diff --git a/crates/fbuild-cli/src/cli/deploy.rs b/crates/fbuild-cli/src/cli/deploy.rs
index 63b82f46..25aaac6d 100644
--- a/crates/fbuild-cli/src/cli/deploy.rs
+++ b/crates/fbuild-cli/src/cli/deploy.rs
@@ -275,7 +275,7 @@ async fn maybe_recover_and_retry(
     let Some(request) = resp.usb_recovery.clone() else {
         return Ok(resp);
     };
-    output::warn(format!(
+    output::diagnostic(format!(
         "deploy target {} is a known-unhealthy Windows devnode{}",
         request.instance_id,
         request
@@ -312,20 +312,22 @@ async fn maybe_recover_and_retry(
     match outcome {
         RecoveryRunOutcome::ManualGuidance => {
             if policy == fbuild_core::usb::UsbRecoveryPolicy::Default {
-                output::warn(
+                output::diagnostic(
                     "rerun with --admin to attempt a scoped one-shot Windows PnP recovery (UAC), or physically re-enter BOOTSEL (hold BOOT, tap RESET) and retry",
                 );
             } else {
-                output::warn("--no-admin: privileged recovery skipped by request");
+                output::diagnostic("--no-admin: privileged recovery skipped by request");
             }
             Ok(resp)
         }
         RecoveryRunOutcome::RefuseNonInteractive => {
-            output::warn("scoped PnP recovery needs an interactive Windows session; not elevating");
+            output::diagnostic(
+                "scoped PnP recovery needs an interactive Windows session; not elevating",
+            );
             Ok(resp)
         }
         RecoveryRunOutcome::Cancelled => {
-            output::warn("UAC prompt was cancelled; no recovery was attempted");
+            output::diagnostic("UAC prompt was cancelled; no recovery was attempted");
             Ok(resp)
         }
         RecoveryRunOutcome::Completed(result) => {
@@ -345,7 +347,7 @@ async fn maybe_recover_and_retry(
                 result.after,
             ));
             if !result.success {
-                output::warn(format!(
+                output::diagnostic(format!(
                     "recovery helper reported {}; physical BOOTSEL replug remains the fallback",
                     result
                         .error_code
@@ -381,7 +383,7 @@ async fn maybe_recover_and_retry(
                     ));
                 }
                 None => {
-                    output::warn(
+                    output::diagnostic(
                         "no healthy runtime CDC endpoint appeared after recovery; physical BOOTSEL replug remains the fallback",
                     );
                 }
diff --git a/crates/fbuild-daemon/src/handlers/operations/deploy.rs b/crates/fbuild-daemon/src/handlers/operations/deploy.rs
index 74a5ec60..8f1820ee 100644
--- a/crates/fbuild-daemon/src/handlers/operations/deploy.rs
+++ b/crates/fbuild-daemon/src/handlers/operations/deploy.rs
@@ -966,7 +966,7 @@ pub async fn deploy(
                 .await
                 .unwrap_or_default();
         let generation = super::deploy_port::rp_generation_for(board.as_ref());
-        super::recovery_request::compose_rp2040_recovery_request(
+        let request = super::recovery_request::compose_rp2040_recovery_request(
             &devices,
             &problem_devices,
             &request_id,
@@ -983,7 +983,27 @@ pub async fn deploy(
                     generation,
                 )
             },
-        )
+        );
+        // Recovery decisions must be observable after the fact: the request
+        // (or the reason none was composed) drives the CLI's --admin flow.
+        match &request {
+            Some(request) => tracing::info!(
+                instance = %request.instance_id,
+                problem_code = ?request.problem_code,
+                flash_completed = request.flash_completed,
+                "rp2040 recovery: composed typed exact-device recovery request"
+            ),
+            None => tracing::info!(
+                devices = devices.len(),
+                unhealthy_devices = devices
+                    .iter()
+                    .filter(|device| device.port_health.is_known_unhealthy())
+                    .count(),
+                problem_devices = problem_devices.len(),
+                "rp2040 recovery: no eligible exact-device recovery target in fresh scan"
+            ),
+        }
+        request
     } else {
         None
     };