Count a file as deleted only if the previous snapshot of its name had it (closes #304)

A backup counted as deleted every file in the local index under the
source path that the walk did not find. That took in files the
snapshot excludes but another snapshot backs up, and files removed long
ago, which every later backup, and the first backup of another name
over the same path, reported as deleted again.

The backup now looks up the most recent completed snapshot of the same
name and counts only the files it lists that the walk did not find. A
file that is excluded, or inside an excluded directory, is not counted.

The snapshots row stores no deleted figure; only the backup's output
changes.

Model: opus-5-5

ARCHITECTURE.md

@@ -279,8 +279,8 @@ Key methods:
 - `Scan(ctx, path, snapshotID)` → Main scan operation
 
 Scan phases:
-1. **Phase 0**: Detect deleted files from previous snapshots
+1. **Phase 1**: Walk directory, identify files needing processing
-2. **Phase 1**: Walk directory, identify files needing processing
+2. **Phase 1b**: Count as deleted the files that the previous snapshot of the same name lists and the walk did not find; a file that is excluded, or inside an excluded directory, is not counted
 3. **Phase 2**: Process files (chunk → pack → upload)
 
 #### SnapshotManager
@@ -320,13 +320,13 @@ CreateSnapshot(opts)
     │       │
     │       ├─► scanner.Scan(ctx, path, snapshotID)
     │       │       │
-    │       │       ├─► Phase 0: detectDeletedFiles()
-    │       │       │
     │       │       ├─► Phase 1: scanPhase()
     │       │       │       Walk directory
     │       │       │       Check file metadata changes
     │       │       │       Build list of files to process
     │       │       │
+    │       │       ├─► Phase 1b: detectDeletedFiles()
+    │       │       │
     │       │       └─► Phase 2: processPhase()
     │       │               For each file:
     │       │                   chunker.ChunkReaderStreaming()

README.md

@@ -286,7 +286,9 @@ needed.
   remove orphaned blobs from remote storage. By default keeps only the latest
   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`)
+  this duration instead of only the latest (e.g. `4w`, `30d`, `6mo`, `1y`).
+  Without `--prune`, or with a value that is not a valid duration, the
+  command fails before the backup starts.
 
 **`snapshot list`**: Show every snapshot known to this host — the union
 of the local index and the backup destination store — with timestamps
@@ -384,12 +386,10 @@ 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 a blob cannot be deleted, the
+manual entry point for the same work.
-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. A blob that cannot be deleted is counted in
+  `--force` does.
-  `blobs_failed`, and the document is printed before the non-zero exit.
 
 **`info`**: Display system configuration, storage settings, encryption
 recipients, and local database statistics.
@@ -403,14 +403,15 @@ orphaned blob figures are reported as unknown; `--json` gives them as
 `null`, lists the remote key of each unreadable manifest in
 `unreadable_manifests` and counts the manifests under skipped names in
 `skipped_manifest_count`. An unreadable manifest also leaves its
-snapshot's blob count and blob size unknown, `null` in `--json`.
+snapshot's blob count and blob size unknown, `null` in `--json`. A file
+under `blobs/` whose name is not a blob hash is not counted as a blob,
+since `prune` never deletes it.
 * `--json`: Output as JSON
 
 **`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
+destination store.
-non-zero; running it again deletes what is left.
 * `--force`: Required to confirm destruction.
 
 **`database delete`**: Delete the local SQLite state database file
@@ -432,7 +433,10 @@ 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.
+a local or mounted filesystem. Useful for testing or backing up to a NAS. The
+path must be absolute; a relative one is refused when the config loads.
+Percent-escapes in the path are decoded, so `my%20stick` and `my stick` name
+the same directory.
 
 **Rclone** (`rclone://remote/path`): Uses rclone's 70+ supported cloud
 providers. Requires rclone to be configured separately (`rclone config`).

TODO.md

@@ -22,16 +22,13 @@ the tag exists and is exercised; what is left is merging `next` to
 
 # Completed Steps
 
-- 2026-10-13: Made `prune` and `remote nuke` exit non-zero when a delete
+- 2026-10-13: Stopped `remote info` counting a file under `blobs/` that
-  fails ([issue #290](https://git.eeqj.de/sneak/vaultik/issues/290)).
+  is not a blob as an orphaned blob
-  `prune`, and the prune step of `snapshot create --prune`, counted a
+  ([issue #295](https://git.eeqj.de/sneak/vaultik/issues/295)). A stray
-  blob it could not delete and still exited 0; it now prints its summary
+  file such as `.DS_Store` was reported as an orphaned blob and the
-  or `--json` document and then fails. `remote nuke` warned about a
+  report advised running `prune`, which skips such a file and deleted
-  snapshot's metadata it could not delete, said to run `vaultik prune`,
+  nothing. `remote info` now takes its blob list from the same listing
-  which never removes metadata, and then reported the store empty. It
+  `prune` uses, in the table and in `--json`.
-  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.
 
 - 2026-10-13: Made `snapshot remove` fail for a snapshot that does not
   exist ([issue #293](https://git.eeqj.de/sneak/vaultik/issues/293)).

internal/blob/packer.go

@@ -245,6 +245,17 @@ func (p *Packer) Flush(ctx context.Context) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
+// DiscardCurrentBlob closes and removes the temp file of the blob being
+// packed, if any, and drops that blob. A caller that stops before Flush
+// must call it, or the temp file is left behind. Thread-safe.
+func (p *Packer) DiscardCurrentBlob() {
+	p.mu.Lock()
+	defer p.mu.Unlock()
+
+	p.cleanupTempFile()
+	p.currentBlob = nil
+}
+
 // FinalizeBlob finalizes the current blob being assembled.
 // This compresses the accumulated chunks, encrypts the result, and computes
 // the content-addressed hash. The finalized blob is either passed to the

internal/cli/config.go

@@ -251,6 +251,12 @@ func NewConfigCommand() *cobra.Command {
 		Use:   "config",
 		Short: "Manage the configuration file",
 		Long:  "Commands for creating, editing, and querying the vaultik config file.",
+		// cobra checks Args only on a command that has a Run: without
+		// one, a mistyped subcommand printed help and exited 0.
+		Args: cobra.NoArgs,
+		Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, _ []string) {
+			_ = cmd.Help()
+		},
 	}
 
 	cmd.AddCommand(newConfigInitCommand())

internal/cli/database.go

@@ -15,6 +15,12 @@ func NewDatabaseCommand() *cobra.Command {
 		Use:   "database",
 		Short: "Manage the local state database",
 		Long:  `Commands for managing the local SQLite state database.`,
+		// cobra checks Args only on a command that has a Run: without
+		// one, a mistyped subcommand printed help and exited 0.
+		Args: cobra.NoArgs,
+		Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, _ []string) {
+			_ = cmd.Help()
+		},
 	}
 
 	cmd.AddCommand(

internal/cli/entry_snapshot_create_prune_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,108 @@
+package cli //nolint:testpackage // shares runEntry and the hermetic config helpers
+
+import (
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+)
+
+// Flags of `snapshot create` used to build argument vectors below.
+const (
+	flagPrune         = "--prune"
+	flagKeepNewerThan = "--keep-newer-than"
+)
+
+// TestEntrySnapshotCreateRejectsKeepNewerThanBeforeBackup checks that a
+// --keep-newer-than the post-backup prune could not use stops `snapshot
+// create` before the backup: the command fails and the destination
+// store stays empty. It used to be read only by the prune, after the
+// snapshot was uploaded, and without --prune it was ignored.
+//
+//nolint:paralleltest // replaces os.Args, os.Stdout, os.Stderr and the xdg globals
+func TestEntrySnapshotCreateRejectsKeepNewerThanBeforeBackup(t *testing.T) {
+	for _, testCase := range []struct {
+		name string
+		args []string
+	}{
+		{
+			name: "decimal in a day count",
+			args: []string{flagPrune, flagKeepNewerThan, "1.5d"},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "unknown unit",
+			args: []string{flagPrune, flagKeepNewerThan, "4x"},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "without --prune",
+			args: []string{flagKeepNewerThan, "4w"},
+		},
+	} {
+		t.Run(testCase.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			configPath, storeDir := writeBackupConfig(t)
+
+			code, _, _ := runEntry(t, append(
+				[]string{flagConfig, configPath, cmdSnapshot, cmdCreate},
+				testCase.args...)...)
+
+			assert.Equal(t, 1, code)
+
+			stored, err := os.ReadDir(storeDir)
+			require.NoError(t, err)
+			assert.Empty(t, stored, "nothing may be uploaded")
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+// TestEntrySnapshotCreateReportsPostBackupPruneFailure makes the
+// post-backup prune fail after a good backup, by planting a manifest
+// that cannot be decoded, and checks that the failure is reported as the
+// prune's and not as a failed snapshot creation.
+//
+//nolint:paralleltest // replaces os.Args, os.Stdout, os.Stderr and the xdg globals
+func TestEntrySnapshotCreateReportsPostBackupPruneFailure(t *testing.T) {
+	configPath, storeDir := writeBackupConfig(t)
+
+	// A remote key is 64 lowercase hex characters. The prune reads every
+	// manifest on the store and fails on one it cannot decode.
+	plantedDir := filepath.Join(storeDir, "metadata", strings.Repeat("a", 64))
+	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(plantedDir, 0o750))
+	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(
+		filepath.Join(plantedDir, "manifest.json.zst"),
+		[]byte("not a valid manifest"), 0o600))
+
+	code, _, stderr := runEntry(t,
+		flagConfig, configPath, cmdSnapshot, cmdCreate, flagPrune)
+
+	assert.Equal(t, 1, code)
+	assert.Contains(t, stderr, "Backup completed, but post-backup prune failed")
+	assert.NotContains(t, stderr, "Snapshot creation failed")
+
+	snapshots, err := os.ReadDir(filepath.Join(storeDir, "metadata"))
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Len(t, snapshots, 2,
+		"the new snapshot is on the store beside the planted one")
+}
+
+// writeBackupConfig builds a hermetic config with one small file in its
+// source directory and an empty destination store directory. Returns the
+// config path and the store directory.
+func writeBackupConfig(t *testing.T) (string, string) {
+	t.Helper()
+
+	configPath := writeHermeticPruneConfig(t, false)
+
+	// writeHermeticPruneConfig puts the source and store directories
+	// beside the config file.
+	dir := filepath.Dir(configPath)
+	sourceDir := filepath.Join(dir, "source")
+
+	require.NoError(t, os.Mkdir(sourceDir, 0o750))
+	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(
+		filepath.Join(sourceDir, "file.txt"), []byte("hello"), 0o600))
+
+	return configPath, filepath.Join(dir, "store")
+}

internal/cli/entry_unknown_subcommand_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+package cli //nolint:testpackage // shares runEntry and the command-word constants
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+)
+
+// TestEntryGroupRejectsUnknownSubcommand runs each group command with a
+// mistyped subcommand, as a crontab line might carry one. It must fail
+// with exit 1 and name the word, as `vaultik bogus` does at the top
+// level, instead of printing the group's help and exiting 0 having done
+// nothing. The group name alone still prints its help.
+//
+//nolint:paralleltest // replaces os.Args, os.Stdout and os.Stderr
+func TestEntryGroupRejectsUnknownSubcommand(t *testing.T) {
+	for _, testCase := range []struct {
+		group    string
+		mistyped string
+	}{
+		{group: cmdSnapshot, mistyped: "craete"},
+		{group: "config", mistyped: "inti"},
+		{group: cmdRemote, mistyped: "ifno"},
+		{group: "database", mistyped: "delte"},
+		{group: "completion", mistyped: "nosuchshell"},
+	} {
+		t.Run(testCase.group, func(t *testing.T) {
+			code, stdout, stderr := runEntry(t,
+				testCase.group, testCase.mistyped)
+
+			assert.Equal(t, 1, code)
+			assert.Empty(t, stdout)
+			assert.Contains(t, stderr,
+				`unknown command "`+testCase.mistyped+`"`)
+
+			code, stdout, _ = runEntry(t, testCase.group)
+
+			assert.Equal(t, 0, code)
+			assert.Contains(t, stdout,
+				programName+" "+testCase.group+" [command]")
+		})
+	}
+}

internal/cli/remote.go

@@ -18,6 +18,12 @@ func NewRemoteCommand() *cobra.Command {
 		Use:   "remote",
 		Short: "Remote storage management commands",
 		Long:  "Commands for inspecting and managing remote storage",
+		// cobra checks Args only on a command that has a Run: without
+		// one, a mistyped subcommand printed help and exited 0.
+		Args: cobra.NoArgs,
+		Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, _ []string) {
+			_ = cmd.Help()
+		},
 	}
 
 	// Add subcommands

internal/cli/root.go

@@ -74,6 +74,21 @@ on the source system.`,
 		NewDatabaseCommand(),
 	)
 
+	// cobra adds the completion command only when Execute runs, and with
+	// no Run, so it skipped its own cobra.NoArgs and a mistyped shell name
+	// printed help and exited 0. Adding it here lets it have a Run. Its
+	// scripts go to os.Stdout as it is now: a later SetOut does not
+	// redirect them.
+	cmd.InitDefaultCompletionCmd()
+
+	for _, sub := range cmd.Commands() {
+		if sub.Name() == "completion" {
+			sub.Run = func(completion *cobra.Command, _ []string) {
+				_ = completion.Help()
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
 	return cmd
 }
 

internal/cli/snapshot.go

@@ -41,6 +41,12 @@ func NewSnapshotCommand() *cobra.Command {
 		Use:   "snapshot",
 		Short: "Snapshot management commands",
 		Long:  "Commands for creating, listing, and managing snapshots",
+		// cobra checks Args only on a command that has a Run: without
+		// one, a mistyped subcommand printed help and exited 0.
+		Args: cobra.NoArgs,
+		Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, _ []string) {
+			_ = cmd.Help()
+		},
 	}
 
 	// Add subcommands
@@ -71,6 +77,11 @@ otherwise from the platform config directory (~/.config/vaultik/config.yml
 on Linux), then /etc/vaultik/config.yml.`,
 		Args: cobra.ArbitraryArgs,
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
+			err := opts.Validate()
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+
 			// Pass snapshot names from args
 			opts.Snapshots = args
 			// --skip-errors is a global flag on the root command.
@@ -97,6 +108,13 @@ on Linux), then /etc/vaultik/config.yml.`,
 			}, func(v *vaultik.Vaultik) error {
 				return v.CreateSnapshot(opts)
 			}, func(err error) {
+				if errors.Is(err, vaultik.ErrPostBackupPruneFailed) {
+					log.Error("Post-backup prune failed", "error", err)
+					ReportErrorf("Backup completed, but %v", err)
+
+					return
+				}
+
 				log.Error("Snapshot creation failed", "error", err)
 				ReportErrorf("Snapshot creation failed: %v", err)
 			})

internal/config/config.go

@@ -61,6 +61,9 @@ var (
 	errBadS3PartSize    = errors.New("s3.part_size must be between 5MiB and 5GiB")
 	errBadStorageScheme = errors.New(
 		"storage_url must start with s3://, file://, or rclone://")
+	errFileURLNotAbsolute = errors.New(
+		"a file:// storage_url needs an absolute path, " +
+			"as in file:///path/to/backup")
 	errStorageNotConfigured = errors.New(
 		"storage not configured; set storage_url or provide s3.endpoint + " +
 			"s3.bucket + credentials")
@@ -461,11 +464,18 @@ func (c *Config) validateStorage() error {
 
 // validateStorageURL validates URL-based storage configuration. File and
 // rclone URLs need no credentials; S3 URLs require the legacy s3.*
-// credential fields.
+// credential fields. A file URL must name an absolute path: a relative one
+// would resolve against the working directory, so the destination would
+// move with it.
 func (c *Config) validateStorageURL() error {
 	switch {
 	case strings.HasPrefix(c.StorageURL, "file://"):
-		// File storage doesn't need S3 credentials
+		// storage.ParseStorageURL applies the same rule, but config
+		// cannot import storage, which imports config.
+		if !strings.HasPrefix(c.StorageURL, "file:///") {
+			return errFileURLNotAbsolute
+		}
+
 		return nil
 	case strings.HasPrefix(c.StorageURL, "rclone://"):
 		// Rclone storage uses rclone's own config

internal/config/config_test.go

@@ -337,6 +337,35 @@ func TestLoadS3PartSize(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 }
 
+// TestLoadRejectsRelativeFileURL checks that a file:// storage_url with a
+// relative path fails at load. Accepted, it would resolve against the
+// working directory, so a backup run from another directory would write
+// to a different destination and still succeed.
+func TestLoadRejectsRelativeFileURL(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	const relativeConfig = "snapshots:\n" +
+		"  test:\n" +
+		"    paths: [/tmp/vaultik-test-source]\n" +
+		"storage_url: file://dest\n"
+
+	path := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "config.yml")
+
+	err := os.WriteFile(path, []byte(relativeConfig), 0o600)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("write config: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	_, err = Load(path)
+	if !errors.Is(err, errFileURLNotAbsolute) {
+		t.Fatalf("Load() error = %v, want errFileURLNotAbsolute", err)
+	}
+
+	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "absolute path") {
+		t.Errorf("error %q does not say to use an absolute path", err.Error())
+	}
+}
+
 // TestValidateAgeRecipients checks that recipients are parsed at config load
 // (a bad entry fails immediately, not mid-backup) and that no invalid entry —
 // least of all a pasted secret key — is echoed in the error. An empty list

internal/database/files.go

@@ -277,6 +277,50 @@ func (r *FileRepository) ListUnderPath(
 	return files, rows.Err()
 }
 
+// ListUnderPathInSnapshot returns the files that ListUnderPath returns
+// for path and that the snapshot lists, in no particular order.
+func (r *FileRepository) ListUnderPathInSnapshot(
+	ctx context.Context, path, snapshotID string,
+) ([]*File, error) {
+	path = strings.TrimRight(path, "/")
+	dirPrefix := path + "/"
+
+	query := `
+		SELECT f.id, f.path, f.source_path, f.mtime, f.mtime_nsec, f.size,
+			f.mode, f.uid, f.gid, f.link_target
+		FROM files f
+		JOIN snapshot_files sf ON sf.file_id = f.id
+		WHERE sf.snapshot_id = ?
+		  AND (f.path = ? OR substr(f.path, 1, length(?)) = ?)
+	`
+
+	rows, err := r.db.conn.QueryContext(ctx, query,
+		snapshotID, path, dirPrefix, dirPrefix)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("querying files: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	defer func() {
+		err := rows.Close()
+		if err != nil {
+			Fatalf("failed to close rows: %v", err)
+		}
+	}()
+
+	var files []*File
+
+	for rows.Next() {
+		file, err := r.scanFileRows(rows)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("scanning file: %w", err)
+		}
+
+		files = append(files, file)
+	}
+
+	return files, rows.Err()
+}
+
 // ListIDsWithChunksNotInUploadedBlobs returns the IDs of the files whose
 // path starts with prefix and that list at least one chunk held by no
 // blob whose upload has completed (uploaded_ts set). A new snapshot

internal/database/files_test.go

@@ -212,6 +212,65 @@ func TestFileRepositoryListUnderPath(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+// ListUnderPathInSnapshot leaves out files outside path and files the
+// snapshot does not list, though another snapshot lists them.
+func TestFileRepositoryListUnderPathInSnapshot(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	db, cleanup := setupTestDB(t)
+	defer cleanup()
+
+	ctx := context.Background()
+	files := database.NewFileRepository(db)
+	snapshots := database.NewSnapshotRepository(db)
+
+	listed := map[string][]string{
+		"one": {"/src/a.txt", "/src2/c.txt"},
+		"two": {"/src/b.txt"},
+	}
+
+	for snapshotID, paths := range listed {
+		err := snapshots.Create(ctx, nil, &database.Snapshot{
+			ID:        types.SnapshotID(snapshotID),
+			Hostname:  "host",
+			StartedAt: time.Now(),
+		})
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("failed to create snapshot %s: %v", snapshotID, err)
+		}
+
+		for _, path := range paths {
+			err := files.Create(ctx, nil, &database.File{
+				Path:  types.FilePath(path),
+				MTime: time.Now().Truncate(time.Second),
+				Mode:  0644,
+			})
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("failed to create %s: %v", path, err)
+			}
+
+			err = snapshots.AddFile(ctx, nil, snapshotID, path)
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("failed to add %s to %s: %v", path, snapshotID, err)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	found, err := files.ListUnderPathInSnapshot(ctx, "/src", "one")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("failed to list files: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	got := make([]string, 0, len(found))
+	for _, f := range found {
+		got = append(got, f.Path.String())
+	}
+
+	if !slices.Equal(got, []string{"/src/a.txt"}) {
+		t.Errorf("got %q, want only /src/a.txt", got)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestFileRepositorySymlink(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 

internal/log/tty_handler.go

@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@ import (
 	"sync"
 	"time"
 	"unicode"
+
+	"github.com/dustin/go-humanize"
 )
 
 // groupSeparator joins an open group path to an attribute key. This
@@ -304,18 +306,13 @@ func formatDuration(d time.Duration) string {
 	}
 }
 
-// formatBytes formats bytes in a human-readable way
+// formatBytes formats a byte count with humanize.Bytes, as every command
+// prints one. humanize.Bytes takes no negative count, so one is printed
+// as it is.
 func formatBytes(b int64) string {
-	const unit = 1024
+	if b < 0 {
-	if b < unit {
 		return fmt.Sprintf("%d B", b)
 	}
 
-	div, exp := int64(unit), 0
+	return humanize.Bytes(uint64(b))
-	for n := b / unit; n >= unit; n /= unit {
-		div *= unit
-		exp++
-	}
-
-	return fmt.Sprintf("%.1f %cB", float64(b)/float64(div), "KMGTPE"[exp])
 }

internal/log/tty_handler_test.go

@@ -200,7 +200,8 @@ func TestTTYHandlerWithGroupQualifiesKeys(t *testing.T) {
 func TestTTYHandlerByteFormattingSurvivesGrouping(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 
-	const oneAndAHalfKiB = 1536
+	// Printed as "1.0 MB", in powers of 1000 like every other byte count.
+	const oneMegabyte = 1_000_000
 
 	for name, testCase := range map[string]struct {
 		derive func(*slog.Logger) *slog.Logger
@@ -223,13 +224,13 @@ func TestTTYHandlerByteFormattingSurvivesGrouping(t *testing.T) {
 			var buf bytes.Buffer
 
 			logger := slog.New(log.NewTTYHandler(&buf, debugHandlerOptions()))
-			testCase.derive(logger).Info("uploaded", "bytes", oneAndAHalfKiB)
+			testCase.derive(logger).Info("uploaded", "bytes", oneMegabyte)
 
 			line := ansiEscape.ReplaceAllString(buf.String(), "")
 
-			assert.Contains(t, line, testCase.key+"=1.5 KB",
+			assert.Contains(t, line, testCase.key+"=1.0 MB",
 				"a byte count must be human-readable however it is qualified")
-			assert.NotContains(t, line, strconv.Itoa(oneAndAHalfKiB),
+			assert.NotContains(t, line, strconv.Itoa(oneMegabyte),
 				"the raw number must not survive the formatting")
 		})
 	}

internal/snapshot/exclude_test.go

@@ -531,3 +531,50 @@ func TestExcludePatterns_UnanchoredPatternFile(t *testing.T) {
 	require.Equal(t, 1, result.FilesScanned,
 		"Unanchored pattern for file should match anywhere")
 }
+
+func TestExcludePatterns_DoubleStarDirectoryAtEveryDepth(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	// As in gitignore, a leading **/ also matches directly under the source dir
+	fs := setupAnchoredTestFS(t)
+
+	scanner, repos, cleanup := createTestScanner(t, fs, []string{"**/projectname"})
+	defer cleanup()
+
+	ctx := context.Background()
+	createSnapshotRecord(ctx, t, repos, "test-snapshot")
+
+	result, err := scanner.Scan(ctx, "/backup", "test-snapshot")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	// **/projectname should exclude BOTH:
+	// - /backup/projectname/file.txt
+	// - /backup/otherproject/projectname/file.txt
+	// Total files: 4, excluded: 2
+	require.Equal(t, 2, result.FilesScanned,
+		"**/ directory pattern should match at the top level and nested")
+}
+
+func TestExcludePatterns_DoubleStarFileAtEveryDepth(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	// As in gitignore, a leading **/ also matches directly under the source dir
+	fs := setupAnchoredTestFS(t)
+
+	scanner, repos, cleanup := createTestScanner(t, fs, []string{"**/*.txt"})
+	defer cleanup()
+
+	ctx := context.Background()
+	createSnapshotRecord(ctx, t, repos, "test-snapshot")
+
+	result, err := scanner.Scan(ctx, "/backup", "test-snapshot")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	// **/*.txt should exclude ALL .txt files:
+	// - /backup/file.txt
+	// - /backup/projectname/file.txt
+	// - /backup/otherproject/projectname/file.txt
+	// Total files: 4, excluded: 3
+	require.Equal(t, 1, result.FilesScanned,
+		"**/ file pattern should match at the top level and nested")
+}

internal/snapshot/module.go

@@ -16,6 +16,9 @@ type ScannerParams struct {
 	Fs             afero.Fs
 	Exclude        []string // Exclude patterns (combined global + snapshot-specific)
 	SkipErrors     bool     // Skip file read errors (log loudly but continue)
+	// PreviousSnapshotID is the most recent completed snapshot of the
+	// same name, "" for none.
+	PreviousSnapshotID string
 }
 
 // Module exports backup functionality as an fx module.
@@ -55,6 +58,7 @@ func provideScannerFactory(
 			UI:                 params.UI,
 			Exclude:            excludes,
 			SkipErrors:         params.SkipErrors,
+			PreviousSnapshotID: params.PreviousSnapshotID,
 		})
 	}
 }

internal/snapshot/scanner.go

@@ -58,6 +58,10 @@ type Scanner struct {
 	compressionLevel int
 	ageRecipient     string
 	snapshotID       string // Current snapshot being processed
+	// previousSnapshotID is the most recent completed snapshot of the
+	// same name, "" for none. Only a file it lists can be counted as
+	// deleted.
+	previousSnapshotID string
 	// currentSourcePath is the source directory being scanned, stored with
 	// each file record.
 	currentSourcePath string
@@ -129,6 +133,9 @@ type ScannerConfig struct {
 	// SkipErrors skips files that cannot be opened or read (log loudly but
 	// continue); packer, database, encryption, and upload errors still abort.
 	SkipErrors bool
+	// PreviousSnapshotID is the most recent completed snapshot of the
+	// same name, "" for none.
+	PreviousSnapshotID string
 }
 
 // ScanResult contains the results of a scan operation. Files and bytes
@@ -204,6 +211,7 @@ func NewScanner(cfg ScannerConfig) *Scanner {
 		compiledExclude:    compiledExclude,
 		progress:           progress,
 		skipErrors:         cfg.SkipErrors,
+		previousSnapshotID: cfg.PreviousSnapshotID,
 		ui:                 uiw,
 		pendingChunkHashes: make(map[string]struct{}),
 	}
@@ -255,8 +263,9 @@ func (s *Scanner) Scan(
 
 	filesToProcess := scanResult.FilesToProcess
 
-	// Phase 1b: Detect deleted files by comparing DB against scanned files
+	// Phase 1b: Detect deleted files by comparing the previous snapshot
-	err = s.detectDeletedFilesFromMap(ctx, knownFiles, existingFiles, result)
+	// of this name against scanned files
+	err = s.detectDeletedFiles(ctx, path, existingFiles, result)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("detecting deleted files: %w", err)
 	}
@@ -436,9 +445,8 @@ func (s *Scanner) summarizeScanPhase(
 }
 
 // loadKnownFiles loads the known files at and beneath path from the
-// database into a map for fast lookup. Every loaded file the scan does
+// database into a map for fast lookup. This avoids per-file database
-// not find is counted as deleted. This avoids per-file database queries
+// queries during the scan phase.
-// during the scan phase.
 func (s *Scanner) loadKnownFiles(
 	ctx context.Context, path string,
 ) (map[string]*database.File, error) {
@@ -1295,6 +1303,11 @@ func (s *Scanner) batchAddFilesToSnapshot(
 func (s *Scanner) processPhase(
 	ctx context.Context, filesToProcess []*FileToProcess, result *ScanResult,
 ) error {
+	// On an error or cancellation the blob being packed is never
+	// finalized, so its temp file must be removed here. After a
+	// successful flush there is no such blob and this does nothing.
+	defer s.packer.DiscardCurrentBlob()
+
 	// Calculate total bytes to process
 	var totalBytes int64
 	for _, f := range filesToProcess {
@@ -1933,21 +1946,28 @@ func (s *Scanner) queueFileForBatchInsert(
 	})
 }
 
-// detectDeletedFilesFromMap finds files that existed in previous snapshots
+// detectDeletedFiles counts as deleted each file at or beneath path that
-// but no longer exist. Uses pre-loaded maps to avoid any filesystem or
+// the previous snapshot of this name lists and the walk did not find.
-// database access.
+// A file that is excluded, or inside an excluded directory, is not
-func (s *Scanner) detectDeletedFilesFromMap(
+// counted: the walk skips it whether or not it is still on disk.
+func (s *Scanner) detectDeletedFiles(
 	ctx context.Context,
-	knownFiles map[string]*database.File,
+	path string,
 	existingFiles map[string]struct{},
 	result *ScanResult,
 ) error {
-	if len(knownFiles) == 0 {
+	if s.previousSnapshotID == "" {
 		return nil
 	}
 
-	// Check each known file against the enumerated set (no filesystem access needed)
+	previousFiles, err := s.repos.Files.ListUnderPathInSnapshot(
-	for path, file := range knownFiles {
+		ctx, path, s.previousSnapshotID)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("listing files of snapshot %s: %w",
+			s.previousSnapshotID, err)
+	}
+
+	for _, file := range previousFiles {
 		// Check context cancellation periodically
 		select {
 		case <-ctx.Done():
@@ -1955,13 +1975,16 @@ func (s *Scanner) detectDeletedFilesFromMap(
 		default:
 		}
 
-		// Check if the file exists in our enumerated set
+		filePath := file.Path.String()
-		if _, exists := existingFiles[path]; !exists {
+
-			// File has been deleted
+		_, exists := existingFiles[filePath]
+		if exists || s.excludedOrInExcludedDir(filePath, path) {
+			continue
+		}
+
 		result.FilesDeleted++
 		result.BytesDeleted += file.Size
-			log.Debug("Detected deleted file", "path", path, "size", file.Size)
+		log.Debug("Detected deleted file", "path", filePath, "size", file.Size)
-		}
 	}
 
 	if result.FilesDeleted > 0 {
@@ -1972,6 +1995,20 @@ func (s *Scanner) detectDeletedFilesFromMap(
 	return nil
 }
 
+// excludedOrInExcludedDir reports whether filePath, which is at or
+// beneath rootPath, or any directory between rootPath and it, matches an
+// exclude pattern. A pattern such as */.local/share/Trash matches the
+// directory but not the files inside it, which the walk skips too.
+func (s *Scanner) excludedOrInExcludedDir(filePath, rootPath string) bool {
+	for p := filePath; len(p) > len(rootPath); p = filepath.Dir(p) {
+		if s.shouldExclude(p, rootPath) {
+			return true
+		}
+	}
+
+	return false
+}
+
 // wrapPermissionError augments permission errors with platform-specific
 // remediation instructions. On macOS, TCC-protected directories (Calendars,
 // Reminders, Photos, etc.) return EPERM unless the running application has
@@ -2013,6 +2050,14 @@ func compileExcludePatterns(patterns []string) []compiledPattern {
 		// Remove trailing slash if present (directory indicator)
 		pattern = strings.TrimSuffix(pattern, "/")
 
+		// A leading "**/" demands a "/" before the name and so misses an
+		// entry directly under the source path. An unanchored pattern
+		// already matches at every depth, so drop the prefix: as in
+		// gitignore, "**/x" then also matches a top-level "x".
+		if !anchored {
+			pattern = strings.TrimPrefix(pattern, "**/")
+		}
+
 		// Compile the glob pattern
 		// For patterns without path separators, we need to match them as components
 		// e.g., ".git" should match ".git" anywhere in the path

internal/snapshot/skip_errors_test.go

@@ -381,3 +381,60 @@ func TestScannerCancelStopsSkipErrorsRun(t *testing.T) {
 		})
 	}
 }
+
+// TestScannerRemovesBlobTempFileWhenRunStops checks that a run stopped
+// part-way, by a file it cannot read or by a cancellation, removes the
+// temp file of the blob it was packing.
+func TestScannerRemovesBlobTempFileWhenRunStops(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	// a.txt is backed up first and starts a blob; the run stops at b.txt.
+	const target = "/source/b.txt"
+
+	tests := []struct {
+		name  string
+		newFs func(cancel context.CancelFunc) afero.Fs
+	}{
+		{
+			name: "file cannot be read",
+			newFs: func(context.CancelFunc) afero.Fs {
+				return &readFailFs{Fs: afero.NewMemMapFs(), target: target}
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "cancelled",
+			newFs: func(cancel context.CancelFunc) afero.Fs {
+				return &cancelOnOpenFs{
+					Fs: afero.NewMemMapFs(), target: target, cancel: cancel,
+				}
+			},
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			t.Parallel()
+
+			ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+			defer cancel()
+
+			fs := tt.newFs(cancel)
+			writeSkipErrorTestFile(t, fs, "/source/a.txt", "first file content")
+			writeSkipErrorTestFile(t, fs, target, "second file content")
+
+			_, err := runSkipErrorScan(ctx, t, fs, "/source", false, nil)
+			if err == nil {
+				t.Fatal("expected the scan to stop with an error, got nil")
+			}
+
+			left, err := afero.Glob(fs, filepath.Join(os.TempDir(), "vaultik-blob-*"))
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("listing blob temp files: %v", err)
+			}
+
+			if len(left) != 0 {
+				t.Fatalf("expected no blob temp file left, got %v", left)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}

internal/storage/faultstore/faultstore.go

@@ -1,16 +1,15 @@
 // 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, reads that return corrupt or truncated
+// success while storing nothing, and reads that return corrupt or
-// bytes, and a delete the backend refuses. It is the seam called for by
+// truncated bytes. It is the seam called for by the fault-injection
-// the fault-injection tests (sneak/vaultik issue 72) and is meant to be
+// tests (sneak/vaultik issue 72) and is meant to be reused by future
-// reused by future tests rather than re-implemented per case.
+// tests rather than re-implemented per case.
 //
-// The wrapper delegates every method to the inner Storer. Three hooks
+// The wrapper delegates every method to the inner Storer. Two hooks
-// change that: OnPut decides the fate of each write, OnGet decides how
+// change that: OnPut decides the fate of each write, and OnGet decides
-// each read's bytes are returned, and OnDelete decides whether each
+// how each read's bytes are returned. Both are keyed by the object key,
-// delete fails. All are keyed by the object key, so a test can fault
+// so a test can fault only blobs, only metadata, or a single object.
-// only blobs, only metadata, or a single object.
 package faultstore
 
 import (
@@ -26,10 +25,6 @@ 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
 
@@ -71,11 +66,6 @@ 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.
@@ -164,12 +154,8 @@ func (f *Storer) Stat(ctx context.Context, key string) (*storage.ObjectInfo, err
 	return f.inner.Stat(ctx, key)
 }
 
-// Delete removes the object unless OnDelete fails the delete.
+// Delete delegates unchanged.
 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)
 }
 

internal/storage/url.go

@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ const (
 var (
 	ErrEmptyStorageURL  = errors.New("storage URL is empty")
 	ErrEmptyFilePath    = errors.New("file URL path is empty")
+	ErrRelativeFilePath = errors.New(
+		"file URL needs an absolute path, as in file:///path/to/backup")
 	ErrMissingBucket     = errors.New("s3 URL missing bucket name")
 	ErrMissingRemote     = errors.New("rclone URL missing remote name")
 	ErrUnsupportedScheme = errors.New(
@@ -51,17 +53,8 @@ func ParseStorageURL(rawURL string) (*URL, error) {
 		return nil, ErrEmptyStorageURL
 	}
 
-	// Handle file:// URLs
 	if after, ok := strings.CutPrefix(rawURL, "file://"); ok {
-		path := after
+		return parseFileURL(after)
-		if path == "" {
-			return nil, ErrEmptyFilePath
-		}
-
-		return &URL{
-			Scheme: schemeFile,
-			Prefix: path,
-		}, nil
 	}
 
 	if strings.HasPrefix(rawURL, "s3://") {
@@ -75,6 +68,27 @@ func ParseStorageURL(rawURL string) (*URL, error) {
 	return nil, ErrUnsupportedScheme
 }
 
+// parseFileURL parses the path that follows file://. The path must be
+// absolute: a relative one would resolve against the working directory,
+// so the destination would move with it. Percent-escapes are decoded, so
+// my%20stick names the directory "my stick"; a literal space is kept.
+func parseFileURL(rawPath string) (*URL, error) {
+	if rawPath == "" {
+		return nil, ErrEmptyFilePath
+	}
+
+	if !strings.HasPrefix(rawPath, "/") {
+		return nil, ErrRelativeFilePath
+	}
+
+	path, err := url.PathUnescape(rawPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("invalid file URL path: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	return &URL{Scheme: schemeFile, Prefix: path}, nil
+}
+
 // parseS3URL parses an s3://bucket/prefix URL. It rejects credentials in
 // the userinfo and any query parameter other than endpoint, region and
 // ssl, so a credential-bearing URL is never stored or echoed.

internal/storage/url_parse_test.go

@@ -14,7 +14,10 @@ import (
 func TestParseStorageURLValid(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 
-	const bucket = "mybucket"
+	const (
+		bucket     = "mybucket"
+		fileScheme = "file"
+	)
 
 	cases := []struct {
 		name string
@@ -24,7 +27,17 @@ func TestParseStorageURLValid(t *testing.T) {
 		{
 			name: "file absolute path",
 			raw:  "file:///var/backups/vaultik",
-			want: &storage.URL{Scheme: "file", Prefix: "/var/backups/vaultik"},
+			want: &storage.URL{Scheme: fileScheme, Prefix: "/var/backups/vaultik"},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "file percent-escaped path is decoded",
+			raw:  "file:///Volumes/my%20stick/backup",
+			want: &storage.URL{Scheme: fileScheme, Prefix: "/Volumes/my stick/backup"},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "file path with a literal space",
+			raw:  "file:///Volumes/my stick/backup",
+			want: &storage.URL{Scheme: fileScheme, Prefix: "/Volumes/my stick/backup"},
 		},
 		{
 			name: "s3 bucket and prefix, ssl defaults on",
@@ -90,6 +103,7 @@ func TestParseStorageURLErrors(t *testing.T) {
 	}{
 		{"empty url", "", storage.ErrEmptyStorageURL},
 		{"file empty path", "file://", storage.ErrEmptyFilePath},
+		{"file relative path", "file://dest", storage.ErrRelativeFilePath},
 		{"s3 missing bucket", "s3://", storage.ErrMissingBucket},
 		{"s3 missing bucket with path", "s3:///justprefix", storage.ErrMissingBucket},
 		{"rclone missing remote", "rclone://", storage.ErrMissingRemote},

internal/vaultik/blob_fetch.go

@@ -103,6 +103,8 @@ func (v *Vaultik) FetchAndDecryptBlob(
 }
 
 // FetchBlob downloads a blob and returns a reader for the encrypted data.
+// The reader is closed as soon as ctx is cancelled, which ends a read
+// blocked inside it.
 func (v *Vaultik) FetchBlob(
 	ctx context.Context, blobHash string,
 ) (io.ReadCloser, error) {
@@ -120,5 +122,47 @@ func (v *Vaultik) FetchBlob(
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("downloading blob %s: %w", shortHash(blobHash), err)
 	}
 
-	return rc, nil
+	return newCloseOnCancelReader(ctx, rc), nil
+}
+
+// closeOnCancelReader closes the reader it wraps when ctx is cancelled.
+// Not every backend's reader stops on cancel by itself (the file
+// backend's does not), and a read stalled on a slow or hung source would
+// otherwise outlast the shutdown timeout, so the process would exit
+// before restore or deep verify removed its decrypted temporary files.
+type closeOnCancelReader struct {
+	io.ReadCloser
+
+	ctx  context.Context //nolint:containedctx // Read reports its error
+	stop func() bool
+}
+
+func newCloseOnCancelReader(
+	ctx context.Context, rc io.ReadCloser,
+) *closeOnCancelReader {
+	return &closeOnCancelReader{
+		ReadCloser: rc,
+		ctx:        ctx,
+		stop:       context.AfterFunc(ctx, func() { _ = rc.Close() }),
+	}
+}
+
+// Read returns the context's error, not the closed reader's, once ctx
+// has been cancelled.
+func (r *closeOnCancelReader) Read(p []byte) (int, error) {
+	n, err := r.ReadCloser.Read(p)
+	if err != nil && r.ctx.Err() != nil {
+		return n, r.ctx.Err()
+	}
+
+	return n, err
+}
+
+// Close closes the wrapped reader, unless the cancel already closed it.
+func (r *closeOnCancelReader) Close() error {
+	if !r.stop() {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	return r.ReadCloser.Close()
 }

internal/vaultik/fault_injection_test.go

@@ -672,6 +672,7 @@ func faultScannerFactory(
 			UI:                 params.UI,
 			Exclude:            params.Exclude,
 			SkipErrors:         params.SkipErrors,
+			PreviousSnapshotID: params.PreviousSnapshotID,
 		})
 	}
 }

internal/vaultik/helpers.go

@@ -89,22 +89,6 @@ type SnapshotInfo struct {
 	RemotePresent    *bool            `json:"remote_present"`
 }
 
-// formatBytes formats bytes in a human-readable format
-func formatBytes(bytes int64) string {
-	const unit = 1024
-	if bytes < unit {
-		return fmt.Sprintf("%d B", bytes)
-	}
-
-	div, exp := int64(unit), 0
-	for n := bytes / unit; n >= unit; n /= unit {
-		div *= unit
-		exp++
-	}
-
-	return fmt.Sprintf("%.1f %cB", float64(bytes)/float64(div), "KMGTPE"[exp])
-}
-
 // parseSnapshotTimestamp extracts the timestamp from a snapshot ID
 // Format: hostname_snapshotname_2026-01-12T14:41:15Z
 func parseSnapshotTimestamp(snapshotID string) (time.Time, error) {

internal/vaultik/info.go

@@ -167,10 +167,6 @@ const (
 	// metadataKeyParts is the minimum "/"-separated segment count of a
 	// metadata object key (metadata/<snapshot-id>/<filename>).
 	metadataKeyParts = 3
-
-	// blobKeyParts is the minimum "/"-separated segment count of a blob
-	// object key (blobs/<aa>/<bb>/<hash>).
-	blobKeyParts = 4
 )
 
 // SnapshotMetadataInfo contains information about a single snapshot's metadata
@@ -454,23 +450,16 @@ func (v *Vaultik) scanRemoteBlobStorage(
 		v.stdoutf("Scanning blobs...\n")
 	}
 
-	blobCh := v.Storage.ListStream(v.ctx, "blobs/")
+	// Use prune's listing, so a file under blobs/ that prune would never
-	allBlobs := make(map[string]int64)
+	// delete is not counted as a blob, and so not as an orphaned one.
-
+	allBlobs, err := v.listAllRemoteBlobs()
-	for obj := range blobCh {
+	if err != nil {
-		if obj.Err != nil {
+		return err
-			return fmt.Errorf("listing blobs: %w", obj.Err)
 	}
 
-		parts := strings.Split(obj.Key, "/")
+	for _, size := range allBlobs {
-		if len(parts) < blobKeyParts {
-			continue
-		}
-
-		hash := parts[3]
-		allBlobs[hash] = obj.Size
 		result.TotalBlobCount++
-		result.TotalBlobSize += obj.Size
+		result.TotalBlobSize += size
 	}
 
 	// A blob named only by a manifest that could not be read, or by one

internal/vaultik/nuke_remote_test.go

@@ -5,14 +5,12 @@ 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
@@ -25,7 +23,7 @@ func TestNukeRemoteLeavesNoFiles(t *testing.T) {
 
 	ctx := context.Background()
 	storeDir := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "store")
-	v, repos, out := backUpToFileDestination(ctx, t, storeDir)
+	v, repos, _ := backUpToFileDestination(ctx, t, storeDir)
 
 	snapshots, err := repos.Snapshots.ListRecent(ctx, listRecentTestLimit)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -63,82 +61,4 @@ 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")
-		})
-	}
-}
-
-// TestNukeRemoteRefusesAnotherDestinationWithoutRetryAdvice checks that
-// remote nuke, when the local index belongs to a different destination
-// than the configured one, fails without advising to run nuke again:
-// that run would fail the same way.
-func TestNukeRemoteRefusesAnotherDestinationWithoutRetryAdvice(t *testing.T) {
-	log.Initialize(log.Config{})
-	t.Parallel()
-
-	ctx := context.Background()
-	storeDir := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "store")
-	v, _, out := backUpToFileDestination(ctx, t, storeDir)
-
-	v.Config.StorageURL = "file://" + filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "elsewhere")
-
-	err := v.NukeRemote(true)
-
-	require.ErrorContains(t, err, "bound to a different backup destination")
-	assert.NotContains(t, out.String(), "vaultik remote nuke --force")
-}
-
-// 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")
 }

internal/vaultik/prune.go

@@ -19,18 +19,14 @@ 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"
 
+// blobKeyParts is the "/"-separated segment count of a blob object key
+// (blobs/<aa>/<bb>/<hash>).
+const blobKeyParts = 4
+
 // 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. After this returns successfully the bucket
@@ -43,29 +39,6 @@ func (v *Vaultik) NukeRemote(force bool) error {
 		return errNukeRequiresForce
 	}
 
-	// Checked before anything is deleted: running nuke again would fail
-	// the same way, so the advice below must not follow this error.
-	err := v.EnsureStorageBinding()
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	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})
@@ -89,6 +62,8 @@ func (v *Vaultik) emptyDestinationStore() error {
 		}
 	}
 
+	v.UI.Completef("Backup destination store is now empty.")
+
 	return nil
 }
 
@@ -191,17 +166,14 @@ func (v *Vaultik) PruneBlobs(opts *PruneOptions) error {
 	v.deleteUnreferencedBlobs(unreferencedBlobs, allBlobs, result)
 
 	if opts.JSON {
-		err = v.outputPruneBlobsJSON(result)
+		return 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 {
-		return fmt.Errorf("%d %w", result.BlobsFailed, errBlobDeleteFailed)
+		v.stdoutf("Failed to delete %d blob(s)\n", result.BlobsFailed)
 	}
 
 	return nil

internal/vaultik/prune_delete_failure_test.go

@@ -1,98 +0,0 @@
-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.ErrorContains(t, err, "1 blob(s) could not be deleted")
-	assert.FileExists(t, orphan)
-}

internal/vaultik/remote_info_test.go

@@ -185,6 +185,39 @@ func TestRemoteInfo_SkipsNonConformingMetadataName(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.NotContains(t, doc, "unreadable_manifests")
 }
 
+// TestRemoteInfo_DoesNotCountNonBlobFileUnderBlobs checks that a file
+// under blobs/ whose name is not a blob hash is not counted as a blob.
+// prune never deletes such a file, so counting it as an orphaned blob
+// would advise a prune that removes nothing.
+func TestRemoteInfo_DoesNotCountNonBlobFileUnderBlobs(t *testing.T) {
+	log.Initialize(log.Config{})
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	env := newListEnv(t)
+	env.addRemote(t, listRemoteID, time.Date(2026, 3, 2, 0, 0, 0, 0, time.UTC))
+	addBlob(t, env.store.testStorer, testBlobHashA)
+	require.NoError(t, env.store.Put(context.Background(),
+		"blobs/"+testBlobHashA[:2]+"/"+testBlobHashA[2:4]+"/.DS_Store",
+		bytes.NewReader([]byte("junk"))))
+
+	require.NoError(t, env.v.RemoteInfo(false))
+
+	text := env.stdout.String()
+	assert.Contains(t, text, "Total blobs on remote:      1 (")
+	assert.Contains(t, text, "Orphaned (unreferenced):    0 (")
+	assert.NotContains(t, text, "vaultik prune")
+
+	env.stdout.Reset()
+	require.NoError(t, env.v.RemoteInfo(true))
+
+	var doc map[string]any
+
+	require.NoError(t, json.Unmarshal(env.stdout.Bytes(), &doc))
+	assert.InDelta(t, 1, doc["total_blob_count"], 0)
+	assert.InDelta(t, 0, doc["orphaned_blob_count"], 0)
+	assert.InDelta(t, 0, doc["orphaned_blob_size"], 0)
+}
+
 // TestRemoteInfo_DirectoryWithoutManifestLeavesOrphansKnown checks that
 // a directory under metadata/ holding no manifest.json.zst, such as one
 // left by a backup interrupted before its manifest upload, leaves the

internal/vaultik/remove_snapshot_test.go

@@ -476,8 +476,7 @@ 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")
-	// Remote nuke, the only caller, deletes the blobs next itself.
+	assert.Contains(t, out, "vaultik prune")
-	assert.NotContains(t, out, "vaultik prune")
 }
 
 func TestRemoveAllSnapshots_DryRun(t *testing.T) {

internal/vaultik/restore_interrupt_test.go

@@ -142,14 +142,14 @@ func TestRestoreCleansTempDirOnInterrupt(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 // scratchEntries returns the vaultik blob-cache and snapshot-database
-// scratch entries currently present in dir.
+// scratch entries (restore's and deep verify's) currently present in dir.
 func scratchEntries(t *testing.T, dir string) []string {
 	t.Helper()
 
 	var matches []string
 
 	for _, pattern := range []string{
-		"vaultik-blobcache-*", "vaultik-restore-*",
+		"vaultik-blobcache-*", "vaultik-restore-*", "vaultik-verify-*",
 	} {
 		found, err := filepath.Glob(filepath.Join(dir, pattern))
 		require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -206,3 +206,119 @@ func TestRestoreSkipErrorsCancelDuringBlobDownload(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.NotContains(t, out.String(), srcPath,
 		"the cancel was reported as a failed file")
 }
+
+// stallingBlobStorer wraps a Storer so that every blob download hands
+// over the first half of the blob and then stalls, ignoring the context,
+// as a file:// blob on a hung USB stick or network share does. Only
+// closing the returned reader ends the stall.
+type stallingBlobStorer struct {
+	storage.Storer
+
+	once    sync.Once
+	stalled chan struct{}
+}
+
+func newStallingBlobStorer(inner storage.Storer) *stallingBlobStorer {
+	return &stallingBlobStorer{Storer: inner, stalled: make(chan struct{})}
+}
+
+func (s *stallingBlobStorer) Get(
+	ctx context.Context, key string,
+) (io.ReadCloser, error) {
+	rc, err := s.Storer.Get(ctx, key)
+	if err != nil || !strings.HasPrefix(key, "blobs/") {
+		return rc, err
+	}
+
+	blob, err := io.ReadAll(rc)
+	_ = rc.Close()
+
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	// The writer is never closed, so once the first half has been read
+	// the next Read blocks until the reader is closed.
+	pr, pw := io.Pipe()
+
+	go func() {
+		_, _ = pw.Write(blob[:len(blob)/2])
+
+		s.once.Do(func() { close(s.stalled) })
+	}()
+
+	return pr, nil
+}
+
+// TestInterruptDuringStalledBlobReadCleansTempDir stops a restore and a
+// deep verify while a blob read is stalled on a source that ignores the
+// context. Stopping must end that read, so the operation unwinds and
+// removes its decrypted scratch files well within the shutdown timeout
+// (issue #325).
+//
+// Not parallel: it points TMPDIR at a private directory (via t.Setenv)
+// so it can assert on exactly the scratch files the operation created.
+func TestInterruptDuringStalledBlobReadCleansTempDir(t *testing.T) {
+	log.Initialize(log.Config{})
+
+	operations := map[string]func(v *Vaultik, snapshotID, targetDir string) error{
+		"restore": func(v *Vaultik, snapshotID, targetDir string) error {
+			return v.Restore(&RestoreOptions{
+				SnapshotID: snapshotID,
+				TargetDir:  targetDir,
+			})
+		},
+		"deep verify": func(v *Vaultik, snapshotID, _ string) error {
+			return v.RunDeepVerify(snapshotID, &VerifyOptions{Deep: true})
+		},
+	}
+
+	for name, op := range operations {
+		t.Run(name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			fs := afero.NewOsFs()
+			root := t.TempDir()
+
+			// Random content, so the blob stays large enough to stall
+			// part-way through its compressed, encrypted body.
+			cfg, storer, snapshotID, _ := backupOneFile(context.Background(),
+				t, fs, root, "a.bin", randomBytes(t, 256*1024), 0o644)
+
+			scratch := filepath.Join(root, "scratch")
+			require.NoError(t, fs.MkdirAll(scratch, 0o755))
+			t.Setenv("TMPDIR", scratch)
+
+			stalling := newStallingBlobStorer(storer)
+
+			ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+			defer cancel()
+
+			v := newRestoreVaultik(ctx, cfg, stalling, fs)
+			v.cancel = cancel
+
+			var opErr error
+
+			stop := v.StartOperation(func() {
+				opErr = op(v, snapshotID, filepath.Join(root, "restored"))
+			})
+
+			select {
+			case <-stalling.stalled:
+			case <-time.After(30 * time.Second):
+				t.Fatal("the operation never reached a blob read")
+			}
+
+			require.NotEmpty(t, scratchEntries(t, scratch),
+				"expected decrypted scratch files to exist mid-read")
+
+			stopCtx, stopCancel := context.WithTimeout(
+				context.Background(), 10*time.Second)
+			defer stopCancel()
+
+			require.True(t, stop(stopCtx),
+				"stop timed out; the stalled blob read was not interrupted")
+			require.ErrorIs(t, opErr, context.Canceled)
+			require.Empty(t, scratchEntries(t, scratch),
+				"decrypted scratch files remained after the interrupt")
+		})
+	}
+}

internal/vaultik/snapshot.go

@@ -24,13 +24,18 @@ var (
 	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 " +
 			"age_recipients (generate a keypair with: age-keygen)")
+	errKeepNewerThanNeedsPrune = errors.New("--keep-newer-than requires --prune")
 )
 
+// ErrPostBackupPruneFailed wraps a failure of the post-backup prune,
+// which runs only after every snapshot was created and uploaded, so the
+// caller can report it apart from a failed backup.
+var ErrPostBackupPruneFailed = errors.New("post-backup prune failed")
+
 // listRecentLimit caps how many snapshot rows are fetched from the
 // local index for listing and purge operations.
 const listRecentLimit = 10000
@@ -46,6 +51,26 @@ type SnapshotCreateOptions struct {
 	Snapshots     []string // Optional list of snapshot names to process (empty = all)
 }
 
+// Validate fails when KeepNewerThan is set without Prune or is not a
+// valid duration. Only the post-backup prune reads KeepNewerThan, after
+// the backup, so the caller checks it before starting one.
+func (opts *SnapshotCreateOptions) Validate() error {
+	if opts.KeepNewerThan == "" {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	if !opts.Prune {
+		return errKeepNewerThanNeedsPrune
+	}
+
+	_, err := parseDuration(opts.KeepNewerThan)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("--keep-newer-than: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
 // CreateSnapshot executes the snapshot creation operation
 func (v *Vaultik) CreateSnapshot(opts *SnapshotCreateOptions) error {
 	// config.Load accepts an empty list, since listing, verifying and
@@ -124,7 +149,7 @@ func (v *Vaultik) CreateSnapshot(opts *SnapshotCreateOptions) error {
 	if opts.Prune {
 		err = v.runPostBackupPrune(snapshotNames, opts.KeepNewerThan)
 		if err != nil {
-			return fmt.Errorf("post-backup prune: %w", err)
+			return fmt.Errorf("%w: %w", ErrPostBackupPruneFailed, err)
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -215,12 +240,18 @@ func (v *Vaultik) createNamedSnapshot(
 		return err
 	}
 
+	previousSnapshotID, err := v.previousSnapshotID(snapName)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
 	scanner := v.ScannerFactory(snapshot.ScannerParams{
 		EnableProgress:     !opts.Cron,
 		UI:                 v.UI,
 		Fs:                 v.Fs,
 		Exclude:            v.Config.GetExcludes(snapName),
 		SkipErrors:         opts.SkipErrors,
+		PreviousSnapshotID: previousSnapshotID,
 	})
 
 	snapshotID, err := v.SnapshotManager.CreateSnapshotWithName(
@@ -255,6 +286,24 @@ func (v *Vaultik) createNamedSnapshot(
 	return nil
 }
 
+// previousSnapshotID returns the ID of the most recent completed snapshot
+// named snapName in the local index, or "" when there is none.
+func (v *Vaultik) previousSnapshotID(snapName string) (string, error) {
+	snapshots, err := v.Repositories.Snapshots.ListRecent(v.ctx, listRecentLimit)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("listing snapshots: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	for _, s := range snapshots {
+		if s.CompletedAt != nil &&
+			parseSnapshotName(s.ID.String(), s.Hostname.String()) == snapName {
+			return s.ID.String(), nil
+		}
+	}
+
+	return "", nil
+}
+
 // resolveSnapshotPaths resolves source directories to absolute paths
 // with symlink resolution.
 func (v *Vaultik) resolveSnapshotPaths(snapName string) ([]string, error) {
@@ -608,7 +657,7 @@ func (v *Vaultik) confirmAndExecutePurge(
 			v.stdoutf("  %s (%s, %s)\n",
 				snap.ID,
 				snap.Timestamp.Format("2006-01-02 15:04:05"),
-				formatBytes(snap.CompressedSize))
+				ubytes(snap.CompressedSize))
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -1514,8 +1563,8 @@ 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. It returns an error when
+// orphan remote keys. Blobs are not touched; the printed prune-command
-// any snapshot could not be removed.
+// hint is the next step.
 func (v *Vaultik) executeRemoveAll(
 	localSnaps, orphanRemoteKeys []string, opts *RemoveOptions,
 ) (*RemoveResult, error) {
@@ -1529,11 +1578,18 @@ func (v *Vaultik) executeRemoveAll(
 
 	result := &RemoveResult{}
 
-	failures := v.removeAllLocalSnapshots(localSnaps, opts, result)
+	remoteErrors := v.removeAllLocalSnapshots(localSnaps, opts, result)
 
 	if !opts.LocalOnly {
-		failures += v.removeAllOrphanRemotes(orphanRemoteKeys, result)
+		remoteErrors += v.removeAllOrphanRemotes(orphanRemoteKeys, result)
-		result.RemoteRemoved = failures == 0
+
+		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)
+		}
 	}
 
 	if v.SnapshotManager != nil {
@@ -1543,10 +1599,6 @@ func (v *Vaultik) executeRemoveAll(
 		}
 	}
 
-	if failures > 0 {
-		return result, fmt.Errorf("%d %w", failures, errSnapshotRemoveFailed)
-	}
-
 	if opts.JSON {
 		return result, v.outputRemoveJSON(result)
 	}
@@ -1555,6 +1607,9 @@ 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
@@ -1597,13 +1652,12 @@ 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 snapshots
+// --local-only, its remote metadata), returning the number of remote
-// it could not remove. A snapshot left in the local index keeps its
+// deletion failures.
-// remote metadata too, since it is not an orphan remote key.
 func (v *Vaultik) removeAllLocalSnapshots(
 	localSnaps []string, opts *RemoveOptions, result *RemoveResult,
 ) int {
-	failures := 0
+	remoteErrors := 0
 
 	for _, snapshotID := range localSnaps {
 		log.Info("Removing snapshot", "snapshot_id", snapshotID)
@@ -1613,8 +1667,6 @@ func (v *Vaultik) removeAllLocalSnapshots(
 			log.Error("Failed to remove from local database",
 				"snapshot_id", snapshotID, "error", err)
 
-			failures++
-
 			continue
 		}
 
@@ -1625,14 +1677,14 @@ func (v *Vaultik) removeAllLocalSnapshots(
 				log.Warn("Failed to remove snapshot metadata from remote",
 					"snapshot_id", snapshotID, "error", err)
 
-				failures++
+				remoteErrors++
 			}
 		}
 
 		result.SnapshotsRemoved = append(result.SnapshotsRemoved, snapshotID)
 	}
 
-	return failures
+	return remoteErrors
 }
 
 // removeAllOrphanRemotes deletes remote snapshot metadata that has no

internal/vaultik/snapshot_deleted_count_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,196 @@
+package vaultik_test
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"context"
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/spf13/afero"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+	"sneak.berlin/go/vaultik/internal/config"
+	"sneak.berlin/go/vaultik/internal/database"
+	"sneak.berlin/go/vaultik/internal/log"
+	"sneak.berlin/go/vaultik/internal/storage"
+	"sneak.berlin/go/vaultik/internal/ui"
+	"sneak.berlin/go/vaultik/internal/vaultik"
+)
+
+// These tests cover https://git.eeqj.de/sneak/vaultik/issues/304: a
+// backup counts a file as deleted only when the previous snapshot of
+// the same name had it and it is gone, and never counts an excluded
+// file.
+
+// deletedCountEnv is a backup setup over the source directory src whose
+// user-facing output is kept in out. Each test configures its snapshots
+// with setSnapshot.
+type deletedCountEnv struct {
+	v   *vaultik.Vaultik
+	out *bytes.Buffer
+	src string
+}
+
+// newDeletedCountEnv writes files, keyed by path relative to src.
+func newDeletedCountEnv(t *testing.T, files map[string][]byte) *deletedCountEnv {
+	t.Helper()
+
+	ctx := context.Background()
+	fs := afero.NewOsFs()
+	tempDir := t.TempDir()
+	srcDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "src")
+
+	for rel, content := range files {
+		path := filepath.Join(srcDir, rel)
+		require.NoError(t, fs.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(path), 0o755))
+		require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, path, content, 0o644))
+	}
+
+	cfg := faultTestConfig()
+	cfg.IndexPath = filepath.Join(tempDir, "index.sqlite")
+	cfg.Snapshots = map[string]config.SnapshotConfig{}
+
+	store, err := storage.NewFileStorer(filepath.Join(tempDir, "remote"))
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	db, err := database.New(ctx, cfg.IndexPath)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	t.Cleanup(func() { _ = db.Close() })
+
+	repos := database.NewRepositories(db)
+	out := &bytes.Buffer{}
+	v := newBackupVaultik(ctx, cfg, store, repos, db, fs)
+	v.UI = ui.NewWithColor(out, false)
+
+	return &deletedCountEnv{v: v, out: out, src: srcDir}
+}
+
+// setSnapshot configures the snapshot name to back up the path rel
+// beneath src, with the given excludes.
+func (e *deletedCountEnv) setSnapshot(name, rel string, exclude ...string) {
+	e.v.Config.Snapshots[name] = config.SnapshotConfig{
+		Paths:   []string{filepath.Join(e.src, rel)},
+		Exclude: exclude,
+	}
+}
+
+// backUp runs a backup of the named snapshot and returns its output.
+func (e *deletedCountEnv) backUp(t *testing.T, name string) string {
+	t.Helper()
+
+	e.out.Reset()
+	require.NoError(t, e.v.CreateSnapshot(&vaultik.SnapshotCreateOptions{
+		Snapshots: []string{name},
+	}))
+
+	return e.out.String()
+}
+
+// A file this snapshot excludes is not counted as deleted: neither one
+// that another snapshot backs up, nor one that the previous snapshot of
+// this name had before the exclude was added.
+func TestBackupDoesNotCountExcludedFileAsDeleted(t *testing.T) {
+	log.Initialize(log.Config{})
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	env := newDeletedCountEnv(t, map[string][]byte{
+		"top.txt":       []byte("top"),
+		"cache/tmp.bin": []byte("cache"),
+		"photos/a.jpg":  []byte("photo a"),
+		"photos/b.jpg":  []byte("photo b"),
+		"photos/c.jpg":  []byte("photo c"),
+	})
+	env.setSnapshot("photos", "photos")
+	env.setSnapshot("home", "", "/photos")
+
+	env.backUp(t, "photos")
+	assert.Contains(t, env.backUp(t, "home"), filesLine(2, 2, 0))
+
+	env.setSnapshot("home", "", "/photos", "/cache")
+	assert.Contains(t, env.backUp(t, "home"), filesLine(1, 0, 1))
+}
+
+// A file inside a directory that an exclude added after a backup
+// matches is not counted as deleted, though the pattern matches only the
+// directory.
+func TestBackupDoesNotCountFileInExcludedDirectoryAsDeleted(t *testing.T) {
+	log.Initialize(log.Config{})
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	env := newDeletedCountEnv(t, map[string][]byte{
+		"top.txt":                         []byte("top"),
+		"user/.local/share/Trash/old.txt": []byte("old"),
+	})
+	env.setSnapshot("home", "")
+
+	assert.Contains(t, env.backUp(t, "home"), filesLine(2, 2, 0))
+
+	env.setSnapshot("home", "", "*/.local/share/Trash")
+	assert.Contains(t, env.backUp(t, "home"), filesLine(1, 0, 1))
+}
+
+// A backup counts only files that the previous snapshot of its own name
+// had, not one that a later snapshot of another name over the same path
+// had and that is since removed.
+func TestBackupIgnoresSnapshotOfAnotherName(t *testing.T) {
+	log.Initialize(log.Config{})
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	env := newDeletedCountEnv(t, map[string][]byte{
+		"kept.txt": []byte("kept"),
+	})
+	env.setSnapshot("home", "")
+	env.setSnapshot("other", "")
+
+	env.backUp(t, "home")
+
+	// Snapshot start times are kept in whole seconds: wait so that other's
+	// snapshot is strictly the most recent.
+	time.Sleep(time.Second)
+
+	extra := filepath.Join(env.src, "extra.txt")
+	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(extra, []byte("extra"), 0o600))
+	env.backUp(t, "other")
+	require.NoError(t, os.Remove(extra))
+
+	assert.Contains(t, env.backUp(t, "home"), filesLine(1, 0, 1))
+}
+
+// A file removed from disk is counted as deleted by the next backup of
+// the snapshot that had it, and not by any later backup of that
+// snapshot, nor by the first backup of another name over the same path.
+func TestBackupCountsDeletedFileOnce(t *testing.T) {
+	log.Initialize(log.Config{})
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	aContent := bytes.Repeat([]byte("a"), 1000)
+	bContent := bytes.Repeat([]byte("b"), 2000)
+	keptContent := bytes.Repeat([]byte("k"), 500)
+
+	env := newDeletedCountEnv(t, map[string][]byte{
+		"a.txt":    aContent,
+		"b.txt":    bContent,
+		"kept.txt": keptContent,
+	})
+	env.setSnapshot("home", "")
+	env.setSnapshot("other", "")
+
+	assert.Contains(t, env.backUp(t, "home"), filesLine(3, 3, 0))
+
+	require.NoError(t, os.Remove(filepath.Join(env.src, "a.txt")))
+	require.NoError(t, os.Remove(filepath.Join(env.src, "b.txt")))
+
+	summary := env.backUp(t, "home")
+	assert.Contains(t, summary,
+		"Files: 1 examined, 0 backed up, 1 unchanged, 2 deleted.")
+	assert.Contains(t, summary,
+		fmt.Sprintf("Data: %s total (%s backed up), %s deleted.",
+			env.v.UI.Size(int64(len(keptContent))), env.v.UI.Size(0),
+			env.v.UI.Size(int64(len(aContent)+len(bContent)))))
+
+	assert.Contains(t, env.backUp(t, "home"), filesLine(1, 0, 1))
+	assert.Contains(t, env.backUp(t, "other"), filesLine(1, 0, 1))
+}

internal/vaultik/snapshot_list.go

@@ -553,8 +553,8 @@ func (v *Vaultik) printSnapshotTable(snapshots []SnapshotInfo) error {
 
 		if snap.LocallyTracked {
 			id = snap.ID.String()
-			uncompressed = formatBytes(snap.UncompressedSize)
+			uncompressed = ubytes(snap.UncompressedSize)
-			newChunks = formatBytes(snap.NewChunkSize)
+			newChunks = ubytes(snap.NewChunkSize)
 		} else {
 			id = formatRemoteOnlyID(snap.RemoteKey)
 			uncompressed = remoteOnlyCell
@@ -564,7 +564,7 @@ func (v *Vaultik) printSnapshotTable(snapshots []SnapshotInfo) error {
 		_, err = fmt.Fprintf(w, "%s\t%s\t%s\t%s\t%s\n",
 			id,
 			snap.Timestamp.Format("2006-01-02 15:04:05"),
-			formatBytes(snap.CompressedSize),
+			ubytes(snap.CompressedSize),
 			uncompressed,
 			newChunks)
 		if err != nil {

internal/vaultik/snapshot_list_test.go

@@ -212,8 +212,8 @@ const (
 	listConfiguredName = "home"
 	listLocalID        = "testhost_home_2026-03-01T10:00:00Z"
 	listRemoteID       = "otherhost_media_2026-03-02T11:22:33Z"
-	// fiveMegabytes formats as "5.0 MB" through formatBytes.
+	// fiveMegabytes is printed as "5.0 MB" by every command.
-	fiveMegabytes = 5 * 1024 * 1024
+	fiveMegabytes = 5_000_000
 )
 
 // TestListSnapshots_RemoteWithoutSecretKey is the regression guard for
@@ -306,6 +306,48 @@ func TestListSnapshots_RemoteOnlyRowRendering(t *testing.T) {
 		"are not in the local index")
 }
 
+// TestSnapshotListAndPurgePrintSizesLikeRemoteInfo checks that the
+// `snapshot list` table and the purge listing print a byte count the way
+// `remote info` does: in powers of 1000, as the MB label says.
+func TestSnapshotListAndPurgePrintSizesLikeRemoteInfo(t *testing.T) {
+	log.Initialize(log.Config{})
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	const wantSize = "5.0 MB" // fiveMegabytes
+
+	env := newListEnv(t)
+
+	// A remote-only snapshot: `snapshot list` and `remote info` both take
+	// its size from the manifest.
+	remoteKey := env.addRemote(t, listRemoteID,
+		time.Date(2026, 3, 2, 11, 22, 33, 0, time.UTC))
+
+	// A locally tracked snapshot of the same size for the purge to list.
+	// The purge prints the snapshot's blob size, the last argument here.
+	start := time.Date(2026, 3, 1, 10, 0, 0, 0, time.UTC)
+	env.addLocal(t, listLocalID, start)
+	env.addRemote(t, listLocalID, start)
+	require.NoError(t, env.v.Repositories.Snapshots.UpdateCounts(
+		context.Background(), nil, listLocalID, 0, 0, 0, 0, fiveMegabytes))
+
+	require.NoError(t, env.v.RemoteInfo(false))
+	assert.Contains(t, findTableRow(t, env.stdout.String(), remoteKey[:16]),
+		wantSize, "remote info")
+
+	env.stdout.Reset()
+	require.NoError(t, env.v.ListSnapshots(false))
+	assert.Contains(t, findTableRow(t, env.stdout.String(),
+		"<remote only:"+remoteKey[:12]+">"), wantSize, "snapshot list")
+
+	// Without --force and with nothing on stdin the purge lists what it
+	// would delete, reads no confirmation, and deletes nothing.
+	env.stdout.Reset()
+	require.NoError(t, env.v.PurgeSnapshotsWithOptions(
+		&vaultik.SnapshotPurgeOptions{OlderThan: "1d"}))
+	assert.Contains(t, findTableRow(t, env.stdout.String(), listLocalID),
+		wantSize, "snapshot purge")
+}
+
 // findTableRow returns the single output line containing needle.
 func findTableRow(t *testing.T, out, needle string) string {
 	t.Helper()