {
 		mode := info.Mode().Perm()
 		if mode&0044 != 0 { // group or world readable
-			log.Warn("Config file has insecure permissions (contains S3 credentials)",
+			log.Warn(cfg.readableByOthersWarning(),
 				"path", path,
 				"mode", fmt.Sprintf("%04o", mode),
 				"recommendation", "chmod 600 "+path)
@@ -411,6 +411,16 @@ func (c *Config) setAgeSecretKey() {
 	}
 }
 
+// readableByOthersWarning is the warning Load logs when others can read
+// the config file. It names the S3 credentials only when they are set.
+func (c *Config) readableByOthersWarning() string {
+	if c.S3.AccessKeyID != "" || c.S3.SecretAccessKey != "" {
+		return "Config file contains S3 credentials and is readable by others"
+	}
+
+	return "Config file is readable by others"
+}
+
 // validateStorage validates storage configuration.
 // If StorageURL is set, it takes precedence. S3 URLs require credentials.
 // File URLs don't require any S3 configuration.
diff --git a/internal/config/config_test.go b/internal/config/config_test.go
index 52b46ad..bac5b90 100644
--- a/internal/config/config_test.go
+++ b/internal/config/config_test.go
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 
 	"sneak.berlin/go/vaultik/internal/chunker"
+	"sneak.berlin/go/vaultik/internal/log"
 )
 
 const (
@@ -343,3 +344,102 @@ func TestAgeSecretKeySourceName(t *testing.T) {
 		})
 	}
 }
+
+// loadReadableConfig writes configYAML to a file that others can read,
+// loads it, and returns what the logger wrote to stderr meanwhile. The
+// logger writes to the os.Stderr it finds when it is initialized, so
+// os.Stderr is pointed at a file first. Not parallel-safe: os.Stderr and
+// the logger are process-global.
+func loadReadableConfig(t *testing.T, configYAML string) string {
+	t.Helper()
+
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	configPath := filepath.Join(dir, "config.yml")
+	stderrPath := filepath.Join(dir, "stderr")
+
+	err := os.WriteFile(configPath, []byte(configYAML), 0o600)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("writing config: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	//nolint:gosec // G302: the test needs a config file others can read
+	err = os.Chmod(configPath, 0o644)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("chmod config: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	stderrFile, err := os.Create(stderrPath) //nolint:gosec // G304: test temp path
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("creating stderr file: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	previous := os.Stderr
+	os.Stderr = stderrFile
+
+	log.Initialize(log.Config{})
+
+	_, loadErr := Load(configPath)
+
+	os.Stderr = previous
+
+	log.Initialize(log.Config{})
+
+	_ = stderrFile.Close()
+
+	if loadErr != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Load() error = %v", loadErr)
+	}
+
+	captured, err := os.ReadFile(stderrPath) //nolint:gosec // G304: test temp path
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("reading stderr file: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	return string(captured)
+}
+
+// TestLoadWarnsReadableConfigWithoutS3Credentials checks that a config
+// file others can read, holding no S3 credentials, is warned about
+// without a claim that it holds them.
+//
+//nolint:paralleltest // loadReadableConfig replaces os.Stderr
+func TestLoadWarnsReadableConfigWithoutS3Credentials(t *testing.T) {
+	stderr := loadReadableConfig(t, `
+storage_url: file:///var/backups/vaultik
+snapshots:
+  home:
+    paths:
+      - /home
+`)
+
+	if !strings.Contains(stderr, "Config file is readable by others") {
+		t.Errorf("expected a warning that the file is readable by others, got %q",
+			stderr)
+	}
+
+	if strings.Contains(stderr, "S3 credentials") {
+		t.Errorf("warning names S3 credentials the file does not set: %q", stderr)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestLoadWarnsReadableConfigWithS3Credentials checks that a config file
+// others can read is warned about as holding the S3 credentials it sets.
+//
+//nolint:paralleltest // loadReadableConfig replaces os.Stderr
+func TestLoadWarnsReadableConfigWithS3Credentials(t *testing.T) {
+	stderr := loadReadableConfig(t, `
+storage_url: s3://bucket/prefix?endpoint=s3.example.com
+s3:
+  access_key_id: test-access-key
+  secret_access_key: test-secret-key
+snapshots:
+  home:
+    paths:
+      - /home
+`)
+
+	if !strings.Contains(stderr,
+		"Config file contains S3 credentials and is readable by others") {
+		t.Errorf("expected a warning naming the S3 credentials, got %q", stderr)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/internal/vaultik/missing_destination_test.go b/internal/vaultik/missing_destination_test.go
index 3869bc7..cc3affa 100644
--- a/internal/vaultik/missing_destination_test.go
+++ b/internal/vaultik/missing_destination_test.go
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import (
 	"io/fs"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/spf13/afero"
@@ -153,3 +154,23 @@ func TestPruneKeepsLocalRecordsWhenDestinationMissing(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	assert.Len(t, snapshots, 1, "prune must delete no local snapshot record")
 }
+
+// TestPurgeSaysListingFailedOnceWhenDestinationMissing checks that
+// snapshot purge fails on a destination it cannot list, with an error
+// that says "listing remote snapshots" once.
+//
+//nolint:paralleltest // installs the global logger via log.Initialize
+func TestPurgeSaysListingFailedOnceWhenDestinationMissing(t *testing.T) {
+	log.Initialize(log.Config{})
+
+	ctx := context.Background()
+	v, _, _ := backUpThenUnplug(ctx, t)
+
+	err := v.PurgeSnapshotsWithOptions(&vaultik.SnapshotPurgeOptions{
+		KeepLatest: true,
+		Force:      true,
+	})
+	require.ErrorIs(t, err, fs.ErrNotExist)
+	assert.Equal(t, 1, strings.Count(err.Error(), "listing remote snapshots"),
+		err.Error())
+}
diff --git a/internal/vaultik/snapshot.go b/internal/vaultik/snapshot.go
index 2707516..43ab3e1 100644
--- a/internal/vaultik/snapshot.go
+++ b/internal/vaultik/snapshot.go
@@ -1052,7 +1052,7 @@ func (v *Vaultik) syncWithRemote() error {
 	// every local snapshot record (issue #160).
 	remoteKeys, err := v.listAllRemoteSnapshotKeys()
 	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("listing remote snapshots: %w", err)
+		return err
 	}
 
 	remoteKeySet := make(map[string]bool, len(remoteKeys))