Make prune and remote nuke fail when a delete fails (closes #290 )

prune, and the prune step of snapshot create --prune, counted a blob it could not delete and still exited 0. It now prints its summary or --json document and then returns an error, which replaces the "Failed to delete N blob(s)" line. remote nuke only warned when a snapshot's metadata could not be deleted, advised vaultik prune, which never removes metadata, and then reported the store empty. It now stops with an error, does not report the store empty, and says to run vaultik remote nuke --force again. A successful nuke no longer advises prune for blobs it deletes itself. The faultstore test double gains an OnDelete hook. Judgement call: a snapshot nuke cannot remove from the local index also fails the run, since its metadata is then left on the store. Model: opus-5-5
2026-10-13 02:04:43 +00:00
40 changed files with 382 additions and 824 deletions
@@ -311,8 +311,6 @@ Repository interfaces:

 ```
 CreateSnapshot(opts)
-    │
-    ├─► markDestination()   // Refuse a destination without the marker, then write it
    │
    ├─► PruneDatabase()   // Critical: avoid dedup errors
    │
@@ -369,8 +367,6 @@ CreateSnapshot(opts)

 ```
 bucket/
-├── vaultik-destination.txt          # Marker written by every backup
-│
 ├── blobs/
 │   └── {hash[0:2]}/
 │       └── {hash[2:4]}/
@@ -382,15 +378,6 @@ bucket/
        └── manifest.json.zst        # Blob list (for pruning/verification)
 ```

-While the local index holds snapshots, a destination without
-`vaultik-destination.txt` is treated as not present
-(`checkDestinationMarker` in `internal/vaultik/destination_marker.go`):
-`snapshot create` refuses to write to it, and listing it fails as for a
-destination that cannot be listed. An unplugged volume's empty mount point
-is therefore never taken for a destination whose snapshots are all gone.
-The `file://` backend never creates its destination directory, so a write
-to a missing one fails.
-
 The `{remote-key}` directory name is a one-way double SHA-256 hash of the human
 snapshot ID, so the human ID (hostname, snapshot name, timestamp) is never
 written to the store as a directory name. See
@@ -24,10 +24,6 @@ grep 'public key' vaultik_backup_private_key.txt
 vaultik config set age_recipients.0 age1YOUR_PUBLIC_KEY_HERE
 vaultik config set storage_url "file:///Volumes/usbstick/mybackup"

-# create the destination directory; vaultik never creates it, so a backup
-# to a volume that is not plugged in fails instead of filling the disk
-mkdir /Volumes/usbstick/mybackup
-
 # macOS only: grant your terminal app Full Disk Access first
 # (System Settings → Privacy & Security → Full Disk Access), otherwise
 # the backup will abort with a permission error on protected directories
@@ -291,10 +287,6 @@ needed.
  snapshot per name; use `--keep-newer-than` for a rolling window.
 * `--keep-newer-than <duration>`: With `--prune`, keep snapshots newer than
  this duration instead of only the latest (e.g. `4w`, `30d`, `6mo`, `1y`)
-* Fails before it writes anything when a `file://` destination directory
-  does not exist, or when the local index holds snapshots and the
-  destination has no `vaultik-destination.txt` (see
-  [remote storage layout](#remote-storage-layout))

 **`snapshot list`**: Show every snapshot known to this host — the union
 of the local index and the backup destination store — with timestamps
@@ -323,10 +315,7 @@ invocation that reconciles them.

 If the destination store cannot be listed (unmounted volume,
 permission denied, network down), the command warns, falls back to the
-local index alone, and still exits zero. It does the same when the
-local index holds snapshots and the destination has no
-`vaultik-destination.txt`, as when a volume mounted at the destination
-is unplugged and leaves its empty mount point behind.
+local index alone, and still exits zero.
 * `--json`: Output in JSON format. Each entry carries `locally_tracked`
  (whether the snapshot is in the local index), `remote_key` (the full
  64-character storage key), and `remote_present` (whether it was seen
@@ -360,17 +349,13 @@ the backup destination store. Blobs are NOT touched — deleting blobs
 requires reading every remaining remote manifest (the destination store
 may hold snapshots this host doesn't know about), which is what
 `vaultik prune` does. On success the command prints the exact `vaultik
-prune` invocation to run as a follow-up. An ID that names no snapshot in
-the local index or on the destination store is an error; with
-`--local-only`, the snapshot must be in the local index. Local row
-cleanup (files, chunks, blobs the snapshot was the last referrer for)
-runs automatically. If the destination store is unreachable, or the
-local index holds snapshots and the destination has no
-`vaultik-destination.txt`, the local-DB removal still completes and a
-warning is emitted; run `vaultik snapshot remove <snapshot-id>` again
-once the store is reachable to remove the snapshot's metadata from it
-(`vaultik prune` does not). To wipe everything on the destination in one
-go, use `vaultik remote nuke --force`.
+prune` invocation to run as a follow-up. Local row cleanup (files,
+chunks, blobs the snapshot was the last referrer for) runs
+automatically. If the destination store is unreachable, the local-DB
+removal still completes and a warning is emitted; run `vaultik snapshot
+remove <snapshot-id>` again once the store is reachable to remove the
+snapshot's metadata from it (`vaultik prune` does not). To wipe everything
+on the destination in one go, use `vaultik remote nuke --force`.
 * `--local-only`: Skip remote cleanup; only touch the local index
 * `--dry-run`: Show what would be deleted without deleting
 * `--force`: Skip confirmation prompt
@@ -397,13 +382,12 @@ manifest on the destination store to compute the still-referenced blob
 set and delete any blob not in that set. Step (3) reads all remote
 manifests — network cost scales with the number of snapshots. `snapshot
 create --prune` runs the same cleanup automatically; this is the
-manual entry point for the same work. If the destination store cannot
-be listed, or the local index holds snapshots and the destination has
-no `vaultik-destination.txt` (an unplugged volume's empty mount point),
-prune fails and deletes nothing. `snapshot purge` does the same.
+manual entry point for the same work. If a blob cannot be deleted, the
+command (and `snapshot create --prune`) exits non-zero.
 * `--force`: Skip confirmation prompt
 * `--json`: Output stats as JSON. Also skips the confirmation prompt, as
-  `--force` does.
+  `--force` does. A blob that cannot be deleted is counted in
+  `blobs_failed`, and the document is printed before the non-zero exit.

 **`info`**: Display system configuration, storage settings, encryption
 recipients, and local database statistics.
@@ -420,10 +404,11 @@ orphaned blob figures are reported as unknown; `--json` gives them as
 snapshot's blob count and blob size unknown, `null` in `--json`.
 * `--json`: Output as JSON

-**`remote nuke`**: Delete every snapshot's metadata, every blob and
-`vaultik-destination.txt` from the backup destination store, leaving the
-bucket prefix empty. Destructive and irreversible. This is the single
-supported way to wipe the entire destination store.
+**`remote nuke`**: Delete every snapshot's metadata and every blob from the
+backup destination store, leaving the bucket prefix empty. Destructive and
+irreversible. This is the single supported way to wipe the entire
+destination store. If anything cannot be deleted, the command exits
+non-zero; running it again deletes what is left.
 * `--force`: Required to confirm destruction.

 **`database delete`**: Delete the local SQLite state database file
@@ -445,10 +430,7 @@ object store. Credentials are read from `s3.access_key_id` and
 `s3.secret_access_key` in the config file.

 **Local filesystem** (`file:///path/to/backup`): Stores blobs and metadata on
-a local or mounted filesystem. Useful for testing or backing up to a NAS. The
-directory must exist before the first backup: vaultik never creates it, so a
-backup to a volume that is not mounted fails instead of writing to the disk
-under its mount point.
+a local or mounted filesystem. Useful for testing or backing up to a NAS.

 **Rclone** (`rclone://remote/path`): Uses rclone's 70+ supported cloud
 providers. Requires rclone to be configured separately (`rclone config`).
@@ -479,7 +461,6 @@ For an implementation-level view of the internals — the data model, the

 ```
 <bucket>/<prefix>/
-├── vaultik-destination.txt     # Marker written by every backup
 ├── blobs/
 │   └── <aa>/<bb>/<full_blob_hash>
 └── metadata/
@@ -488,15 +469,6 @@ For an implementation-level view of the internals — the data model, the
        └── manifest.json.zst   # Unencrypted blob list (for pruning)
 ```

-* `vaultik-destination.txt` holds one fixed line of text, with no host
-  name, path or time. While the local index holds snapshots, a
-  destination without it is treated as not present: `snapshot create`
-  refuses to write to it, `prune` and `snapshot purge` fail, and
-  `snapshot list` and `snapshot remove` warn, as for a destination that
-  cannot be listed. This keeps an unplugged volume's empty mount point
-  from being taken for a destination whose snapshots are all gone. Mount
-  the volume if it is removable; if the destination was emptied on
-  purpose, run `vaultik database delete` and back up again.
 * Blobs are two-level directory sharded using the first 4 hex chars of the blob hash
 * `db.zst.age` is a binary SQLite database (zstd compressed, age encrypted)
  containing all file metadata, chunk mappings, and relationships for the snapshot
@@ -22,28 +22,16 @@ the tag exists and is exercised; what is left is merging `next` to

 # Completed Steps

- 2026-10-13: Stopped an unplugged volume's empty mount point from being
-  taken for an empty destination
-  ([issue #239](https://git.eeqj.de/sneak/vaultik/issues/239)). With
-  `storage_url` at a mount point, `prune` dropped every local snapshot
-  record, and `snapshot create` wrote the whole backup to the disk under
-  it. Every backup now writes `vaultik-destination.txt` at the root of
-  the destination. While the local index holds snapshots, a destination
-  without it is not present: `snapshot create` refuses to write, `prune`
-  and `snapshot purge` fail, and `snapshot list` and `snapshot remove`
-  warn. The `file://` backend no longer creates its destination
-  directory, so a write to a missing one fails; the README quickstart
-  creates it.
-
- 2026-10-13: Made `snapshot remove` fail for a snapshot that does not
-  exist ([issue #293](https://git.eeqj.de/sneak/vaultik/issues/293)).
-  The command never checked the ID: it reported the snapshot removed
-  from the local database and from the destination store and exited 0,
-  under `--json`, `--dry-run` and `--local-only` too. An ID that names
-  no snapshot in the local index or on the destination store is now an
-  error; with `--local-only`, the snapshot must be in the local index.
-  The command now reports a removal from either side only when one
-  happened, and `remote_removed` is true only when metadata was deleted.
+- 2026-10-13: Made `prune` and `remote nuke` exit non-zero when a delete
+  fails ([issue #290](https://git.eeqj.de/sneak/vaultik/issues/290)).
+  `prune`, and the prune step of `snapshot create --prune`, counted a
+  blob it could not delete and still exited 0; it now prints its summary
+  or `--json` document and then fails. `remote nuke` warned about a
+  snapshot's metadata it could not delete, said to run `vaultik prune`,
+  which never removes metadata, and then reported the store empty. It
+  now fails without that report and says to run `vaultik remote nuke
+  --force` again, and a successful nuke no longer advises `prune` for
+  blobs it deletes itself.

 - 2026-10-12: Bound the local index to the destination an `s3.*` config
  names ([issue #298](https://git.eeqj.de/sneak/vaultik/issues/298)).
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ This document describes the structure and organization of data stored in the S3

 ## Overview

-Vaultik stores all backup data in an S3-compatible object store. The repository consists of two main components, plus a marker file:
+Vaultik stores all backup data in an S3-compatible object store. The repository consists of two main components:
 1. **Blobs** - The actual backup data (content-addressed, encrypted)
 2. **Metadata** - Snapshot information and manifests (partially encrypted)

@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@ Vaultik stores all backup data in an S3-compatible object store. The repository

 ```
 <bucket>/<prefix>/
-├── vaultik-destination.txt
 ├── blobs/
 │   └── <hash[0:2]>/
 │       └── <hash[2:4]>/
@@ -25,10 +24,6 @@ Vaultik stores all backup data in an S3-compatible object store. The repository

 The metadata subdirectory is named with the **remote key**, a one-way hash of the snapshot ID, not with the human-readable snapshot ID itself. See [Remote Key Derivation](#remote-key-derivation).

-## Marker File (`vaultik-destination.txt`)
-
-Every backup writes this file at the root before it uploads anything. It holds one fixed line of plain text and names no host, path or time. While the local index holds snapshots, a destination without it is treated as not present: `snapshot create` refuses to write to it, and `prune`, `snapshot purge`, `snapshot remove` and `snapshot list` behave as for a destination that cannot be listed. An unplugged volume leaves an empty directory at its mount point, and without the marker that directory would read as a destination whose snapshots are all gone. `remote nuke` deletes the marker last.
-
 ## Blobs Directory (`blobs/`)

 ### Structure
@@ -98,11 +98,10 @@ func TestEntryPruneJSONStdoutIsExactlyOneDocument(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }

-// writeHermeticPruneConfig builds a config over a temp directory with a
-// destination directory that holds only the marker a backup writes and,
-// if seedStale is set, creates the index database up front with one
-// snapshot record that has no counterpart on the destination store.
-// Returns the config path.
+// writeHermeticPruneConfig builds a config over a temp directory with an
+// empty destination directory and, if seedStale is set, creates the
+// index database up front with one snapshot record that has no
+// counterpart on the destination store. Returns the config path.
 func writeHermeticPruneConfig(t *testing.T, seedStale bool) string {
 	t.Helper()

@@ -119,12 +118,9 @@ func writeHermeticPruneConfig(t *testing.T, seedStale bool) string {
 	require.NoError(t,
 		os.WriteFile(configPath, []byte(contents), configFileMode))

-	// prune fails on a destination directory that does not exist, and on
-	// one without the marker a backup writes while the local index holds
-	// a snapshot, so both are created here as a first backup leaves them.
+	// prune fails on a destination directory that does not exist, so the
+	// empty store is created here rather than left to a first backup.
 	require.NoError(t, os.Mkdir(storeDir, 0o750))
-	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(
-		filepath.Join(storeDir, "vaultik-destination.txt"), nil, 0o600))

 	// The PID lock lives under xdg.DataHome, which xdg resolves at
 	// package init; point it at the temp dir so the test neither
@@ -255,12 +255,8 @@ manifest (the destination store may hold snapshots this host doesn't
 know about), which is what 'vaultik prune' does. On success the command
 prints the exact 'vaultik prune' invocation to run as a follow-up.

-An ID that names no snapshot in the local index or on the destination
-store is an error.
-
 Use --local-only to skip the remote half (e.g. when you want to forget a
-snapshot locally without touching the destination store); the snapshot
-must then be in the local index.
+snapshot locally without touching the destination store).

 If the remote is unreachable, the local-database removal still completes
 and a warning is emitted; run 'vaultik snapshot remove <snapshot-id>' again
@@ -1,15 +1,16 @@
 // Package faultstore provides a storage.Storer wrapper that injects
 // faults on demand, so tests can reproduce the failure modes a real
 // backend exhibits: an upload that fails partway, a backend that reports
-// success while storing nothing, and reads that return corrupt or
-// truncated bytes. It is the seam called for by the fault-injection
-// tests (sneak/vaultik issue 72) and is meant to be reused by future
-// tests rather than re-implemented per case.
+// success while storing nothing, reads that return corrupt or truncated
+// bytes, and a delete the backend refuses. It is the seam called for by
+// the fault-injection tests (sneak/vaultik issue 72) and is meant to be
+// reused by future tests rather than re-implemented per case.
 //
-// The wrapper delegates every method to the inner Storer. Two hooks
-// change that: OnPut decides the fate of each write, and OnGet decides
-// how each read's bytes are returned. Both are keyed by the object key,
-// so a test can fault only blobs, only metadata, or a single object.
+// The wrapper delegates every method to the inner Storer. Three hooks
+// change that: OnPut decides the fate of each write, OnGet decides how
+// each read's bytes are returned, and OnDelete decides whether each
+// delete fails. All are keyed by the object key, so a test can fault
+// only blobs, only metadata, or a single object.
 package faultstore

 import (
@@ -25,6 +26,10 @@ import (
 // ErrInjectedUpload is returned by a Put the OnPut hook chose to fail.
 var ErrInjectedUpload = errors.New("faultstore: injected upload failure")

+// ErrInjectedDelete is returned by a Delete the OnDelete hook chose to
+// fail.
+var ErrInjectedDelete = errors.New("faultstore: injected delete failure")
+
 // PutAction is the disposition OnPut assigns to a write.
 type PutAction int

@@ -66,6 +71,11 @@ type Storer struct {
 	// OnGet, when set, is consulted for every Get with the object key
 	// and damages the returned bytes accordingly.
 	OnGet func(key string) GetFault
+
+	// OnDelete, when set, is consulted before every Delete with the
+	// object key. Returning true fails the delete and leaves the object
+	// in place.
+	OnDelete func(key string) bool
 }

 // New wraps inner. inner must be non-nil.
@@ -154,8 +164,12 @@ func (f *Storer) Stat(ctx context.Context, key string) (*storage.ObjectInfo, err
 	return f.inner.Stat(ctx, key)
 }

-// Delete delegates unchanged.
+// Delete removes the object unless OnDelete fails the delete.
 func (f *Storer) Delete(ctx context.Context, key string) error {
+	if f.OnDelete != nil && f.OnDelete(key) {
+		return fmt.Errorf("%w for %q", ErrInjectedDelete, key)
+	}
+
 	return f.inner.Delete(ctx, key)
 }

@@ -21,10 +21,9 @@ type FileStorer struct {
 // NewFileStorer creates a new filesystem storage backend.
 //
 // Construction is intentionally cheap and does not touch the filesystem.
-// The backend never creates basePath: the user does, so that a write to
-// an unplugged volume fails instead of landing on the disk under its
-// empty mount point. Put and PutWithProgress fail on a missing basePath
-// and create the directories below it as needed.
+// The basePath is recorded; the directory is created lazily on first
+// write. Write operations (Put/PutWithProgress) call MkdirAll for the
+// per-blob parent directory, which also covers basePath on first use.
 // Get and Stat report a key under a missing basePath as ErrNotFound.
 // List and ListStream fail on a missing basePath, because listing it as
 // an empty store would make `prune` drop every local snapshot record.
@@ -298,19 +297,7 @@ func (f *FileStorer) writeAtomic(
 	path := f.fullPath(key)
 	dir := filepath.Dir(path)

-	// Checked on every write, so a destination that disappears part-way
-	// through a backup fails it rather than being recreated by MkdirAll.
-	_, err := f.fs.Stat(f.basePath)
-	if os.IsNotExist(err) {
-		return fmt.Errorf("destination directory does not exist; "+
-			"create it, or mount the volume it is on: %w", err)
-	}
-
-	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("checking destination directory: %w", err)
-	}
-
-	err = f.fs.MkdirAll(dir, storageDirPerm)
+	err := f.fs.MkdirAll(dir, storageDirPerm)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("creating directories: %w", err)
 	}
@@ -4,9 +4,7 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"errors"
 	"io/fs"
-	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
-	"strings"
 	"testing"

 	"sneak.berlin/go/vaultik/internal/storage"
@@ -62,43 +60,3 @@ func TestFileStorerListMissingDestination(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Errorf("ListStream error = %v, want a not-exist error", streamErr)
 	}
 }
-
-// TestFileStorerPutMissingDestination checks that a write fails when the
-// destination directory has gone, even after earlier writes to it
-// succeeded, and that it does not create the directory again.
-func TestFileStorerPutMissingDestination(t *testing.T) {
-	t.Parallel()
-
-	ctx := context.Background()
-	base := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "usbstick")
-
-	err := os.Mkdir(base, 0o750)
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("Mkdir: %v", err)
-	}
-
-	s, err := storage.NewFileStorer(base)
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("NewFileStorer: %v", err)
-	}
-
-	err = s.Put(ctx, "blobs/aa/bb/first", strings.NewReader("first"))
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("first Put: %v", err)
-	}
-
-	err = os.Rename(base, base+"-unplugged")
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("Rename: %v", err)
-	}
-
-	err = s.Put(ctx, "blobs/aa/bb/second", strings.NewReader("second"))
-	if !errors.Is(err, fs.ErrNotExist) {
-		t.Errorf("Put = %v, want a not-exist error", err)
-	}
-
-	_, err = os.Stat(base)
-	if !errors.Is(err, fs.ErrNotExist) {
-		t.Errorf("Put created the destination directory again (Stat = %v)", err)
-	}
-}
@@ -41,8 +41,7 @@ type Info struct {
 // directory for filesystem).
 type Storer interface {
 	// Put stores data at the specified key.
-	// The filesystem backend fails when its destination directory does
-	// not exist, and creates the directories below it as needed.
+	// Parent directories are created automatically for filesystem backends.
 	Put(ctx context.Context, key string, data io.Reader) error

 	// PutWithProgress stores data with progress reporting.
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ func TestBackupAfterRemovingNewestSnapshotRestoresChangedFile(t *testing.T) {
 	fs := afero.NewOsFs()
 	tempDir := t.TempDir()
 	dataDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "src")
-	storeDir := t.TempDir()
+	storeDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "remote")
 	restoreDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "restored")
 	dbPath := filepath.Join(tempDir, "index.sqlite")
 	changedPath := filepath.Join(dataDir, "appended.bin")
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ func TestBackupAfterInterruptedRunRestoresChangedFile(t *testing.T) {
 	fs := afero.NewOsFs()
 	tempDir := t.TempDir()
 	dataDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "src")
-	storeDir := t.TempDir()
+	storeDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "remote")
 	restoreDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "restored")
 	dbPath := filepath.Join(tempDir, "index.sqlite")
 	changedPath := filepath.Join(dataDir, "appended.bin")
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ func TestDeepVerifyAcceptsHealthyAndRejectsCorruptBlob(t *testing.T) {
 	tempDir := t.TempDir()

 	dataDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "source")
-	storeDir := t.TempDir()
+	storeDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "remote")
 	dbPath := filepath.Join(tempDir, "index.sqlite")

 	chunkSize := int64(64 * 1024)
@@ -1,74 +0,0 @@
-package vaultik
-
-import (
-	"errors"
-	"fmt"
-	"strings"
-
-	"sneak.berlin/go/vaultik/internal/storage"
-)
-
-// destinationMarkerKey is the object every backup writes at the root of
-// the backup destination store. While the local index holds a snapshot,
-// a destination without it is treated as not present: an unplugged
-// volume leaves an empty directory at its mount point, which would
-// otherwise read as a store whose snapshots are all gone.
-const destinationMarkerKey = "vaultik-destination.txt"
-
-// destinationMarkerText is the whole content of the marker. It names no
-// host, path or time.
-const destinationMarkerText = "This is a vaultik backup destination store.\n"
-
-// errDestinationNotPresent is returned when the local index holds a
-// snapshot and the backup destination store has no marker.
-var errDestinationNotPresent = errors.New("backup destination store is not present")
-
-// checkDestinationMarker returns errDestinationNotPresent when the local
-// index holds a snapshot and the backup destination store has no marker.
-// With no snapshot in the local index, as on a first backup or on
-// another machine, there is nothing to check.
-func (v *Vaultik) checkDestinationMarker() error {
-	ids, err := v.localSnapshotIDs()
-	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("listing local snapshots: %w", err)
-	}
-
-	if len(ids) == 0 {
-		return nil
-	}
-
-	_, err = v.Storage.Stat(v.ctx, destinationMarkerKey)
-	if errors.Is(err, storage.ErrNotFound) {
-		return fmt.Errorf("%w: %s has no %s, but the local index holds "+
-			"snapshots stored there; mount the volume if it is removable, "+
-			"or if the destination was emptied on purpose, run "+
-			"'vaultik database delete' and back up again",
-			errDestinationNotPresent, v.Storage.Info().Location,
-			destinationMarkerKey)
-	}
-
-	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("checking for %s: %w", destinationMarkerKey, err)
-	}
-
-	return nil
-}
-
-// markDestination checks the backup destination store with
-// checkDestinationMarker and then writes the marker, so a first backup
-// marks its destination and a later one writes the same text again.
-func (v *Vaultik) markDestination() error {
-	err := v.checkDestinationMarker()
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	err = v.Storage.Put(v.ctx, destinationMarkerKey,
-		strings.NewReader(destinationMarkerText))
-	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("writing %s to the backup destination store: %w",
-			destinationMarkerKey, err)
-	}
-
-	return nil
-}
@@ -1,184 +0,0 @@
-package vaultik_test
-
-import (
-	"bytes"
-	"context"
-	"os"
-	"path/filepath"
-	"testing"
-
-	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
-	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
-	"sneak.berlin/go/vaultik/internal/database"
-	"sneak.berlin/go/vaultik/internal/log"
-	"sneak.berlin/go/vaultik/internal/vaultik"
-)
-
-// These tests cover https://git.eeqj.de/sneak/vaultik/issues/239: a
-// file:// destination at a volume's mount point leaves an empty directory
-// behind when the volume is unplugged. While the local index holds
-// snapshots, a destination without vaultik-destination.txt is not present,
-// so no command may write to it or conclude from it that the local
-// snapshots are gone.
-
-// markerFile is the name of the file a backup writes at the root of the
-// destination.
-const markerFile = "vaultik-destination.txt"
-
-// backUpThenUnplugMountPoint backs up to a file:// destination, then
-// moves the destination directory away and leaves an empty directory in
-// its place, as unplugging a volume mounted there would. It returns the
-// path of that empty directory.
-func backUpThenUnplugMountPoint(
-	ctx context.Context, t *testing.T,
-) (*vaultik.Vaultik, *database.Repositories, *bytes.Buffer, string) {
-	t.Helper()
-
-	storeDir := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "mnt")
-	v, repos, out := backUpToFileDestination(ctx, t, storeDir)
-
-	require.NoError(t, os.Rename(storeDir, storeDir+"-unplugged"))
-	require.NoError(t, os.Mkdir(storeDir, 0o750))
-
-	return v, repos, out, storeDir
-}
-
-// assertUntouched checks that the local index still holds its one
-// snapshot and that nothing was written to the empty mount point.
-func assertUntouched(
-	ctx context.Context, t *testing.T,
-	repos *database.Repositories, storeDir string,
-) {
-	t.Helper()
-
-	snapshots, err := repos.Snapshots.ListRecent(ctx, listRecentTestLimit)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	assert.Len(t, snapshots, 1, "no local snapshot record may be deleted")
-
-	entries, err := os.ReadDir(storeDir)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	assert.Empty(t, entries, "nothing may be written to the empty mount point")
-}
-
-// TestFirstBackupWritesMarker checks that a backup writes the marker
-// file at the root of the destination.
-func TestFirstBackupWritesMarker(t *testing.T) {
-	log.Initialize(log.Config{})
-	t.Parallel()
-
-	storeDir := t.TempDir()
-	backUpToFileDestination(context.Background(), t, storeDir)
-
-	assert.FileExists(t, filepath.Join(storeDir, markerFile))
-}
-
-// TestBackupRefusesDestinationWithoutMarker checks that snapshot create
-// --prune writes nothing and drops no local snapshot record when the
-// destination has no marker.
-func TestBackupRefusesDestinationWithoutMarker(t *testing.T) {
-	log.Initialize(log.Config{})
-	t.Parallel()
-
-	ctx := context.Background()
-	v, repos, _, storeDir := backUpThenUnplugMountPoint(ctx, t)
-
-	err := v.CreateSnapshot(&vaultik.SnapshotCreateOptions{
-		Cron:  true,
-		Prune: true,
-	})
-	require.ErrorContains(t, err, markerFile)
-
-	assertUntouched(ctx, t, repos, storeDir)
-}
-
-// TestPruneRefusesDestinationWithoutMarker checks that prune fails and
-// deletes no local snapshot record when the destination has no marker.
-func TestPruneRefusesDestinationWithoutMarker(t *testing.T) {
-	log.Initialize(log.Config{})
-	t.Parallel()
-
-	ctx := context.Background()
-	v, repos, _, storeDir := backUpThenUnplugMountPoint(ctx, t)
-
-	err := v.Prune(&vaultik.PruneOptions{Force: true})
-	require.ErrorContains(t, err, markerFile)
-
-	assertUntouched(ctx, t, repos, storeDir)
-}
-
-// TestPurgeRefusesDestinationWithoutMarker checks that snapshot purge
-// fails and deletes no local snapshot record when the destination has no
-// marker.
-func TestPurgeRefusesDestinationWithoutMarker(t *testing.T) {
-	log.Initialize(log.Config{})
-	t.Parallel()
-
-	ctx := context.Background()
-	v, repos, _, storeDir := backUpThenUnplugMountPoint(ctx, t)
-
-	err := v.PurgeSnapshotsWithOptions(&vaultik.SnapshotPurgeOptions{
-		KeepLatest: true,
-		Force:      true,
-	})
-	require.ErrorContains(t, err, markerFile)
-
-	assertUntouched(ctx, t, repos, storeDir)
-}
-
-// TestRemoveSnapshotWarnsWhenDestinationHasNoMarker checks that snapshot
-// remove warns that the metadata could not be removed from a destination
-// without a marker, instead of reporting that it was.
-func TestRemoveSnapshotWarnsWhenDestinationHasNoMarker(t *testing.T) {
-	log.Initialize(log.Config{})
-	t.Parallel()
-
-	ctx := context.Background()
-	v, repos, out, _ := backUpThenUnplugMountPoint(ctx, t)
-
-	result, err := v.RemoveSnapshot(localSnapshotID(ctx, t, repos, "first"),
-		&vaultik.RemoveOptions{Force: true})
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-
-	assert.False(t, result.RemoteRemoved)
-	assert.Contains(t, out.String(),
-		"Could not remove snapshot metadata from remote")
-	assert.Contains(t, out.String(), markerFile)
-	assert.NotContains(t, out.String(),
-		"Removed snapshot metadata from remote storage")
-}
-
-// TestListSnapshotsWarnsWhenDestinationHasNoMarker checks that snapshot
-// list warns and shows the local index alone when the destination has no
-// marker, without reporting the local snapshot as missing from it.
-func TestListSnapshotsWarnsWhenDestinationHasNoMarker(t *testing.T) {
-	log.Initialize(log.Config{})
-	t.Parallel()
-
-	ctx := context.Background()
-	v, repos, out, _ := backUpThenUnplugMountPoint(ctx, t)
-	id := localSnapshotID(ctx, t, repos, "first")
-
-	require.NoError(t, v.ListSnapshots(false))
-
-	assert.Contains(t, out.String(), "Could not list backup destination store")
-	assert.Contains(t, out.String(), markerFile)
-	assert.Contains(t, out.String(), id)
-	assert.NotContains(t, out.String(), "not found in backup destination store")
-}
-
-// TestBackupAfterNukeRemoteSucceeds checks that remote nuke leaves the
-// destination ready for a new first backup, which writes the marker
-// again.
-func TestBackupAfterNukeRemoteSucceeds(t *testing.T) {
-	log.Initialize(log.Config{})
-	t.Parallel()
-
-	storeDir := t.TempDir()
-	v, _, _ := backUpToFileDestination(context.Background(), t, storeDir)
-
-	require.NoError(t, v.NukeRemote(true))
-	assert.NoFileExists(t, filepath.Join(storeDir, markerFile))
-
-	require.NoError(t, backUp(v, "second"))
-	assert.FileExists(t, filepath.Join(storeDir, markerFile))
-}
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ func assertRestoreRejectsDamagedBlob(
 	fs := afero.NewOsFs()
 	tempDir := t.TempDir()
 	dataDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "src")
-	storeDir := t.TempDir()
+	storeDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "remote")
 	restoreDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "restored")
 	dbPath := filepath.Join(tempDir, "index.sqlite")

@@ -238,7 +238,7 @@ func TestDeepVerifyCatchesLyingBackend(t *testing.T) {
 	fs := afero.NewOsFs()
 	tempDir := t.TempDir()
 	dataDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "src")
-	storeDir := t.TempDir()
+	storeDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "remote")
 	dbPath := filepath.Join(tempDir, "index.sqlite")

 	ctx := context.Background()
@@ -290,7 +290,7 @@ func TestInterruptedBlobUploadRecordsNoUploadedBlob(t *testing.T) {
 	fs := afero.NewOsFs()
 	tempDir := t.TempDir()
 	dataDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "src")
-	storeDir := t.TempDir()
+	storeDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "remote")
 	dbPath := filepath.Join(tempDir, "index.sqlite")

 	ctx := context.Background()
@@ -298,6 +298,10 @@ func TestInterruptedBlobUploadRecordsNoUploadedBlob(t *testing.T) {

 	writeFaultSourceTree(t, fs, dataDir)

+	// No upload succeeds, so nothing creates the destination directory.
+	// It must exist for the listing below to show that no blob survived.
+	require.NoError(t, os.Mkdir(storeDir, 0o750))
+
 	inner, err := storage.NewFileStorer(storeDir)
 	require.NoError(t, err)

@@ -361,7 +365,7 @@ func TestBackupRetryAfterInterruptedUploadIsRestorable(t *testing.T) {
 	fs := afero.NewOsFs()
 	tempDir := t.TempDir()
 	dataDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "src")
-	storeDir := t.TempDir()
+	storeDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "remote")
 	restoreDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "restored")
 	dbPath := filepath.Join(tempDir, "index.sqlite")

@@ -425,7 +429,7 @@ func TestBackupSurvivesMetadataExportInterruption(t *testing.T) {
 	fs := afero.NewOsFs()
 	tempDir := t.TempDir()
 	dataDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "src")
-	storeDir := t.TempDir()
+	storeDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "remote")
 	dbPath := filepath.Join(tempDir, "index.sqlite")

 	ctx := context.Background()
@@ -507,7 +511,7 @@ func TestBackupCompletesOnlyAfterMetadataExport(t *testing.T) {
 	fs := afero.NewOsFs()
 	tempDir := t.TempDir()
 	dataDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "src")
-	storeDir := t.TempDir()
+	storeDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "remote")
 	restoreDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "restored")
 	dbPath := filepath.Join(tempDir, "index.sqlite")

@@ -682,7 +686,7 @@ func TestRestoreReportsDiskFull(t *testing.T) {
 	osFS := afero.NewOsFs()
 	tempDir := t.TempDir()
 	dataDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "src")
-	storeDir := t.TempDir()
+	storeDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "remote")
 	restoreDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "restored")
 	dbPath := filepath.Join(tempDir, "index.sqlite")

@@ -771,7 +771,7 @@ func TestEndToEndFileStorage(t *testing.T) {
 	tempDir := t.TempDir()

 	dataDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "source")
-	storeDir := t.TempDir()
+	storeDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "remote")
 	restoreDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "restored")
 	dbPath := filepath.Join(tempDir, "index.sqlite")

@@ -964,7 +964,7 @@ func TestDedupOnlySnapshotRestores(t *testing.T) {
 	tempDir := t.TempDir()

 	dataDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "source")
-	storeDir := t.TempDir()
+	storeDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "remote")
 	restoreDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "restored")
 	dbPath := filepath.Join(tempDir, "index.sqlite")

@@ -24,11 +24,13 @@ import (
 // that is not plugged in, cannot be listed. It is not an empty store, so
 // no command may conclude from it that the local snapshots are gone.

-// newFileDestinationVaultik returns a Vaultik that backs up the
-// snapshot named "first" to a file:// destination at storeDir.
-func newFileDestinationVaultik(
+// backUpToFileDestination backs up the snapshot named "first" to a
+// file:// destination at storeDir, which need not exist yet. Everything
+// the returned Vaultik prints after the backup goes to the returned
+// buffer.
+func backUpToFileDestination(
 	ctx context.Context, t *testing.T, storeDir string,
-) (*vaultik.Vaultik, *database.Repositories) {
+) (*vaultik.Vaultik, *database.Repositories, *bytes.Buffer) {
 	t.Helper()

 	osFs := afero.NewOsFs()
@@ -47,22 +49,8 @@ func newFileDestinationVaultik(

 	repos := database.NewRepositories(db)
 	cfg := changedFileConfig(dataDir, dbPath)
+	v := newBackupVaultik(ctx, cfg, store, repos, db, osFs)

-	return newBackupVaultik(ctx, cfg, store, repos, db, osFs), repos
-}
-
-// backUpToFileDestination creates the directory storeDir, as a user must
-// before the first backup, and backs up the snapshot named "first" to a
-// file:// destination there. Everything the returned Vaultik prints
-// after the backup goes to the returned buffer.
-func backUpToFileDestination(
-	ctx context.Context, t *testing.T, storeDir string,
-) (*vaultik.Vaultik, *database.Repositories, *bytes.Buffer) {
-	t.Helper()
-
-	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(storeDir, 0o750))
-
-	v, repos := newFileDestinationVaultik(ctx, t, storeDir)
 	require.NoError(t, backUp(v, "first"))

 	out := &bytes.Buffer{}
@@ -87,28 +75,21 @@ func backUpThenUnplug(
 	return v, repos, out
 }

-// TestBackupFailsWhenDestinationDirectoryMissing checks that a backup to
-// a file:// destination whose directory does not exist fails before it
-// records a snapshot, and does not create the directory.
-func TestBackupFailsWhenDestinationDirectoryMissing(t *testing.T) {
+// TestFirstBackupCreatesDestinationDirectory checks that a first backup
+// to a destination directory that does not exist yet creates it, and
+// that the destination can be listed afterwards.
+func TestFirstBackupCreatesDestinationDirectory(t *testing.T) {
 	log.Initialize(log.Config{})
 	t.Parallel()

 	ctx := context.Background()
-	volume := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "volume")
-	v, repos := newFileDestinationVaultik(ctx, t, filepath.Join(volume, "backup"))
+	storeDir := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "volume", "backup")
+	v, _, out := backUpToFileDestination(ctx, t, storeDir)

-	err := backUp(v, "first")
-	require.ErrorIs(t, err, fs.ErrNotExist)
-	require.ErrorContains(t, err, "create it, or mount the volume it is on")
+	require.NoError(t, v.ListSnapshots(false))

-	_, err = os.Stat(volume)
-	require.ErrorIs(t, err, fs.ErrNotExist,
-		"the backup must not create the destination directory")
-
-	snapshots, err := repos.Snapshots.ListRecent(ctx, listRecentTestLimit)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	assert.Empty(t, snapshots)
+	assert.NotContains(t, out.String(), "Could not list backup destination store")
+	assert.NotContains(t, out.String(), "not found in backup destination store")
 }

 // TestListSnapshotsWarnsWhenDestinationMissing checks that snapshot list
@@ -5,12 +5,14 @@ import (
 	"io/fs"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
 	"testing"

 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 	"sneak.berlin/go/vaultik/internal/log"
 	"sneak.berlin/go/vaultik/internal/snapshot"
+	"sneak.berlin/go/vaultik/internal/storage/faultstore"
 )

 // TestNukeRemoteLeavesNoFiles checks that remote nuke leaves no file
@@ -23,7 +25,7 @@ func TestNukeRemoteLeavesNoFiles(t *testing.T) {

 	ctx := context.Background()
 	storeDir := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "store")
-	v, repos, _ := backUpToFileDestination(ctx, t, storeDir)
+	v, repos, out := backUpToFileDestination(ctx, t, storeDir)

 	snapshots, err := repos.Snapshots.ListRecent(ctx, listRecentTestLimit)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -61,4 +63,62 @@ func TestNukeRemoteLeavesNoFiles(t *testing.T) {
 		})
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	assert.Empty(t, files)
+
+	// Nuke deletes the blobs itself, so advice to run prune is wrong.
+	assert.Contains(t, out.String(), "Backup destination store is now empty.")
+	assert.NotContains(t, out.String(), "vaultik prune")
+}
+
+// TestNukeRemoteFailsWhenADeleteFails checks that remote nuke returns an
+// error when a snapshot's metadata or a blob cannot be deleted, does not
+// report the store empty, and advises running nuke again: prune deletes
+// no metadata.
+func TestNukeRemoteFailsWhenADeleteFails(t *testing.T) {
+	log.Initialize(log.Config{})
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	for _, refusedPrefix := range []string{"metadata/", "blobs/"} {
+		t.Run(refusedPrefix, func(t *testing.T) {
+			t.Parallel()
+
+			ctx := context.Background()
+			storeDir := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "store")
+			v, _, out := backUpToFileDestination(ctx, t, storeDir)
+
+			store := faultstore.New(v.Storage)
+			store.OnDelete = func(key string) bool {
+				return strings.HasPrefix(key, refusedPrefix)
+			}
+			v.Storage = store
+
+			require.Error(t, v.NukeRemote(true))
+
+			assert.NotContains(t, out.String(), "now empty")
+			assert.Contains(t, out.String(), "vaultik remote nuke --force")
+			assert.NotContains(t, out.String(), "vaultik prune")
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+// TestNukeRemoteFailsWhenALocalSnapshotCannotBeRemoved checks that a
+// snapshot remote nuke cannot remove from the local index fails the
+// run: nuke then leaves that snapshot's metadata on the destination
+// store.
+func TestNukeRemoteFailsWhenALocalSnapshotCannotBeRemoved(t *testing.T) {
+	log.Initialize(log.Config{})
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	ctx := context.Background()
+	storeDir := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "store")
+	v, _, out := backUpToFileDestination(ctx, t, storeDir)
+
+	_, err := v.DB.Conn().ExecContext(ctx, `
+		CREATE TRIGGER refuse_snapshot_delete BEFORE DELETE ON snapshots
+		BEGIN SELECT RAISE(ABORT, 'simulated index error'); END`)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	require.Error(t, v.NukeRemote(true))
+
+	assert.NotContains(t, out.String(), "now empty")
+	assert.Contains(t, out.String(), "vaultik remote nuke --force")
 }
@@ -19,15 +19,22 @@ type PruneOptions struct {
 var errNukeRequiresForce = errors.New(
 	"nuke requires --force (this deletes ALL remote snapshots and blobs)")

+// errBlobDeleteFailed reports unreferenced blobs prune could not delete.
+var errBlobDeleteFailed = errors.New("blob(s) could not be deleted")
+
+// nukeCommandHint is the command suggested when a remote nuke could not
+// delete everything: running it again deletes what is left, which
+// `vaultik prune` does not do for snapshot metadata.
+const nukeCommandHint = "vaultik remote nuke --force"
+
 // metadataDirName is the top-level remote directory holding snapshot
 // metadata.
 const metadataDirName = "metadata"

 // NukeRemote deletes every snapshot's metadata and every blob from remote
 // storage, along with any object an upload cut off part-way left under a
-// temporary `.partial` name, and the destination marker. After this
-// returns successfully the bucket prefix is empty and the next backup
-// starts from scratch.
+// temporary `.partial` name. After this returns successfully the bucket
+// prefix is empty and the next backup starts from scratch.
 //
 // Refuses to run unless force is true. The caller is responsible for
 // confirming with the user.
@@ -36,6 +43,22 @@ func (v *Vaultik) NukeRemote(force bool) error {
 		return errNukeRequiresForce
 	}

+	err := v.emptyDestinationStore()
+	if err != nil {
+		v.UI.Warningf("Run '%s' again to delete what is left on the "+
+			"backup destination store.", nukeCommandHint)
+
+		return err
+	}
+
+	v.UI.Completef("Backup destination store is now empty.")
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+// emptyDestinationStore does the deleting for NukeRemote and stops at
+// the first step that fails.
+func (v *Vaultik) emptyDestinationStore() error {
 	v.UI.Beginf("Removing all snapshot metadata from backup destination store.")

 	_, err := v.RemoveAllSnapshots(&RemoveOptions{Force: true})
@@ -59,15 +82,6 @@ func (v *Vaultik) NukeRemote(force bool) error {
 		}
 	}

-	// Last, once the local snapshot records are gone: the next backup
-	// then has none and writes the marker again.
-	err = v.Storage.Delete(v.ctx, destinationMarkerKey)
-	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("deleting %s: %w", destinationMarkerKey, err)
-	}
-
-	v.UI.Completef("Backup destination store is now empty.")
-
 	return nil
 }

@@ -170,14 +184,17 @@ func (v *Vaultik) PruneBlobs(opts *PruneOptions) error {
 	v.deleteUnreferencedBlobs(unreferencedBlobs, allBlobs, result)

 	if opts.JSON {
-		return v.outputPruneBlobsJSON(result)
+		err = v.outputPruneBlobsJSON(result)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+	} else {
+		v.stdoutf("\nDeleted %d blob(s) totaling %s\n",
+			result.BlobsDeleted, ubytes(result.BytesFreed))
 	}

-	v.stdoutf("\nDeleted %d blob(s) totaling %s\n",
-		result.BlobsDeleted, ubytes(result.BytesFreed))
-
 	if result.BlobsFailed > 0 {
-		v.stdoutf("Failed to delete %d blob(s)\n", result.BlobsFailed)
+		return fmt.Errorf("%d %w", result.BlobsFailed, errBlobDeleteFailed)
 	}

 	return nil
@@ -0,0 +1,98 @@
+package vaultik_test
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+	"sneak.berlin/go/vaultik/internal/log"
+	"sneak.berlin/go/vaultik/internal/storage/faultstore"
+	"sneak.berlin/go/vaultik/internal/vaultik"
+)
+
+// refuseBlobDeletes is an OnDelete hook that fails every blob delete.
+func refuseBlobDeletes(key string) bool {
+	return strings.HasPrefix(key, "blobs/")
+}
+
+// TestPruneBlobs_FailedDeleteReturnsError checks that prune returns an
+// error, so the command exits non-zero, when an unreferenced blob cannot
+// be deleted.
+func TestPruneBlobs_FailedDeleteReturnsError(t *testing.T) {
+	log.Initialize(log.Config{})
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	env := newListEnv(t)
+
+	// The store holds no manifest, so nothing references this blob.
+	addBlob(t, env.store.testStorer, testBlobHashA)
+
+	store := faultstore.New(env.store)
+	store.OnDelete = refuseBlobDeletes
+	env.v.Storage = store
+
+	err := env.v.PruneBlobs(&vaultik.PruneOptions{Force: true})
+
+	require.ErrorContains(t, err, "1 blob(s) could not be deleted")
+}
+
+// TestPruneBlobs_JSONFailedDeleteReturnsError checks that prune --json
+// prints its document and then returns an error when an unreferenced
+// blob cannot be deleted.
+func TestPruneBlobs_JSONFailedDeleteReturnsError(t *testing.T) {
+	log.Initialize(log.Config{})
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	env := newListEnv(t)
+	addBlob(t, env.store.testStorer, testBlobHashA)
+
+	store := faultstore.New(env.store)
+	store.OnDelete = refuseBlobDeletes
+	env.v.Storage = store
+
+	err := env.v.PruneBlobs(&vaultik.PruneOptions{JSON: true})
+
+	require.Error(t, err, "prune must fail when a blob cannot be deleted")
+
+	var result vaultik.PruneBlobsResult
+
+	require.NoError(t, json.Unmarshal(env.stdout.Bytes(), &result),
+		"stdout must hold the JSON document, got:\n%s", env.stdout.String())
+	assert.Equal(t, 1, result.BlobsFailed)
+	assert.Equal(t, 0, result.BlobsDeleted)
+}
+
+// TestCreateSnapshotPrune_FailedBlobDeleteReturnsError checks that the
+// prune step of snapshot create --prune fails the run when an
+// unreferenced blob cannot be deleted.
+func TestCreateSnapshotPrune_FailedBlobDeleteReturnsError(t *testing.T) {
+	log.Initialize(log.Config{})
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	ctx := context.Background()
+	storeDir := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "store")
+	v, _, _ := backUpToFileDestination(ctx, t, storeDir)
+
+	// No snapshot references this blob, so the prune step deletes it.
+	orphan := filepath.Join(storeDir, "blobs", testBlobHashA[:2],
+		testBlobHashA[2:4], testBlobHashA)
+	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(orphan), 0o750))
+	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(orphan, []byte("orphan"), 0o600))
+
+	store := faultstore.New(v.Storage)
+	store.OnDelete = refuseBlobDeletes
+	v.Storage = store
+
+	err := v.CreateSnapshot(&vaultik.SnapshotCreateOptions{
+		Cron:  true,
+		Prune: true,
+	})
+
+	require.Error(t, err, "the prune step must fail the run")
+	assert.FileExists(t, orphan)
+}
@@ -34,9 +34,6 @@ func setupConsistencyTest(
 	repos := database.NewRepositories(db)
 	mockStorage := NewMockStorer()

-	// A backup wrote to this destination, so it carries the marker.
-	require.NoError(t, mockStorage.Put(ctx, markerFile, strings.NewReader("")))
-
 	for _, id := range snapshotIDs {
 		parts := strings.Split(id, "_")
 		startedAt, err := time.Parse(time.RFC3339, parts[len(parts)-1])
@@ -44,9 +44,6 @@ func setupPurgeTest(
 	repos := database.NewRepositories(db)
 	mockStorage := NewMockStorer()

-	// A backup wrote to this destination, so it carries the marker.
-	require.NoError(t, mockStorage.Put(ctx, markerFile, strings.NewReader("")))
-
 	// Insert each snapshot into the DB and create remote metadata stubs.
 	// Use timestamps parsed from snapshot IDs for realistic ordering.
 	for _, id := range snapshotIDs {
@@ -3,21 +3,17 @@ package vaultik_test
 import (
 	"bytes"
 	"context"
-	"database/sql"
 	"io"
 	"strings"
 	"sync"
 	"testing"
-	"time"

 	"github.com/klauspost/compress/zstd"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
-	"sneak.berlin/go/vaultik/internal/database"
 	"sneak.berlin/go/vaultik/internal/log"
 	"sneak.berlin/go/vaultik/internal/snapshot"
 	"sneak.berlin/go/vaultik/internal/storage"
-	"sneak.berlin/go/vaultik/internal/types"
 	"sneak.berlin/go/vaultik/internal/vaultik"
 )

@@ -218,37 +214,6 @@ func addBlob(t *testing.T, store *testStorer, hash string) {
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 }

-// newLocalIndex returns an in-memory local index holding a completed
-// snapshot row for each of ids.
-func newLocalIndex(t *testing.T, ids ...string) *database.Repositories {
-	t.Helper()
-
-	ctx := context.Background()
-
-	db, err := database.New(ctx, ":memory:")
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	t.Cleanup(func() { _ = db.Close() })
-
-	repos := database.NewRepositories(db)
-
-	for _, id := range ids {
-		completedAt := time.Now().UTC()
-		snap := &database.Snapshot{
-			ID:          types.SnapshotID(id),
-			Hostname:    snapHostname,
-			StartedAt:   completedAt,
-			CompletedAt: &completedAt,
-		}
-
-		err = repos.WithTx(ctx, func(ctx context.Context, tx *sql.Tx) error {
-			return repos.Snapshots.Create(ctx, tx, snap)
-		})
-		require.NoError(t, err)
-	}
-
-	return repos
-}
-
 // ============================================================================
 // Unit Tests for RemoveSnapshot
 // ============================================================================
@@ -268,7 +233,6 @@ func TestRemoveSnapshot_LocalOnly_PreservesRemote(t *testing.T) {
 	addBlob(t, store, blobA)

 	tv := vaultik.NewForTesting(store)
-	tv.Repositories = newLocalIndex(t, "snapshot-001")

 	opts := &vaultik.RemoveOptions{Force: true, LocalOnly: true}
 	result, err := tv.RemoveSnapshot("snapshot-001", opts)
@@ -303,12 +267,7 @@ func TestRemoveSnapshot_DefaultRemovesMetadataNotBlobs(t *testing.T) {
 	addBlob(t, store, blobUnique)
 	addBlob(t, store, blobShared)

-	// A backup wrote to this destination, so it carries the marker.
-	require.NoError(t, store.Put(context.Background(), markerFile,
-		bytes.NewReader(nil)))
-
 	tv := vaultik.NewForTesting(store)
-	tv.Repositories = newLocalIndex(t, "snapshot-001", "snapshot-002")

 	opts := &vaultik.RemoveOptions{Force: true}
 	result, err := tv.RemoveSnapshot("snapshot-001", opts)
@@ -357,89 +316,6 @@ func TestRemoveSnapshot_DryRun(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Contains(t, tv.Stdout.String(), "[Dry run - no changes made]")
 }

-// TestRemoveSnapshot_UnknownIDIsError checks that an ID naming no
-// snapshot in the local index or on the destination store is an error
-// under every option, and that nothing is reported as removed.
-func TestRemoveSnapshot_UnknownIDIsError(t *testing.T) {
-	log.Initialize(log.Config{})
-	t.Parallel()
-
-	for name, opts := range map[string]vaultik.RemoveOptions{
-		"force":      {Force: true},
-		"json":       {JSON: true},
-		"dry-run":    {Force: true, DryRun: true},
-		"local-only": {Force: true, LocalOnly: true},
-	} {
-		t.Run(name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			t.Parallel()
-
-			store := newTestStorer()
-			addManifest(t, store, "snapshot-001", nil)
-
-			tv := vaultik.NewForTesting(store)
-			tv.Repositories = newLocalIndex(t, "snapshot-001")
-
-			result, err := tv.RemoveSnapshot("snapshot-999", &opts)
-
-			require.ErrorContains(t, err, "snapshot not found")
-			assert.False(t, result.RemoteRemoved)
-			assert.Empty(t, tv.Stdout.String())
-			assert.True(t, store.hasKey(remoteKeyPath("snapshot-001")))
-		})
-	}
-}
-
-// TestRemoveSnapshot_NoMetadataOnDestination checks that removing a
-// snapshot whose metadata is not on the destination store does not
-// report metadata removed from it.
-func TestRemoveSnapshot_NoMetadataOnDestination(t *testing.T) {
-	log.Initialize(log.Config{})
-	t.Parallel()
-
-	// A backup wrote to this destination, so it carries the marker.
-	store := newTestStorer()
-	require.NoError(t, store.Put(context.Background(), markerFile,
-		bytes.NewReader(nil)))
-
-	tv := vaultik.NewForTesting(store)
-	tv.Repositories = newLocalIndex(t, "snapshot-001")
-
-	result, err := tv.RemoveSnapshot("snapshot-001",
-		&vaultik.RemoveOptions{Force: true})
-
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	assert.False(t, result.RemoteRemoved)
-
-	out := tv.Stdout.String()
-	assert.Contains(t, out, "Removed snapshot 'snapshot-001' from local database")
-	assert.NotContains(t, out, "Removed snapshot metadata from remote storage")
-}
-
-// TestRemoveSnapshot_NotInLocalIndex checks that removing a snapshot
-// only the destination store holds removes its metadata there without
-// reporting a removal from the local database.
-func TestRemoveSnapshot_NotInLocalIndex(t *testing.T) {
-	log.Initialize(log.Config{})
-	t.Parallel()
-
-	store := newTestStorer()
-	addManifest(t, store, "snapshot-001", nil)
-
-	tv := vaultik.NewForTesting(store)
-	tv.Repositories = newLocalIndex(t)
-
-	result, err := tv.RemoveSnapshot("snapshot-001",
-		&vaultik.RemoveOptions{Force: true})
-
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	assert.True(t, result.RemoteRemoved)
-	assert.False(t, store.hasKey(remoteKeyPath("snapshot-001")))
-
-	out := tv.Stdout.String()
-	assert.NotContains(t, out, "from local database")
-	assert.Contains(t, out, "Removed snapshot metadata from remote storage")
-}
-
 func TestRemoveAllSnapshots_RequiresForce(t *testing.T) {
 	log.Initialize(log.Config{})
 	t.Parallel()
@@ -485,7 +361,8 @@ func TestRemoveAllSnapshots_WithForce(t *testing.T) {
 	out := tv.Stdout.String()
 	assert.Contains(t, out, "Removed 2 snapshot(s)")
 	assert.Contains(t, out, "Removed snapshot metadata from remote storage")
-	assert.Contains(t, out, "vaultik prune")
+	// Remote nuke, the only caller, deletes the blobs next itself.
+	assert.NotContains(t, out, "vaultik prune")
 }

 func TestRemoveAllSnapshots_DryRun(t *testing.T) {
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ func TestRestoreOnAnotherMachine(t *testing.T) {
 	tempDir := t.TempDir()

 	dataDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "source")
-	storeDir := t.TempDir()
+	storeDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "remote")
 	restoreDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "restored")
 	dbPath := filepath.Join(tempDir, "index.sqlite")

@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ func TestRestoreCleansTempDirOnInterrupt(t *testing.T) {
 	root := t.TempDir()

 	dataDir := filepath.Join(root, "source")
-	storeDir := t.TempDir()
+	storeDir := filepath.Join(root, "remote")
 	restoreDir := filepath.Join(root, "restored")
 	dbPath := filepath.Join(root, "index.sqlite")

@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ func TestRestoreLocalityAndReadAt(t *testing.T) {
 	tempDir := t.TempDir()

 	dataDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "source")
-	storeDir := t.TempDir()
+	storeDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "remote")
 	restoreDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "restored")
 	dbPath := filepath.Join(tempDir, "index.sqlite")

@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ func backupOneFile(
 	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, srcPath, content, mode))
 	require.NoError(t, fs.Chmod(srcPath, mode))

-	storeDir := t.TempDir()
+	storeDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "remote")
 	dbPath := filepath.Join(tempDir, "index.sqlite")

 	storer, err := storage.NewFileStorer(storeDir)
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ func backupThenDeleteOneBlob(
 		require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, path, files[path], 0o644))
 	}

-	storer, err := storage.NewFileStorer(t.TempDir())
+	storer, err := storage.NewFileStorer(filepath.Join(tempDir, "remote"))
 	require.NoError(t, err)

 	db, err := database.New(ctx, dbPath)
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ func TestRestoreAndDeepVerifyRejectSwappedDatabase(t *testing.T) {

 	fs := afero.NewOsFs()
 	tempDir := t.TempDir()
-	storeDir := t.TempDir()
+	storeDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "remote")

 	chunkSize := int64(64 * 1024)

@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ func TestDeepVerifyRejectsSwappedDatabaseWithEmptyManifest(t *testing.T) {

 	fs := afero.NewOsFs()
 	tempDir := t.TempDir()
-	storeDir := t.TempDir()
+	storeDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "remote")

 	chunkSize := int64(64 * 1024)

@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ func TestRestoreSweeperEvictsBlobs(t *testing.T) {
 	tempDir := t.TempDir()

 	dataDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "source")
-	storeDir := t.TempDir()
+	storeDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "remote")
 	restoreDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "restored")
 	dbPath := filepath.Join(tempDir, "index.sqlite")

@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ func TestRestoreRejectsTruncatedMetadataDB(t *testing.T) {
 	tempDir := t.TempDir()

 	dataDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "source")
-	storeDir := t.TempDir()
+	storeDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "remote")
 	restoreDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "restored")
 	dbPath := filepath.Join(tempDir, "index.sqlite")

@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ func TestBackupOfSameSecondRewriteRestoresNewContent(t *testing.T) {
 	fs := afero.NewOsFs()
 	tempDir := t.TempDir()
 	dataDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "src")
-	storeDir := t.TempDir()
+	storeDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "remote")
 	restoreDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "restored")
 	dbPath := filepath.Join(tempDir, "index.sqlite")
 	rewrittenPath := filepath.Join(dataDir, "small.txt")
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ func TestShallowVerifyDetectsWrongBlobSize(t *testing.T) {
 	tempDir := t.TempDir()

 	dataDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "source")
-	storeDir := t.TempDir()
+	storeDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "remote")
 	dbPath := filepath.Join(tempDir, "index.sqlite")

 	chunkSize := int64(32 * 1024)
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ func TestShallowVerifyDetectsMissingDatabase(t *testing.T) {
 	tempDir := t.TempDir()

 	dataDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "source")
-	storeDir := t.TempDir()
+	storeDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "remote")
 	dbPath := filepath.Join(tempDir, "index.sqlite")

 	chunkSize := int64(32 * 1024)
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ var (
 	errNoSnapshotsInConfig  = errors.New("no snapshots configured")
 	errSnapshotVerifyFailed = errors.New("verification failed")
 	errRemoveAllNeedsForce  = errors.New("--all requires --force")
-	errSnapshotNotFound     = errors.New("snapshot not found")
+	errSnapshotRemoveFailed = errors.New("snapshot(s) could not be removed")
 	errInvalidTableName     = errors.New("invalid table name")
 	errNoAgeRecipients      = errors.New(
 		"creating a snapshot needs at least one public key in " +
@@ -66,13 +66,6 @@ func (v *Vaultik) CreateSnapshot(opts *SnapshotCreateOptions) error {
 		return err
 	}

-	// Before PruneDatabase: it drops incomplete snapshots, which could
-	// leave the local index without one and so skip the marker check.
-	err = v.markDestination()
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
 	// Clean up incomplete snapshots FIRST, before any scanning.
 	// This is critical for data safety; PruneDatabase below does it.
 	hostname := v.Config.Hostname
@@ -95,9 +88,21 @@ func (v *Vaultik) CreateSnapshot(opts *SnapshotCreateOptions) error {
 		return fmt.Errorf("prune database: %w", err)
 	}

-	snapshotNames, err := v.snapshotNamesToCreate(opts.Snapshots)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
+	// Determine which snapshots to process
+	snapshotNames := opts.Snapshots
+	if len(snapshotNames) == 0 {
+		snapshotNames = v.Config.SnapshotNames()
+	} else {
+		// Validate requested snapshot names exist
+		for _, name := range snapshotNames {
+			if _, ok := v.Config.Snapshots[name]; !ok {
+				return fmt.Errorf("%w: %q", errSnapshotNotInConfig, name)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	if len(snapshotNames) == 0 {
+		return errNoSnapshotsInConfig
 	}

 	// Process each named snapshot
@@ -137,28 +142,6 @@ func (v *Vaultik) CreateSnapshot(opts *SnapshotCreateOptions) error {
 	return nil
 }

-// snapshotNamesToCreate returns the requested snapshot names, each checked
-// against the config, or every configured name when none was requested.
-func (v *Vaultik) snapshotNamesToCreate(requested []string) ([]string, error) {
-	snapshotNames := requested
-	if len(snapshotNames) == 0 {
-		snapshotNames = v.Config.SnapshotNames()
-	} else {
-		// Validate requested snapshot names exist
-		for _, name := range snapshotNames {
-			if _, ok := v.Config.Snapshots[name]; !ok {
-				return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: %q", errSnapshotNotInConfig, name)
-			}
-		}
-	}
-
-	if len(snapshotNames) == 0 {
-		return nil, errNoSnapshotsInConfig
-	}
-
-	return snapshotNames, nil
-}
-
 // runPostBackupPrune drops older snapshots of the given names and removes
 // orphan blobs from remote storage. If keepNewerThan is set (e.g. "4w"),
 // snapshots newer than that duration are kept. Otherwise only the latest
@@ -661,7 +644,7 @@ func (v *Vaultik) confirmAndExecutePurge(
 				"snapshot_id", snapshotID, "error", err)
 		}

-		_, err = v.deleteRemoteSnapshotByKey(snapshot.RemoteSnapshotKey(snapshotID))
+		err = v.deleteRemoteSnapshotByKey(snapshot.RemoteSnapshotKey(snapshotID))
 		if err != nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("deleting snapshot %s from remote: %w", snapshotID, err)
 		}
@@ -1171,38 +1154,23 @@ func (v *Vaultik) RemoveSnapshot(
 		return result, err
 	}

-	inLocalIndex, err := v.findSnapshotToRemove(snapshotID, opts)
-	if err != nil {
-		return result, err
-	}
-
 	if opts.DryRun {
 		return v.removeSnapshotDryRun(result, snapshotID, opts)
 	}

-	if !v.confirmRemoveSnapshot(snapshotID, opts) {
+	if !opts.Force && !opts.JSON && !v.confirmRemoveSnapshot(snapshotID, opts) {
 		return result, nil
 	}

-	// Checked before the local record is deleted: it may be the last
-	// snapshot in the local index, and the check applies only while the
-	// local index holds one.
-	var markerErr error
-	if !opts.LocalOnly {
-		markerErr = v.checkDestinationMarker()
-	}
+	log.Info("Removing snapshot from local database", "snapshot_id", snapshotID)

-	if inLocalIndex {
-		log.Info("Removing snapshot from local database", "snapshot_id", snapshotID)
-
-		err = v.deleteSnapshotFromLocalDB(snapshotID)
-		if err != nil {
-			return result, fmt.Errorf("removing from local database: %w", err)
-		}
+	err = v.deleteSnapshotFromLocalDB(snapshotID)
+	if err != nil {
+		return result, fmt.Errorf("removing from local database: %w", err)
 	}

 	if !opts.LocalOnly {
-		result.RemoteRemoved = v.removeSnapshotRemote(snapshotID, markerErr, opts)
+		result.RemoteRemoved = v.removeSnapshotRemote(snapshotID, opts)
 	}

 	if v.SnapshotManager != nil {
@@ -1217,11 +1185,9 @@ func (v *Vaultik) RemoveSnapshot(
 		return result, v.outputRemoveJSON(result)
 	}

-	if inLocalIndex {
-		v.stdoutf("Removed snapshot '%s' from local database\n", snapshotID)
-	}
+	v.stdoutf("Removed snapshot '%s' from local database\n", snapshotID)

-	if result.RemoteRemoved {
+	if !opts.LocalOnly && result.RemoteRemoved {
 		v.printlnStdout("Removed snapshot metadata from remote storage")
 		v.stdoutf("\nNote: The removed snapshot's blobs remain on the remote. "+
 			"Run '%s' to delete any blobs no longer referenced by any "+
@@ -1231,45 +1197,6 @@ func (v *Vaultik) RemoveSnapshot(
 	return result, nil
 }

-// findSnapshotToRemove reports whether the local index has a row for
-// snapshotID, and returns errSnapshotNotFound when there is nothing to
-// remove: no row and, unless LocalOnly is set, no metadata on the
-// destination store either. The destination store is consulted only
-// when the local index has no row, so a snapshot in the local index can
-// still be removed from it while the destination store is unreachable.
-func (v *Vaultik) findSnapshotToRemove(
-	snapshotID string, opts *RemoveOptions,
-) (bool, error) {
-	if v.Repositories != nil {
-		snap, err := v.Repositories.Snapshots.GetByID(v.ctx, snapshotID)
-		if err != nil {
-			return false, fmt.Errorf("looking up snapshot in local index: %w", err)
-		}
-
-		if snap != nil {
-			return true, nil
-		}
-	}
-
-	if opts.LocalOnly {
-		return false, fmt.Errorf("%w in the local index: %s",
-			errSnapshotNotFound, snapshotID)
-	}
-
-	objects, err := v.remoteSnapshotObjects(snapshot.RemoteSnapshotKey(snapshotID))
-	if err != nil {
-		return false, fmt.Errorf("looking up snapshot on destination store: %w", err)
-	}
-
-	if len(objects) == 0 {
-		return false, fmt.Errorf(
-			"%w in the local index or on the destination store: %s",
-			errSnapshotNotFound, snapshotID)
-	}
-
-	return false, nil
-}
-
 // removeSnapshotDryRun reports what RemoveSnapshot would do without
 // making changes.
 func (v *Vaultik) removeSnapshotDryRun(
@@ -1294,13 +1221,9 @@ func (v *Vaultik) removeSnapshotDryRun(
 }

 // confirmRemoveSnapshot prompts for confirmation before removing a
-// snapshot, unless --force or --json is set. Returns false (treating
-// EOF/read errors as "no") unless the user answers "y".
+// snapshot. Returns false (treating EOF/read errors as "no") unless the
+// user answers "y".
 func (v *Vaultik) confirmRemoveSnapshot(snapshotID string, opts *RemoveOptions) bool {
-	if opts.Force || opts.JSON {
-		return true
-	}
-
 	if opts.LocalOnly {
 		v.stdoutf("Remove snapshot '%s' from local database "+
 			"(remote untouched)? [y/N] ", snapshotID)
@@ -1332,24 +1255,15 @@ func (v *Vaultik) confirmRemoveSnapshot(snapshotID string, opts *RemoveOptions)
 // removal has already happened, so the user is told the remote half
 // didn't finish and to run `vaultik snapshot remove` for the snapshot
 // again once the destination store is reachable (`vaultik prune` never
-// removes snapshot metadata). markerErr is the result of
-// checkDestinationMarker; when it is set, nothing is deleted and it is
-// the failure reported. Returns true when the remote removal succeeded
-// and deleted something.
-func (v *Vaultik) removeSnapshotRemote(
-	snapshotID string, markerErr error, opts *RemoveOptions,
-) bool {
+// removes snapshot metadata). Returns true when the remote removal
+// succeeded.
+func (v *Vaultik) removeSnapshotRemote(snapshotID string, opts *RemoveOptions) bool {
 	log.Info("Removing snapshot metadata from remote storage",
 		"snapshot_id", snapshotID)

-	var deleted int
-
-	err := markerErr
-	if err == nil {
-		deleted, err = v.deleteRemoteSnapshotByKey(
-			snapshot.RemoteSnapshotKey(snapshotID))
-	}
+	remoteKey := snapshot.RemoteSnapshotKey(snapshotID)

+	err := v.deleteRemoteSnapshotByKey(remoteKey)
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Warn("Could not remove snapshot metadata from remote storage; "+
 			"run '"+snapshotRemoveCommandHint+"' with the snapshot's ID "+
@@ -1367,7 +1281,7 @@ func (v *Vaultik) removeSnapshotRemote(
 		return false
 	}

-	return deleted > 0
+	return true
 }

 // RemoveAllSnapshots removes every snapshot known to the local
@@ -1453,8 +1367,8 @@ func (v *Vaultik) localSnapshotIDs() ([]string, error) {
 // listAllRemoteSnapshotKeys collects the hashed remote keys
 // (subdirectories under metadata/) currently present in the
 // destination store. Returns (nil, err) when the store cannot be
-// listed, or is not present by checkDestinationMarker; callers must
-// treat that as "no remote info available," not fatal.
+// listed; callers must treat that as "no remote info available," not
+// fatal.
 func (v *Vaultik) listAllRemoteSnapshotKeys() ([]string, error) {
 	log.Info("Listing all remote snapshots")

@@ -1503,11 +1417,6 @@ func (v *Vaultik) listAllRemoteSnapshotKeys() ([]string, error) {
 		}
 	}

-	err := v.checkDestinationMarker()
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
 	return keys, nil
 }

@@ -1556,8 +1465,8 @@ func (v *Vaultik) handleRemoveAllDryRun(

 // executeRemoveAll deletes every local snapshot and, unless LocalOnly
 // is set, every corresponding remote metadata directory plus any
-// orphan remote keys. Blobs are not touched; the printed prune-command
-// hint is the next step.
+// orphan remote keys. Blobs are not touched. It returns an error when
+// any snapshot could not be removed.
 func (v *Vaultik) executeRemoveAll(
 	localSnaps, orphanRemoteKeys []string, opts *RemoveOptions,
 ) (*RemoveResult, error) {
@@ -1571,18 +1480,11 @@ func (v *Vaultik) executeRemoveAll(

 	result := &RemoveResult{}

-	remoteErrors := v.removeAllLocalSnapshots(localSnaps, opts, result)
+	failures := v.removeAllLocalSnapshots(localSnaps, opts, result)

 	if !opts.LocalOnly {
-		remoteErrors += v.removeAllOrphanRemotes(orphanRemoteKeys, result)
-
-		if remoteErrors == 0 {
-			result.RemoteRemoved = true
-		} else if v.UI != nil {
-			v.UI.Warningf("Some remote metadata deletions failed. Run '%s' "+
-				"once the remote is healthy to clean up unreferenced blobs.",
-				pruneCommandHint)
-		}
+		failures += v.removeAllOrphanRemotes(orphanRemoteKeys, result)
+		result.RemoteRemoved = failures == 0
 	}

 	if v.SnapshotManager != nil {
@@ -1592,6 +1494,10 @@ func (v *Vaultik) executeRemoveAll(
 		}
 	}

+	if failures > 0 {
+		return result, fmt.Errorf("%d %w", failures, errSnapshotRemoveFailed)
+	}
+
 	if opts.JSON {
 		return result, v.outputRemoveJSON(result)
 	}
@@ -1600,9 +1506,6 @@ func (v *Vaultik) executeRemoveAll(

 	if !opts.LocalOnly && result.RemoteRemoved {
 		v.printlnStdout("Removed snapshot metadata from remote storage")
-		v.stdoutf("\nNote: Removed snapshots' blobs remain on the remote. "+
-			"Run '%s' to delete any blobs no longer referenced by any "+
-			"remaining remote snapshot.\n", pruneCommandHint)
 	}

 	return result, nil
@@ -1645,12 +1548,13 @@ func (v *Vaultik) deleteIncompleteSnapshot(snapshotIDStr string, id any) bool {
 }

 // removeAllLocalSnapshots removes each known local snapshot (and, unless
-// --local-only, its remote metadata), returning the number of remote
-// deletion failures.
+// --local-only, its remote metadata), returning the number of snapshots
+// it could not remove. A snapshot left in the local index keeps its
+// remote metadata too, since it is not an orphan remote key.
 func (v *Vaultik) removeAllLocalSnapshots(
 	localSnaps []string, opts *RemoveOptions, result *RemoveResult,
 ) int {
-	remoteErrors := 0
+	failures := 0

 	for _, snapshotID := range localSnaps {
 		log.Info("Removing snapshot", "snapshot_id", snapshotID)
@@ -1660,24 +1564,26 @@ func (v *Vaultik) removeAllLocalSnapshots(
 			log.Error("Failed to remove from local database",
 				"snapshot_id", snapshotID, "error", err)

+			failures++
+
 			continue
 		}

 		if !opts.LocalOnly {
-			_, err = v.deleteRemoteSnapshotByKey(
+			err = v.deleteRemoteSnapshotByKey(
 				snapshot.RemoteSnapshotKey(snapshotID))
 			if err != nil {
 				log.Warn("Failed to remove snapshot metadata from remote",
 					"snapshot_id", snapshotID, "error", err)

-				remoteErrors++
+				failures++
 			}
 		}

 		result.SnapshotsRemoved = append(result.SnapshotsRemoved, snapshotID)
 	}

-	return remoteErrors
+	return failures
 }

 // removeAllOrphanRemotes deletes remote snapshot metadata that has no
@@ -1690,7 +1596,7 @@ func (v *Vaultik) removeAllOrphanRemotes(
 	for _, key := range orphanRemoteKeys {
 		log.Info("Removing orphan remote snapshot", "remote_key", key)

-		_, err := v.deleteRemoteSnapshotByKey(key)
+		err := v.deleteRemoteSnapshotByKey(key)
 		if err != nil {
 			log.Warn("Failed to remove orphan from remote",
 				"remote_key", key, "error", err)
@@ -1737,44 +1643,34 @@ func (v *Vaultik) deleteSnapshotFromLocalDB(snapshotID string) error {
 }

 // deleteRemoteSnapshotByKey removes everything under
-// metadata/<remoteKey>/ on the destination store and returns how many
-// objects it deleted. The argument is a remote key (double-SHA256
-// derivation), not a human snapshot ID; callers that have a human ID
-// must hash via snapshot.RemoteSnapshotKey first.
-func (v *Vaultik) deleteRemoteSnapshotByKey(remoteKey string) (int, error) {
-	objectsToDelete, err := v.remoteSnapshotObjects(remoteKey)
-	if err != nil {
-		return 0, err
+// metadata/<remoteKey>/ on the destination store. The argument is a
+// remote key (double-SHA256 derivation), not a human snapshot ID;
+// callers that have a human ID must hash via snapshot.RemoteSnapshotKey
+// first.
+func (v *Vaultik) deleteRemoteSnapshotByKey(remoteKey string) error {
+	prefix := fmt.Sprintf("metadata/%s/", remoteKey)
+	objectCh := v.Storage.ListStream(v.ctx, prefix)
+
+	var objectsToDelete []string
+
+	for object := range objectCh {
+		if object.Err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("listing objects: %w", object.Err)
+		}
+
+		objectsToDelete = append(objectsToDelete, object.Key)
 	}

-	for i, key := range objectsToDelete {
-		err = v.Storage.Delete(v.ctx, key)
+	for _, key := range objectsToDelete {
+		err := v.Storage.Delete(v.ctx, key)
 		if err != nil {
-			return i, fmt.Errorf("removing %s: %w", key, err)
+			return fmt.Errorf("removing %s: %w", key, err)
 		}

 		log.Debug("Deleted remote object", "key", key)
 	}

-	return len(objectsToDelete), nil
-}
-
-// remoteSnapshotObjects lists the keys of every object under
-// metadata/<remoteKey>/ on the destination store.
-func (v *Vaultik) remoteSnapshotObjects(remoteKey string) ([]string, error) {
-	prefix := fmt.Sprintf("metadata/%s/", remoteKey)
-
-	var keys []string
-
-	for object := range v.Storage.ListStream(v.ctx, prefix) {
-		if object.Err != nil {
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("listing objects: %w", object.Err)
-		}
-
-		keys = append(keys, object.Key)
-	}
-
-	return keys, nil
+	return nil
 }

 // outputRemoveJSON outputs the removal result as JSON
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ func TestSnapshotSummaryCountsFileNotStoredAsFailed(t *testing.T) {
 				"src": {Paths: []string{srcDir}},
 			}

-			store, err := storage.NewFileStorer(t.TempDir())
+			store, err := storage.NewFileStorer(filepath.Join(tempDir, "remote"))
 			require.NoError(t, err)

 			db, err := database.New(ctx, cfg.IndexPath)
@@ -122,9 +122,6 @@ func newListEnv(t *testing.T) *listEnv {
 	store := newObservingStorer()
 	stdout := &bytes.Buffer{}

-	// A backup wrote to this destination, so it carries the marker.
-	require.NoError(t, store.Put(ctx, markerFile, strings.NewReader("")))
-
 	v := &vaultik.Vaultik{
 		Config: &config.Config{
 			AgeSecretKey: "",
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ func TestSkipErrorsBackupStopsOnIndexErrorRecordingDirectory(t *testing.T) {
 		"tree": {Paths: []string{srcDir}},
 	}

-	store, err := storage.NewFileStorer(t.TempDir())
+	store, err := storage.NewFileStorer(filepath.Join(tempDir, "remote"))
 	require.NoError(t, err)

 	db, err := database.New(ctx, cfg.IndexPath)
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ func newSummaryEnv(t *testing.T) *summaryEnv {
 		"split":  {Paths: []string{dirOne, dirTwo}},
 	}

-	inner, err := storage.NewFileStorer(t.TempDir())
+	inner, err := storage.NewFileStorer(filepath.Join(tempDir, "remote"))
 	require.NoError(t, err)

 	store := faultstore.New(inner)
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ func TestBackupWithoutCronOfTwoPathSnapshotRestoresBothPaths(t *testing.T) {
 	tempDir := t.TempDir()
 	firstDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "first")
 	secondDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "second")
-	storeDir := t.TempDir()
+	storeDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "remote")
 	restoreDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "restored")
 	dbPath := filepath.Join(tempDir, "index.sqlite")

@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ func TestVerify_QuietSuppressesReport(t *testing.T) {
 	tempDir := t.TempDir()

 	dataDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "source")
-	storeDir := t.TempDir()
+	storeDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "remote")
 	dbPath := filepath.Join(tempDir, "index.sqlite")

 	chunkSize := int64(32 * 1024)