Fail restore for a requested path that matches nothing (closes #309)

snapshot restore said nothing about a requested path that matched no
entry in the snapshot (a typo, a relative path, or a path through a
configured snapshot path that is a symlink, whose entries are stored
under the resolved directory) and exited 0, also when nothing matched
at all. Each such path is now named in a warning, and restore returns
an error after restoring the paths that do match.

Making a path through a symlink match is not part of this change.
Judgement call: when files also fail to restore, that error is the one
returned; the unmatched paths are still named.

Model: opus-5-5

README.md

@@ -349,9 +349,11 @@ 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. Local row cleanup (files,
+prune` invocation to run as a follow-up. An ID that names no snapshot in
-chunks, blobs the snapshot was the last referrer for) runs
+the local index or on the destination store is an error; with
-automatically. If the destination store is unreachable, the local-DB
+`--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, 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
@@ -368,7 +370,9 @@ on the destination in one go, use `vaultik remote nuke --force`.
   store — its remote key (or an unambiguous leading part of it) as shown
   by `snapshot list`. See
   [restoring on another machine](#restoring-on-another-machine).
-* Optional path arguments to restore specific files/directories (default: all)
+* Optional path arguments to restore specific files/directories (default: all).
+  A path that matches nothing in the snapshot is named in a warning, and the
+  command exits non-zero after restoring the paths that match
 * Preserves file permissions, timestamps, ownership (ownership requires root),
   symlinks, and empty directories
 * `--verify`: After restoring, verify every file's chunk hashes match

TODO.md

@@ -22,6 +22,16 @@ the tag exists and is exercised; what is left is merging `next` to
 
 # Completed Steps
 
+- 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.
+
 - 2026-10-12: Bound the local index to the destination an `s3.*` config
   names ([issue #298](https://git.eeqj.de/sneak/vaultik/issues/298)).
   Only `storage_url` was checked, so after `s3.bucket` or `s3.prefix`

internal/cli/snapshot.go

@@ -255,8 +255,12 @@ 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).
+snapshot locally without touching the destination store); the snapshot
+must then be in the local index.
 
 If the remote is unreachable, the local-database removal still completes
 and a warning is emitted; run 'vaultik snapshot remove <snapshot-id>' again

internal/cli/snapshot_restore.go

@@ -30,6 +30,8 @@ This command will restore files from the specified snapshot to the
 target directory.
 If no paths are specified, all files are restored.
 If paths are specified, only matching files/directories are restored.
+A path that matches nothing in the snapshot is named in a warning, and
+the command exits non-zero after restoring the paths that match.
 
 The snapshot may be named by its ID or, when restoring on a host with no
 local index, by the remote key that 'snapshot list' prints for a

internal/vaultik/remove_snapshot_test.go

@@ -3,17 +3,21 @@ 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"
 )
 
@@ -214,6 +218,37 @@ 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
 // ============================================================================
@@ -233,6 +268,7 @@ 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)
@@ -268,6 +304,7 @@ func TestRemoveSnapshot_DefaultRemovesMetadataNotBlobs(t *testing.T) {
 	addBlob(t, store, blobShared)
 
 	tv := vaultik.NewForTesting(store)
+	tv.Repositories = newLocalIndex(t, "snapshot-001", "snapshot-002")
 
 	opts := &vaultik.RemoveOptions{Force: true}
 	result, err := tv.RemoveSnapshot("snapshot-001", opts)
@@ -316,6 +353,84 @@ 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()
+
+	tv := vaultik.NewForTesting(newTestStorer())
+	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()

internal/vaultik/restore.go

@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ import (
 // Sentinel errors for restore failures.
 var (
 	errFilesFailedRestore    = errors.New("file(s) failed to restore")
+	errPathsNotInSnapshot    = errors.New("requested path(s) not in the snapshot")
 	errFilesFailedVerify     = errors.New("files failed verification")
 	errDecryptionKeyRequired = errors.New(
 		"decryption key required for restore\n\n" +
@@ -149,7 +150,7 @@ func (v *Vaultik) Restore(opts *RestoreOptions) error {
 	repos := database.NewRepositories(tempDB)
 
 	// Step 2: Get list of files to restore
-	files, err := v.getFilesToRestore(v.ctx, repos, opts.Paths)
+	files, unmatched, err := v.getFilesToRestore(v.ctx, repos, opts.Paths)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("getting files to restore: %w", err)
 	}
@@ -158,7 +159,7 @@ func (v *Vaultik) Restore(opts *RestoreOptions) error {
 		log.Warn("No files found to restore")
 		v.UI.Warningf("No files found to restore.")
 
-		return nil
+		return v.reportUnmatchedPaths(unmatched)
 	}
 
 	log.Info("Found files to restore", "count", len(files))
@@ -198,14 +199,16 @@ func (v *Vaultik) Restore(opts *RestoreOptions) error {
 		v.UI.Duration(result.Duration),
 	)
 
-	return v.finishRestore(repos, files, opts, result)
+	return v.finishRestore(repos, files, unmatched, opts, result)
 }
 
 // finishRestore emits the post-restore warnings, runs optional
-// verification, and converts any failed-file count into an error.
+// verification, and converts any failed-file count or requested path
+// that matched nothing into an error.
 func (v *Vaultik) finishRestore(
 	repos *database.Repositories,
 	files []*database.File,
+	unmatched []string,
 	opts *RestoreOptions,
 	result *RestoreResult,
 ) error {
@@ -223,6 +226,8 @@ func (v *Vaultik) finishRestore(
 		}
 	}
 
+	unmatchedErr := v.reportUnmatchedPaths(unmatched)
+
 	// Run verification if requested
 	if opts.Verify {
 		err := v.handleRestoreVerification(repos, files, opts, result)
@@ -235,7 +240,23 @@ func (v *Vaultik) finishRestore(
 		return fmt.Errorf("%d %w", result.FilesFailed, errFilesFailedRestore)
 	}
 
-	return nil
+	return unmatchedErr
+}
+
+// reportUnmatchedPaths warns, by name, about each requested path that
+// matched nothing in the snapshot, and returns an error counting them,
+// or nil when there are none.
+func (v *Vaultik) reportUnmatchedPaths(unmatched []string) error {
+	if len(unmatched) == 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	for _, path := range unmatched {
+		log.Warn("Requested path matches nothing in the snapshot", "path", path)
+		v.UI.Warningf("%s matches nothing in the snapshot.", v.UI.Path(path))
+	}
+
+	return fmt.Errorf("%d %w", len(unmatched), errPathsNotInSnapshot)
 }
 
 // restoreIdentities parses the configured age secret key once into every
@@ -812,27 +833,34 @@ func (v *Vaultik) materializeSnapshotDB(
 	return db, tempDir, nil
 }
 
-// getFilesToRestore returns the list of files to restore based on path filters
+// getFilesToRestore returns the list of files to restore based on path
+// filters, and the filters, as given, that matched no file.
 func (v *Vaultik) getFilesToRestore(
 	ctx context.Context, repos *database.Repositories, pathFilters []string,
-) ([]*database.File, error) {
+) ([]*database.File, []string, error) {
 	// If no filters, get all files
 	if len(pathFilters) == 0 {
-		return repos.Files.ListAll(ctx)
+		files, err := repos.Files.ListAll(ctx)
+
+		return files, nil, err
 	}
 
 	// Get files matching the path filters
-	var result []*database.File
+	var (
+		result    []*database.File
+		unmatched []string
+	)
 
 	seen := make(map[string]bool)
 
 	for _, filter := range pathFilters {
-		// Normalize the filter path
+		files, err := repos.Files.ListUnderPath(ctx, filepath.Clean(filter))
-		filter = filepath.Clean(filter)
-
-		files, err := repos.Files.ListUnderPath(ctx, filter)
 		if err != nil {
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("listing files under %s: %w", filter, err)
+			return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("listing files under %s: %w", filter, err)
+		}
+
+		if len(files) == 0 {
+			unmatched = append(unmatched, filter)
 		}
 
 		for _, file := range files {
@@ -843,7 +871,7 @@ func (v *Vaultik) getFilesToRestore(
 		}
 	}
 
-	return result, nil
+	return result, unmatched, nil
 }
 
 // buildChunkToBlobMap creates a mapping from chunk hash to blob information

internal/vaultik/restore_unmatched_path_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,142 @@
+package vaultik_test
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"context"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	"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/309: a path
+// given to restore that matches nothing in the snapshot is named in a
+// warning and makes the restore fail, after the paths that do match are
+// restored.
+
+func TestRestoreNamesUnmatchedPathAndRestoresTheMatchingOne(t *testing.T) {
+	log.Initialize(log.Config{})
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	fs := afero.NewOsFs()
+	tempDir := t.TempDir()
+	dataDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "src")
+	storeDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "remote")
+	restoreDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "restored")
+	dbPath := filepath.Join(tempDir, "index.sqlite")
+
+	ctx := context.Background()
+	cfg := faultTestConfig()
+	files := writeFaultSourceTree(t, fs, dataDir)
+
+	store, err := storage.NewFileStorer(storeDir)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	db, err := database.New(ctx, dbPath)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	id := fullFaultBackup(ctx, t, fs, store, cfg,
+		database.NewRepositories(db), dataDir, dbPath, "unmatched")
+	require.NoError(t, db.Close())
+
+	matched := filepath.Join(dataDir, "small.txt")
+	unmatched := filepath.Join(dataDir, "typo.txt")
+
+	var out bytes.Buffer
+
+	v := newReaderVaultik(ctx, cfg, store, nil, fs)
+	v.UI = ui.NewWithColor(&out, false)
+
+	err = v.Restore(&vaultik.RestoreOptions{
+		SnapshotID: id,
+		TargetDir:  restoreDir,
+		Paths:      []string{matched, unmatched},
+	})
+
+	require.Error(t, err, "a path that matches nothing must fail the restore")
+	assert.Contains(t, out.String(), unmatched,
+		"the path that matches nothing must be named")
+	assert.NotContains(t, out.String(), matched,
+		"the path that matches must not be reported")
+
+	got, err := afero.ReadFile(fs, filepath.Join(restoreDir, matched))
+	require.NoError(t, err, "the path that matches must still be restored")
+	assert.Equal(t, files[matched], got)
+}
+
+// When no requested path matches, nothing is restored and each path is
+// named. One path is relative. The other goes through the symlink that
+// is the snapshot's configured path, while the entries are stored under
+// the directory the symlink points to.
+func TestRestoreNamesEveryPathWhenNothingMatches(t *testing.T) {
+	log.Initialize(log.Config{})
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	const snapshotName = "linked"
+
+	fs := afero.NewOsFs()
+	tempDir := t.TempDir()
+	dataDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "src")
+	linkDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "srclink")
+	storeDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "remote")
+	restoreDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "restored")
+	dbPath := filepath.Join(tempDir, "index.sqlite")
+
+	ctx := context.Background()
+	writeFaultSourceTree(t, fs, dataDir)
+	require.NoError(t, os.Symlink(dataDir, linkDir))
+
+	cfg := faultTestConfig()
+	cfg.IndexPath = dbPath
+	cfg.ChunkSize = config.Size(faultChunkSize)
+	cfg.Snapshots = map[string]config.SnapshotConfig{
+		snapshotName: {Paths: []string{linkDir}},
+	}
+
+	store, err := storage.NewFileStorer(storeDir)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	db, err := database.New(ctx, dbPath)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	repos := database.NewRepositories(db)
+	v := newBackupVaultik(ctx, cfg, store, repos, db, fs)
+
+	require.NoError(t, backUp(v, snapshotName))
+
+	id := localSnapshotID(ctx, t, repos, snapshotName)
+	require.NoError(t, db.Close())
+
+	throughLink := filepath.Join(linkDir, "sub")
+	relative := strings.TrimPrefix(filepath.Join(dataDir, "small.txt"), "/")
+
+	var out bytes.Buffer
+
+	reader := newReaderVaultik(ctx, cfg, store, nil, fs)
+	reader.UI = ui.NewWithColor(&out, false)
+
+	err = reader.Restore(&vaultik.RestoreOptions{
+		SnapshotID: id,
+		TargetDir:  restoreDir,
+		Paths:      []string{throughLink, relative},
+	})
+
+	require.Error(t, err, "a restore that matches nothing must fail")
+	assert.Contains(t, out.String(), throughLink,
+		"the path through the symlink must be named")
+	assert.Contains(t, out.String(), relative,
+		"the relative path must be named")
+
+	_, err = fs.Stat(restoreDir)
+	assert.True(t, os.IsNotExist(err), "nothing must be restored")
+}

internal/vaultik/snapshot.go

@@ -23,6 +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")
 	errInvalidTableName     = errors.New("invalid table name")
 	errNoAgeRecipients      = errors.New(
 		"creating a snapshot needs at least one public key in " +
@@ -643,7 +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)
 		}
@@ -1153,6 +1154,11 @@ 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)
 	}
@@ -1161,11 +1167,13 @@ func (v *Vaultik) RemoveSnapshot(
 		return result, nil
 	}
 
-	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)
+		err = v.deleteSnapshotFromLocalDB(snapshotID)
-	if err != nil {
+		if err != nil {
-		return result, fmt.Errorf("removing from local database: %w", err)
+			return result, fmt.Errorf("removing from local database: %w", err)
+		}
 	}
 
 	if !opts.LocalOnly {
@@ -1184,9 +1192,11 @@ func (v *Vaultik) RemoveSnapshot(
 		return result, v.outputRemoveJSON(result)
 	}
 
-	v.stdoutf("Removed snapshot '%s' from local database\n", snapshotID)
+	if inLocalIndex {
+		v.stdoutf("Removed snapshot '%s' from local database\n", snapshotID)
+	}
 
-	if !opts.LocalOnly && result.RemoteRemoved {
+	if 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 "+
@@ -1196,6 +1206,45 @@ 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(
@@ -1255,14 +1304,14 @@ func (v *Vaultik) confirmRemoveSnapshot(snapshotID string, opts *RemoveOptions)
 // 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). Returns true when the remote removal
-// succeeded.
+// succeeded and deleted something.
 func (v *Vaultik) removeSnapshotRemote(snapshotID string, opts *RemoveOptions) bool {
 	log.Info("Removing snapshot metadata from remote storage",
 		"snapshot_id", snapshotID)
 
 	remoteKey := snapshot.RemoteSnapshotKey(snapshotID)
 
-	err := v.deleteRemoteSnapshotByKey(remoteKey)
+	deleted, err := v.deleteRemoteSnapshotByKey(remoteKey)
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Warn("Could not remove snapshot metadata from remote storage; "+
 			"run '"+snapshotRemoveCommandHint+"' with the snapshot's ID "+
@@ -1280,7 +1329,7 @@ func (v *Vaultik) removeSnapshotRemote(snapshotID string, opts *RemoveOptions) b
 		return false
 	}
 
-	return true
+	return deleted > 0
 }
 
 // RemoveAllSnapshots removes every snapshot known to the local
@@ -1572,7 +1621,7 @@ func (v *Vaultik) removeAllLocalSnapshots(
 		}
 
 		if !opts.LocalOnly {
-			err = v.deleteRemoteSnapshotByKey(
+			_, err = v.deleteRemoteSnapshotByKey(
 				snapshot.RemoteSnapshotKey(snapshotID))
 			if err != nil {
 				log.Warn("Failed to remove snapshot metadata from remote",
@@ -1598,7 +1647,7 @@ 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)
@@ -1645,34 +1694,44 @@ func (v *Vaultik) deleteSnapshotFromLocalDB(snapshotID string) error {
 }
 
 // deleteRemoteSnapshotByKey removes everything under
-// metadata/<remoteKey>/ on the destination store. The argument is a
+// metadata/<remoteKey>/ on the destination store and returns how many
-// remote key (double-SHA256 derivation), not a human snapshot ID;
+// objects it deleted. The argument is a remote key (double-SHA256
-// callers that have a human ID must hash via snapshot.RemoteSnapshotKey
+// derivation), not a human snapshot ID; callers that have a human ID
-// first.
+// must hash via snapshot.RemoteSnapshotKey first.
-func (v *Vaultik) deleteRemoteSnapshotByKey(remoteKey string) error {
+func (v *Vaultik) deleteRemoteSnapshotByKey(remoteKey string) (int, error) {
-	prefix := fmt.Sprintf("metadata/%s/", remoteKey)
+	objectsToDelete, err := v.remoteSnapshotObjects(remoteKey)
-	objectCh := v.Storage.ListStream(v.ctx, prefix)
+	if err != nil {
-
+		return 0, err
-	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 _, key := range objectsToDelete {
+	for i, key := range objectsToDelete {
-		err := v.Storage.Delete(v.ctx, key)
+		err = v.Storage.Delete(v.ctx, key)
 		if err != nil {
-			return fmt.Errorf("removing %s: %w", key, err)
+			return i, fmt.Errorf("removing %s: %w", key, err)
 		}
 
 		log.Debug("Deleted remote object", "key", key)
 	}
 
-	return nil
+	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
 }
 
 // outputRemoveJSON outputs the removal result as JSON