diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 8249371..a967d13 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -16,9 +16,9 @@ Linux:
 
   curl -fsSL https://git.denkena-consulting.com/f-denkena/rclone-dropbox-bisync/raw/branch/master/linux/install.sh | bash
 
-First run is --dry-run --resync until:
+Missing listings + RCLONE_TEST on both sides: dry-run --resync, then live
+--resync (install/daemon, not after a failed normal run). --accept-resync
+skips the dry-run. Partial listings (one .lst) abort instead of resync.
 
-  rclone-bisyncd --accept-resync
-
-enabled=true only after RCLONE_TEST exists on dropbox:. Looping daemon sleeps
-15 min after each finished run (no overlapping 15-min tasks).
+enabled=true after a successful first resync, or if dropbox: already has
+RCLONE_TEST at install. Looping daemon sleeps 15 min after each run.
diff --git a/cmd/rclone-bisyncd/main.go b/cmd/rclone-bisyncd/main.go
index 1ec0f61..c7ee046 100644
--- a/cmd/rclone-bisyncd/main.go
+++ b/cmd/rclone-bisyncd/main.go
@@ -89,13 +89,43 @@ func escapePS(s string) string {
 	return strings.ReplaceAll(s, "'", "''")
 }
 
-func listingsExist(cfg Config) bool {
+func listingFiles(cfg Config) (path1, path2 string) {
 	base := filepath.Join(cfg.Workdir, cfg.SessionName)
-	_, e1 := os.Stat(base + ".path1.lst")
-	_, e2 := os.Stat(base + ".path2.lst")
+	return base + ".path1.lst", base + ".path2.lst"
+}
+
+func listingsExist(cfg Config) bool {
+	p1, p2 := listingFiles(cfg)
+	_, e1 := os.Stat(p1)
+	_, e2 := os.Stat(p2)
 	return e1 == nil && e2 == nil
 }
 
+func listingsPartial(cfg Config) bool {
+	p1, p2 := listingFiles(cfg)
+	_, e1 := os.Stat(p1)
+	_, e2 := os.Stat(p2)
+	return (e1 == nil) != (e2 == nil)
+}
+
+func setEnabled(v bool) {
+	p := configPath()
+	b, err := os.ReadFile(p)
+	if err != nil {
+		return
+	}
+	var m map[string]any
+	if json.Unmarshal(b, &m) != nil {
+		return
+	}
+	m["enabled"] = v
+	out, err := json.MarshalIndent(m, "", "  ")
+	if err != nil {
+		return
+	}
+	_ = os.WriteFile(p, append(out, '\n'), 0600)
+}
+
 func remoteHasCheckFile(cfg Config) bool {
 	cmd := exec.Command(cfg.Rclone, "lsf", cfg.Path2, "--include", cfg.CheckFilename)
 	out, err := cmd.CombinedOutput()
@@ -179,24 +209,26 @@ func runOnce(cfg Config, acceptResync bool) error {
 		return fmt.Errorf("missing %s on %s", cfg.CheckFilename, cfg.Path2)
 	}
 
+	if listingsPartial(cfg) {
+		return fmt.Errorf("incomplete listings in %s (one side missing) — not auto --resync; fix or delete both .lst files", cfg.Workdir)
+	}
 	if !listingsExist(cfg) {
-		if acceptResync {
-			_ = os.WriteFile(acceptPath(cfg), []byte("ok\n"), 0600)
-		}
-		if _, err := os.Stat(acceptPath(cfg)); err != nil && !acceptResync {
-			notify("rclone-bisync dry-run resync", "No listings yet. Inspect output, then: rclone-bisyncd --accept-resync")
+		// First use only: never auto --resync after a failed normal run.
+		if !acceptResync {
+			notify("rclone-bisync", "No listings — dry-run --resync")
 			if err := runRclone(cfg, "--dry-run", "--resync"); err != nil {
 				notify("rclone-bisync dry-run failed", err.Error())
 				return err
 			}
-			return nil
 		}
-		notify("rclone-bisync", "Live --resync starting (one-shot)")
+		notify("rclone-bisync", "Live --resync (first listings)")
 		if err := runRclone(cfg, "--resync"); err != nil {
 			notify("rclone-bisync resync failed", err.Error())
 			return err
 		}
-		notify("rclone-bisync", "Live resync finished")
+		_ = os.WriteFile(acceptPath(cfg), []byte("ok\n"), 0600)
+		setEnabled(true)
+		notify("rclone-bisync", "Resync finished; enabled=true")
 		return nil
 	}
 
diff --git a/linux/install.sh b/linux/install.sh
index f508539..bdfe481 100755
--- a/linux/install.sh
+++ b/linux/install.sh
@@ -97,5 +97,5 @@ esac
 
 echo "Configured path1=$DROPBOX workdir=$WORKDIR (~/DataStorage)"
 echo "Startup: looping systemd --user service (sleeps 15 min after each run)"
-echo "If listings are empty: dry-run --resync only. Then: rclone-bisyncd --accept-resync"
+echo "No listings + RCLONE_TEST on both sides → dry-run --resync then live --resync"
 echo "enabled=$ENABLED (true only if dropbox: already has RCLONE_TEST)"
diff --git a/linux/session-start.sh b/linux/session-start.sh
index 5180c01..b0da156 100755
--- a/linux/session-start.sh
+++ b/linux/session-start.sh
@@ -3,5 +3,5 @@ set -eu
 systemctl --user daemon-reload 2>/dev/null || true
 systemctl --user enable --now rclone-bisync.service 2>/dev/null || true
 if command -v notify-send >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-	notify-send -a rclone-bisync "rclone-bisync" "Looping bisync started. First run is dry-run --resync until rclone-bisyncd --accept-resync."
+	notify-send -a rclone-bisync "rclone-bisync" "Looping bisync started. First use: dry-run then live --resync if both RCLONE_TEST exist."
 fi
diff --git a/windows/Install.ps1 b/windows/Install.ps1
index ba75688..25aa1f7 100644
--- a/windows/Install.ps1
+++ b/windows/Install.ps1
@@ -37,4 +37,4 @@ Start-Process powershell.exe -WindowStyle Hidden -ArgumentList @(
 Start-Process $daemon -WindowStyle Hidden
 
 Add-Type -AssemblyName PresentationFramework
-[System.Windows.MessageBox]::Show("Installed to $Dest`r`nCopy RCLONE_TEST to dropbox:, set enabled=true, then rclone-bisyncd --accept-resync.", 'rclone-dropbox-bisync')
+[System.Windows.MessageBox]::Show("Installed to $Dest`r`nCopy RCLONE_TEST to dropbox: if missing. First run dry-runs then live --resync when both markers exist.", 'rclone-dropbox-bisync')
diff --git a/windows/bootstrap.ps1 b/windows/bootstrap.ps1
index 13b1267..10caa91 100644
--- a/windows/bootstrap.ps1
+++ b/windows/bootstrap.ps1
@@ -97,7 +97,6 @@ Configured:
   workdir  $Workdir
   session  datastorage-dropbox (shared with Linux)
   daemon   looping; 15 min after each run; mkdir lock
-Copy RCLONE_TEST to dropbox:, set enabled=true, then:
-  rclone-bisyncd --accept-resync
-  (first run is --dry-run --resync until then)
+If dropbox: has RCLONE_TEST and listings are missing, the daemon
+dry-run --resync then live --resync on its own. Never after a failed run.
 "@