diff --git a/internal/pvetrust/pvetrust.go b/internal/pvetrust/pvetrust.go
index 4d0412a..3d927a6 100644
--- a/internal/pvetrust/pvetrust.go
+++ b/internal/pvetrust/pvetrust.go
@@ -247,11 +247,15 @@ func (m *Manager) Ensure(ctx context.Context, why string) bool {
 	c, err := m.EnsureCopy(cctx)
 	ccancel()
 	if err != nil {
-		if rootStepTooOld(err) && cur.Fingerprint != "" {
+		m.mu.Lock()
+		recorded := m.status.Problem
+		m.mu.Unlock()
+		if rootStepTooOld(err) && cur.Fingerprint != "" && !isTrustCause(why) && !isTrustCause(recorded) {
 			// The agent is newer than the box's root files: between the agent update and the root-files job the
 			// wrapper does not know the step yet. The pinned certificate works; this is not a trust problem, and
 			// naming one mailed the operator at every box's update (seen on Tester 1, 2026-11-15). The bundle
-			// install calls Ensure again.
+			// install calls Ensure again. NEVER on a run that a failed call started, and never over a recorded
+			// trust failure: then the pin does NOT work, and the box must say so (the commit's security review).
 			lg.Info("pvetrust: the root files are older than this agent (no CA-copy step yet) — the pinned certificate stays; the next root-files update moves the box", "err", err)
 			set(modeOf(cur), "", "", nil)
 			return false
@@ -419,5 +423,15 @@ func (m *Manager) writeConfig(caPath string) error {
 // R11 „unknown mode”): the box's root files are older than the agent. Pinned by
 // TestRootStepOlderThanTheAgent_IsNotATrustProblem.
 func rootStepTooOld(err error) bool {
-	return err != nil && strings.Contains(err.Error(), "unknown mode")
+	return err != nil && strings.Contains(err.Error(), `"R11"`) && strings.Contains(err.Error(), "unknown mode")
+}
+
+// isTrustCause says whether s is one of the causes proxmox.TrustProblem names for a FAILED call.
+func isTrustCause(s string) bool {
+	switch s {
+	case proxmox.TrustPinnedCertChanged, proxmox.TrustCAMismatch, proxmox.TrustCertExpired,
+		proxmox.TrustCAFileUnreadable, proxmox.TrustNameMismatch:
+		return true
+	}
+	return false
 }
diff --git a/internal/pvetrust/pvetrust_test.go b/internal/pvetrust/pvetrust_test.go
index 9bd3595..bc9c706 100644
--- a/internal/pvetrust/pvetrust_test.go
+++ b/internal/pvetrust/pvetrust_test.go
@@ -525,4 +525,42 @@ func TestRootStepOlderThanTheAgent_IsNotATrustProblem(t *testing.T) {
 	if st := b3.m.Status(); st.Problem != ProblemCopyUnavailable {
 		t.Fatalf("a real refusal lost its name: %+v", st)
 	}
+
+	// a refusal with ANOTHER code whose text happens to hold the words is still named: the code decides
+	b4 := newBox(t, srv, proxmox.TLSConfig{Fingerprint: fp(leaf)}, nil)
+	b4.m.EnsureCopy = func(context.Context) (Copy, error) {
+		return Copy{}, errors.New(`pve-ca-copy refused: {"code": "T3", "reason": "the source has an unknown mode"}`)
+	}
+	b4.m.Ensure(context.Background(), "start")
+	if st := b4.m.Status(); st.Problem != ProblemCopyUnavailable {
+		t.Fatalf("a refusal with another code was read as older root files: %+v", st)
+	}
+}
+
+// The quiet branch must never hide a box whose pin does NOT work: a run started by a failed call, or a run after a
+// failed call was recorded, names the problem even when the root files are older than the agent.
+func TestRootStepOlderThanTheAgent_NeverHidesAFailedPin(t *testing.T) {
+	p := newPKI(t, "PVE CA")
+	leaf := p.leaf()
+	srv := newPVE(t, leaf)
+	old := errors.New(`pve-ca-copy refused: {"code": "R11", "reason": "unknown mode 'pve-ca-copy'"}`)
+
+	// (1) the run was started by a failed call
+	b := newBox(t, srv, proxmox.TLSConfig{Fingerprint: fp(leaf)}, nil)
+	b.m.EnsureCopy = func(context.Context) (Copy, error) { return Copy{}, old }
+	b.m.Ensure(context.Background(), proxmox.TrustPinnedCertChanged)
+	if st := b.m.Status(); st.Problem == "" {
+		t.Fatalf("a run started by a failed pin reports no problem: %+v", st)
+	}
+
+	// (2) a failed call was recorded, then the timer runs
+	b2 := newBox(t, srv, proxmox.TLSConfig{Fingerprint: fp(leaf)}, nil)
+	b2.m.EnsureCopy = func(context.Context) (Copy, error) { return Copy{}, old }
+	b2.m.mu.Lock()
+	b2.m.status.Problem = proxmox.TrustPinnedCertChanged
+	b2.m.mu.Unlock()
+	b2.m.Ensure(context.Background(), "timer")
+	if st := b2.m.Status(); st.Problem == "" {
+		t.Fatalf("the timer cleared a recorded pin failure: %+v", st)
+	}
 }