src/app.rs

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 //! consumers (including the integration tests under `tests/`).
 
 use std::io::{BufRead, Write};
+use std::path::PathBuf;
 use std::process::Command;
 use std::time::Duration;
 
@@ -66,9 +67,11 @@ enum Cmd {
         ssid: String,
         /// Password (prompted if omitted)
         password: Option<String>,
-        /// Network is hidden (does not broadcast its SSID)
-        #[arg(long)]
-        hidden: bool,
+        /// Network is hidden (does not broadcast its SSID).
+        /// `--hidden` sets it; `--hidden=false` clears it on an existing
+        /// entry; omitted leaves an existing entry's flag untouched.
+        #[arg(long, num_args = 0..=1, default_missing_value = "true")]
+        hidden: Option<bool>,
         /// Attach this SSID to a profile's priority list
         #[arg(long)]
         to: Option<String>,
@@ -321,8 +324,15 @@ fn detect_profile(cfg: &Config) -> Option<String> {
         }
     }
 
-    // Fall back to the default profile if no markers matched.
-    Some(cfg.settings.default_profile.clone())
+    // Fall back to the default profile if no markers matched — but only if
+    // it actually exists: a stale `default_profile` name is a config error,
+    // not a detection result, and persisting it would wedge the watcher in
+    // UnknownProfile forever.
+    if cfg.profiles.contains_key(&cfg.settings.default_profile) {
+        Some(cfg.settings.default_profile.clone())
+    } else {
+        None
+    }
 }
 
 fn cmd_detect(cfg: &mut Config, apply: bool) -> Result<i32, String> {
@@ -330,18 +340,19 @@ fn cmd_detect(cfg: &mut Config, apply: bool) -> Result<i32, String> {
         Some(p) => {
             println!("{p}");
             if apply {
-                State {
-                    profile: p.clone(),
-                    updated: crate::util::timestamp(),
-                }
-                .save()?;
+                // Route through state::set_profile (like the CLI and the
+                // bread bus do) so an unknown fallback is rejected with a
+                // proper error instead of being persisted as active.
+                state::set_profile(cfg, &p)?;
                 let outcome = flow::run(cfg, &p);
                 print_outcome(&p, &outcome);
                 return Ok(if outcome.ok() { 0 } else { 1 });
             }
             Ok(0)
         }
-        None => Err("could not detect a profile (no Wi-Fi adapter?)".into()),
+        None => Err("could not detect a profile (no Wi-Fi adapter, or no \
+                      profile matches and the default is misconfigured)"
+            .into()),
     }
 }
 
@@ -385,7 +396,7 @@ fn cmd_add(
     cfg: &mut Config,
     ssid: String,
     password: Option<String>,
-    hidden: bool,
+    hidden: Option<bool>,
     to: Option<String>,
     at: Option<usize>,
 ) -> Result<i32, String> {
@@ -397,12 +408,17 @@ fn cmd_add(
     match cfg.networks.iter_mut().find(|n| n.ssid == ssid) {
         Some(n) => {
             n.password = password;
-            n.hidden = hidden || n.hidden;
+            // `--hidden` / `--hidden=false` set the flag explicitly; when
+            // the flag is omitted, leave an existing entry's hidden state
+            // alone (a password-only update must not un-hide a network).
+            if let Some(h) = hidden {
+                n.hidden = h;
+            }
         }
         None => cfg.networks.push(NetworkDef {
             ssid: ssid.clone(),
             password,
-            hidden,
+            hidden: hidden.unwrap_or(false),
         }),
     }
     if let Some(prof_name) = to {
@@ -443,6 +459,14 @@ fn cmd_forget(cfg: &mut Config, ssid: &str) -> Result<i32, String> {
 }
 
 fn cmd_scan(cfg: &mut Config, to: Option<String>) -> Result<i32, String> {
+    // Validate `--to` up front, before any side effects (connecting is
+    // one): `add --to` errors on an unknown profile, so `scan --to` must
+    // too instead of silently saving a network that never gets attached.
+    if let Some(prof_name) = &to {
+        if !cfg.profiles.contains_key(prof_name) {
+            return Err(format!("unknown profile '{prof_name}'"));
+        }
+    }
     let iface = nm::wifi_interface().ok_or("no Wi-Fi adapter")?;
     nm::radio_on();
     nm::rescan(&iface, &[]);
@@ -502,12 +526,13 @@ fn cmd_scan(cfg: &mut Config, to: Option<String>) -> Result<i32, String> {
     Ok(0)
 }
 
-/// Mask a secret for display. Operates on chars (not bytes) so multi-byte
-/// UTF-8 passwords don't panic on a mid-character byte slice, and never
-/// echoes back any real character of the secret (previously the first byte
-/// was shown unmasked).
-fn mask(p: &str) -> String {
-    "•".repeat(p.chars().count().max(2))
+/// Mask a secret for display. Always renders the same fixed-length
+/// placeholder so the output reveals neither the secret's length nor any
+/// character of it (a fixed placeholder is what password managers show;
+/// length-hiding also means multi-byte UTF-8 passwords need no special
+/// handling).
+fn mask(_p: &str) -> String {
+    "•".repeat(8)
 }
 
 fn cmd_list(cfg: &Config, show_pw: bool) -> Result<i32, String> {
@@ -567,7 +592,15 @@ fn cmd_list(cfg: &Config, show_pw: bool) -> Result<i32, String> {
 fn cmd_edit() -> Result<i32, String> {
     let editor = std::env::var("EDITOR").unwrap_or_else(|_| "nano".into());
     let path = config::config_path();
-    let status = Command::new(&editor)
+    // EDITOR values routinely carry arguments ("code -w", "subl -w"), so
+    // split on whitespace: the first token is the program, the rest are its
+    // arguments. The path stays a separate argument — never interpolated
+    // into a shell string — so it can't be used for injection.
+    let mut parts = editor.split_whitespace();
+    let prog = parts.next().unwrap_or("nano");
+    let mut cmd = Command::new(prog);
+    cmd.args(parts);
+    let status = cmd
         .arg(&path)
         .status()
         .map_err(|e| format!("launching {editor}: {e}"))?;
@@ -685,7 +718,13 @@ fn exec_replace(prog: &str, dir: &std::path::Path) -> String {
 }
 
 fn cmd_install_service(enable: bool) -> Result<i32, String> {
-    let unit_dir = home_dir().join(".config/systemd/user");
+    // Honor XDG_CONFIG_HOME like the rest of the app: systemd --user units
+    // live in $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/systemd/user (default ~/.config/systemd/user).
+    let unit_dir = std::env::var_os("XDG_CONFIG_HOME")
+        .map(PathBuf::from)
+        .unwrap_or_else(|| home_dir().join(".config"))
+        .join("systemd")
+        .join("user");
     std::fs::create_dir_all(&unit_dir)
         .map_err(|e| format!("creating {}: {e}", unit_dir.display()))?;
     let bin = std::env::current_exe().map_err(|e| format!("resolving current executable: {e}"))?;
@@ -746,24 +785,15 @@ mod tests {
     use super::*;
 
     #[test]
-    fn mask_empty_password() {
-        // len() == 0 <= 2 branch: still at least 2 dots so an empty saved
-        // password doesn't visually collapse to nothing in `list`.
-        assert_eq!(mask(""), "••");
-    }
-
-    #[test]
-    fn mask_short_passwords_reveal_nothing() {
-        assert_eq!(mask("a"), "••");
-        assert_eq!(mask("ab"), "••");
-    }
-
-    #[test]
-    fn mask_never_echoes_a_real_character() {
-        let pw = "hunter2";
-        let masked = mask(pw);
-        assert_eq!(masked, "•".repeat(pw.len()));
-        assert!(!masked.contains('h'), "masked output leaked the first char");
+    fn mask_is_fixed_length_regardless_of_secret() {
+        // Fixed-length masking: the output must reveal neither the secret's
+        // length nor any character of it — for empty, short, and long
+        // secrets alike.
+        assert_eq!(mask(""), "•".repeat(8));
+        assert_eq!(mask("a"), "•".repeat(8));
+        assert_eq!(mask("ab"), "•".repeat(8));
+        assert_eq!(mask("hunter2"), "•".repeat(8));
+        assert!(!mask("hunter2").contains('h'));
     }
 
     #[test]
@@ -773,14 +803,13 @@ mod tests {
         // emoji or accented character), since byte index 1 can land mid-char.
         let pw = "日本語パスワード";
         let masked = mask(pw);
-        assert_eq!(masked.chars().count(), pw.chars().count());
+        assert_eq!(masked, "•".repeat(8));
         assert!(masked.chars().all(|c| c == '•'));
     }
 
     #[test]
     fn mask_emoji_first_character_does_not_panic() {
         let pw = "🔒password123";
-        let masked = mask(pw);
-        assert_eq!(masked.chars().count(), pw.chars().count());
+        assert_eq!(mask(pw), "•".repeat(8));
     }
 }

src/bread_events.rs

@@ -37,37 +37,54 @@ pub fn emit_health_changed(client: &BreadClient, profile: &str, health: &str, ss
     );
 }
 
+/// What a `bread.command.crumbs.*` event asks the watch loop to do.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub enum CommandAction {
+    /// Persist this profile via [`state::set_profile`]. Applied on the
+    /// watch loop thread — the single owner of config/state file access —
+    /// never on the subscription thread, which would race the loop's own
+    /// `Config::load`/`save`.
+    SetProfile(String),
+    /// Nothing to do: unknown verb, or a validation failure already
+    /// reported via `bread.crumbs.set_profile.failed`.
+    Ignore,
+}
+
 /// Reacts to `bread.command.crumbs.*` verbs. Only `set_profile` maps to
 /// real, existing breadcrumbs functionality today — there is no pin/select
 /// (or other) verb because breadcrumbs has no such concept. Unrecognized
 /// verbs are ignored, not stubbed as no-ops that pretend to succeed.
 ///
-/// Returns `true` when a profile was actually persisted, so the watch loop
-/// can wake immediately and re-evaluate instead of waiting out the current
-/// poll interval.
-///
-/// Emits `bread.crumbs.set_profile.done`/`.failed` per the confirmation
-/// convention in bread's Documentation.md.
-pub fn handle_command(event: &BreadEvent) -> bool {
+/// This only *parses and validates* the command — it performs no file I/O
+/// (that would race the watch loop's own config access from a second
+/// thread). The returned [`CommandAction`] is forwarded to the loop, which
+/// applies it via [`apply_set_profile`].
+pub fn handle_command(event: &BreadEvent) -> CommandAction {
     let Some(verb) = event.event.strip_prefix("bread.command.crumbs.") else {
-        return false;
+        return CommandAction::Ignore;
     };
     match verb {
-        "set_profile" => handle_set_profile(event),
+        "set_profile" => match event.data.get("profile").and_then(|v| v.as_str()) {
+            Some(name) if !name.trim().is_empty() => CommandAction::SetProfile(name.to_string()),
+            _ => {
+                emit_set_profile_failed("missing string \"profile\" in command data");
+                CommandAction::Ignore
+            }
+        },
         other => {
             crate::notify::log(&format!(
                 "watch: ignoring unrecognized bread.command.crumbs.{other}"
             ));
-            false
+            CommandAction::Ignore
         }
     }
 }
 
-fn handle_set_profile(event: &BreadEvent) -> bool {
-    let Some(name) = event.data.get("profile").and_then(|v| v.as_str()) else {
-        emit_set_profile_failed("missing string \"profile\" in command data");
-        return false;
-    };
+/// Apply a `set_profile` command on the watch loop thread and emit the
+/// `done`/`failed` confirmation. Kept separate from [`handle_command`] so
+/// the bread subscription thread never touches config/state files
+/// concurrently with the loop.
+pub fn apply_set_profile(name: &str) {
     match Config::load().and_then(|cfg| state::set_profile(&cfg, name)) {
         Ok(()) => {
             crate::notify::log(&format!(
@@ -77,11 +94,9 @@ fn handle_set_profile(event: &BreadEvent) -> bool {
                 "bread.crumbs.set_profile.done",
                 serde_json::json!({ "profile": name }),
             );
-            true
         }
         Err(e) => {
             emit_set_profile_failed(&e);
-            false
         }
     }
 }

src/config.rs

@@ -28,6 +28,10 @@ fn default_ping_host() -> String {
     "1.1.1.1".to_string()
 }
 
+fn is_false(b: &bool) -> bool {
+    !b
+}
+
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 pub struct Settings {
     #[serde(default = "default_dns")]
@@ -44,6 +48,14 @@ pub struct Settings {
     pub connectivity_url: String,
     #[serde(default = "default_ping_host")]
     pub ping_host: String,
+    /// Set the first time the config is saved. Core profiles (`home` /
+    /// `work` / `away`) are only backfilled for genuinely fresh or legacy
+    /// configs; once the user owns the file, a profile they deliberately
+    /// deleted stays deleted instead of being silently resurrected on the
+    /// next load. Omits itself from the TOML until set, so existing
+    /// configs keep parsing exactly as before.
+    #[serde(default, skip_serializing_if = "is_false")]
+    pub core_profiles_initialized: bool,
 }
 
 impl Default for Settings {
@@ -56,6 +68,7 @@ impl Default for Settings {
             watch_interval: default_watch_interval(),
             connectivity_url: default_connectivity_url(),
             ping_host: default_ping_host(),
+            core_profiles_initialized: false,
         }
     }
 }
@@ -175,7 +188,7 @@ impl Config {
     pub fn load() -> Result<Config, String> {
         let path = config_path();
         if !path.exists() {
-            let cfg = build_initial_config();
+            let mut cfg = build_initial_config();
             cfg.save()?;
             return Ok(cfg);
         }
@@ -192,14 +205,31 @@ impl Config {
                 .map_err(|e| format!("reading {}: {e}", net_path.display()))?;
             let nf: NetworksFile = toml::from_str(&net_text)
                 .map_err(|e| format!("parsing {}: {e}", net_path.display()))?;
-            cfg.networks = nf.networks;
+            // Merge, don't overwrite: a legacy config can still carry an
+            // inline `[[networks]]` block, and those entries must survive
+            // even when networks.toml already exists — otherwise the next
+            // save() (which writes only networks.toml) would silently drop
+            // hand-added inline networks. networks.toml wins on SSID
+            // conflicts; inline-only entries are appended and migrated.
+            let mut merged = nf.networks;
+            for def in std::mem::take(&mut cfg.networks) {
+                if !merged.iter().any(|n| n.ssid == def.ssid) {
+                    merged.push(def);
+                }
+            }
+            cfg.networks = merged;
         }
         // else: no networks.toml yet — keep whatever legacy inline networks
         // were read from breadcrumbs.toml above (or none, on a genuinely
         // fresh config). The next `save()` writes them to networks.toml and
         // stops writing them into breadcrumbs.toml, completing the migration.
 
-        // Self-heal: guarantee the three core profiles always exist.
+        // Enforce the documented minimum so `list` and the watch loop agree
+        // on the poll interval (watch silently clamps to 4 otherwise).
+        if cfg.settings.watch_interval < 4 {
+            cfg.settings.watch_interval = 4;
+        }
+
         ensure_core_profiles(&mut cfg);
         Ok(cfg)
     }
@@ -209,7 +239,12 @@ impl Config {
     /// `forget`, `scan`, `profile set`, and `flow::run`'s own credential
     /// clearing) goes through this single method so the two files never
     /// drift out of sync with each other.
-    pub fn save(&self) -> Result<(), String> {
+    pub fn save(&mut self) -> Result<(), String> {
+        // The first save marks the config as user-owned: core profiles are
+        // backfilled only for genuinely fresh/legacy configs, never
+        // resurrected after the user has edited (or deleted) them.
+        self.settings.core_profiles_initialized = true;
+
         let dir = config_dir();
         fs::create_dir_all(&dir).map_err(|e| format!("creating {}: {e}", dir.display()))?;
 
@@ -296,6 +331,13 @@ fn core_profiles() -> BTreeMap<String, Profile> {
 }
 
 fn ensure_core_profiles(cfg: &mut Config) {
+    // Backfill missing core profiles only until the user has taken
+    // ownership of the config (`core_profiles_initialized` is set by the
+    // first save). After that, a profile the user deliberately deleted
+    // stays deleted.
+    if cfg.settings.core_profiles_initialized {
+        return;
+    }
     for (name, prof) in core_profiles() {
         cfg.profiles.entry(name).or_insert(prof);
     }
@@ -350,6 +392,23 @@ mod tests {
         assert!(cfg.profile("away").is_some());
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn ensure_core_profiles_skips_backfill_once_initialized() {
+        // After the first save the config is user-owned: a deliberately
+        // deleted core profile must stay deleted instead of being
+        // resurrected on every load.
+        let mut cfg = Config {
+            settings: Settings {
+                core_profiles_initialized: true,
+                ..Default::default()
+            },
+            networks: vec![],
+            profiles: BTreeMap::new(),
+        };
+        ensure_core_profiles(&mut cfg);
+        assert!(cfg.profiles.is_empty(), "no backfill once user-owned");
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn ensure_core_profiles_preserves_user_customized_core_profile() {
         // A user-edited "home" (custom SSIDs) must not be clobbered by the

src/flow.rs

@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+use std::thread;
+use std::time::Duration;
+
 use crate::config::{Config, NetworkDef};
 use crate::nm;
 use crate::notify::{log, notify, Urgency};
@@ -74,14 +77,45 @@ fn clear_password_if_used(cfg: &mut Config, ssid: &str) {
     }
 }
 
-/// Try to connect + confirm it actually carries traffic.
-/// Returns Ok(()) on success, Err(reason) on failure.
+/// Try to connect + confirm the device actually landed on the *requested*
+/// SSID. Returns Ok(()) on success, Err(reason) on failure.
 fn connect_and_verify(iface: &str, def: &NetworkDef, cfg: &Config) -> Result<(), String> {
     nm::connect_verbose(iface, def, cfg.settings.nmcli_wait, &cfg.settings.dns)?;
-    if !nm::device_connected(iface) {
-        return Err("device not connected after nmcli success".into());
+    // Confirm the SSID, not just "device connected": NM autoconnect can win
+    // a race and leave the device on a different network, and the wifi list
+    // can lag activation by a moment — so poll briefly before giving up.
+    for _ in 0..8 {
+        match nm::active_ssid(iface) {
+            // Explicitly on the requested network — success.
+            Some(active) if active == def.ssid => return Ok(()),
+            // Associated with a *different* network — the failure this
+            // check exists to catch.
+            Some(_) => break,
+            // Scan list stale right after activation — keep polling while
+            // the device is at least connected.
+            None => {
+                if !nm::device_connected(iface) {
+                    break;
+                }
+            }
+        }
+        thread::sleep(Duration::from_millis(250));
     }
-    Ok(())
+    Err(format!("not associated with '{}' after connect", def.ssid))
+}
+
+/// Run the connection state machine for `profile_name`, with desktop
+/// notifications enabled. See [`run_quiet`] for the daemon-facing variant.
+pub fn run(cfg: &mut Config, profile_name: &str) -> Outcome {
+    run_inner(cfg, profile_name, true)
+}
+
+/// Same state machine, but suppresses desktop notifications. Used by the
+/// watch loop, which does its own transition-gated notifications — without
+/// this, a persistent failure (e.g. a stopped Tailscale daemon) would
+/// re-notify on every recovery retry instead of once per state change.
+pub fn run_quiet(cfg: &mut Config, profile_name: &str) -> Outcome {
+    run_inner(cfg, profile_name, false)
 }
 
 /// Run the connection state machine for `profile_name`.
@@ -91,15 +125,17 @@ fn connect_and_verify(iface: &str, def: &NetworkDef, cfg: &Config) -> Result<(),
 /// immediately (see [`clear_password_if_used`]) — this is the only way that
 /// clearing happens for the `init` / `profile set --apply` / `detect --apply`
 /// commands and the watch loop, all of which route through here.
-pub fn run(cfg: &mut Config, profile_name: &str) -> Outcome {
+fn run_inner(cfg: &mut Config, profile_name: &str, notify_user: bool) -> Outcome {
     let profile = match cfg.profile(profile_name) {
         Some(p) => p.clone(),
         None => {
-            notify(
-                "breadcrumbs: unknown profile",
-                &format!("'{profile_name}' is not defined in breadcrumbs.toml"),
-                Urgency::Critical,
-            );
+            if notify_user {
+                notify(
+                    "breadcrumbs: unknown profile",
+                    &format!("'{profile_name}' is not defined in breadcrumbs.toml"),
+                    Urgency::Critical,
+                );
+            }
             return Outcome::UnknownProfile(profile_name.to_string());
         }
     };
@@ -107,11 +143,13 @@ pub fn run(cfg: &mut Config, profile_name: &str) -> Outcome {
     let iface = match nm::wifi_interface() {
         Some(i) => i,
         None => {
-            notify(
-                "breadcrumbs: no Wi-Fi adapter",
-                "Hardware issue — Wi-Fi device not found. Manual check needed.",
-                Urgency::Critical,
-            );
+            if notify_user {
+                notify(
+                    "breadcrumbs: no Wi-Fi adapter",
+                    "Hardware issue — Wi-Fi device not found. Manual check needed.",
+                    Urgency::Critical,
+                );
+            }
             return Outcome::NoInterface;
         }
     };
@@ -173,15 +211,17 @@ pub fn run(cfg: &mut Config, profile_name: &str) -> Outcome {
         let ts = tailscale::ensure_exit_node(&exit_node);
         if !ts.is_ok() {
             let ssid = nm::active_ssid(&iface).or_else(|| profile.bootstrap.clone());
-            notify(
-                "Tailscale Error",
-                &format!(
-                    "{} — staying on {}",
-                    ts.describe(),
-                    ssid.clone().unwrap_or_else(|| "Wi-Fi".into())
-                ),
-                Urgency::Critical,
-            );
+            if notify_user {
+                notify(
+                    "Tailscale Error",
+                    &format!(
+                        "{} — staying on {}",
+                        ts.describe(),
+                        ssid.clone().unwrap_or_else(|| "Wi-Fi".into())
+                    ),
+                    Urgency::Critical,
+                );
+            }
             return Outcome::TailscaleError { ssid, health: ts };
         }
         log(&format!("tailscale healthy via exit node {exit_node}"));
@@ -205,7 +245,7 @@ pub fn run(cfg: &mut Config, profile_name: &str) -> Outcome {
                     } else {
                         Some("associated but no internet yet".to_string())
                     };
-                    finish_connected(&def.ssid, profile_name, &note);
+                    finish_connected(&def.ssid, profile_name, &note, notify_user);
                     return Outcome::Connected {
                         ssid: def.ssid.clone(),
                         note,
@@ -227,7 +267,7 @@ pub fn run(cfg: &mut Config, profile_name: &str) -> Outcome {
                     } else {
                         Some("associated but no internet yet".to_string())
                     };
-                    finish_connected(&def.ssid, profile_name, &note);
+                    finish_connected(&def.ssid, profile_name, &note, notify_user);
                     return Outcome::Connected {
                         ssid: def.ssid.clone(),
                         note,
@@ -272,7 +312,9 @@ pub fn run(cfg: &mut Config, profile_name: &str) -> Outcome {
             } else {
                 format!("target network not in range — staying on {bs_ssid} (Tailscale OK)")
             };
-            notify("breadcrumbs: using bootstrap", &reason, Urgency::Normal);
+            if notify_user {
+                notify("breadcrumbs: using bootstrap", &reason, Urgency::Normal);
+            }
             log(&format!("flow end: on bootstrap {bs_ssid}; {reason}"));
             return Outcome::Connected {
                 ssid: bs_ssid,
@@ -286,33 +328,40 @@ pub fn run(cfg: &mut Config, profile_name: &str) -> Outcome {
         .map(|c| c.ssid.as_str())
         .collect::<Vec<_>>()
         .join(", ");
-    notify(
-        "breadcrumbs: no known networks",
-        &format!("profile '{profile_name}': none of [{names}] are in range"),
-        Urgency::Critical,
-    );
+    let msg = if candidates.is_empty() {
+        format!("profile '{profile_name}' has no networks configured")
+    } else {
+        format!("profile '{profile_name}': none of [{names}] are in range")
+    };
+    if notify_user {
+        notify("breadcrumbs: no known networks", &msg, Urgency::Critical);
+    }
     log(&format!(
         "flow end: no networks connected (profile={profile_name})"
     ));
     Outcome::NoNetworks
 }
 
-fn finish_connected(ssid: &str, profile: &str, note: &Option<String>) {
+fn finish_connected(ssid: &str, profile: &str, note: &Option<String>, notify_user: bool) {
     match note {
         None => {
-            notify(
-                "breadcrumbs: connected",
-                &format!("{ssid} ({profile})"),
-                Urgency::Low,
-            );
+            if notify_user {
+                notify(
+                    "breadcrumbs: connected",
+                    &format!("{ssid} ({profile})"),
+                    Urgency::Low,
+                );
+            }
             log(&format!("flow end: connected {ssid} (profile={profile})"));
         }
         Some(n) => {
-            notify(
-                "breadcrumbs: connected (degraded)",
-                &format!("{ssid} ({profile}) — {n}"),
-                Urgency::Normal,
-            );
+            if notify_user {
+                notify(
+                    "breadcrumbs: connected (degraded)",
+                    &format!("{ssid} ({profile}) — {n}"),
+                    Urgency::Normal,
+                );
+            }
             log(&format!(
                 "flow end: connected {ssid} (profile={profile}) note={n}"
             ));

src/nm.rs

@@ -114,6 +114,15 @@ pub struct ScanEntry {
     pub security: String,
 }
 
+/// Parse an nmcli SIGNAL value ("72" or "72 %") into a comparable number.
+fn signal_strength(s: &str) -> i32 {
+    s.trim()
+        .trim_end_matches('%')
+        .trim()
+        .parse::<i32>()
+        .unwrap_or(-100)
+}
+
 pub fn scan_list(iface: &str) -> Vec<ScanEntry> {
     let o = run(
         "nmcli",
@@ -129,8 +138,7 @@ pub fn scan_list(iface: &str) -> Vec<ScanEntry> {
         ],
         Duration::from_secs(12),
     );
-    let mut seen = HashSet::new();
-    let mut out = Vec::new();
+    let mut out: Vec<ScanEntry> = Vec::new();
     if !o.success {
         return out;
     }
@@ -140,14 +148,29 @@ pub fn scan_list(iface: &str) -> Vec<ScanEntry> {
             continue;
         }
         let ssid = fields[0].trim().to_string();
-        if ssid.is_empty() || !seen.insert(ssid.clone()) {
+        if ssid.is_empty() {
+            // Hidden networks have no SSID in the scan; they're not
+            // selectable here anyway (see `cmd_scan`), so skip them.
             continue;
         }
-        out.push(ScanEntry {
-            ssid,
-            signal: fields.get(1).cloned().unwrap_or_default(),
-            security: fields.get(2).cloned().unwrap_or_default(),
-        });
+        let signal = fields.get(1).cloned().unwrap_or_default();
+        let security = fields.get(2).cloned().unwrap_or_default();
+        // One line per BSSID: dedup by SSID keeping the *strongest* signal,
+        // so a network broadcast by several APs shows once (at its best
+        // signal) instead of N times at the first listing.
+        match out.iter_mut().find(|e| e.ssid == ssid) {
+            Some(existing) => {
+                if signal_strength(&signal) > signal_strength(&existing.signal) {
+                    existing.signal = signal;
+                    existing.security = security;
+                }
+            }
+            None => out.push(ScanEntry {
+                ssid,
+                signal,
+                security,
+            }),
+        }
     }
     out
 }

src/status.rs

@@ -21,8 +21,12 @@ pub fn internet_ok(cfg: &Config) -> bool {
             ],
             Duration::from_secs(6),
         );
-        let code = o.stdout.trim();
-        if code == "204" || code == "200" || code == "301" || code == "302" {
+        // Only a 204 counts as real internet. Captive/guest portals answer
+        // 200 (a login page) or 302 (a redirect to it) — accepting those
+        // would classify a portal-trapped device as "Up". The default
+        // endpoint is generate_204, which returns 204 precisely when
+        // traffic isn't being intercepted.
+        if o.stdout.trim() == "204" {
             return true;
         }
     }
@@ -66,7 +70,10 @@ pub fn gather(cfg: &Config, profile_name: &str) -> Status {
     let iface = nm::wifi_interface();
     let ssid = iface.as_deref().and_then(nm::active_ssid);
     let ip = iface.as_deref().and_then(ipv4);
-    let internet = internet_ok(cfg);
+    // Skip the (potentially 4s-blocking) connectivity probe when there's no
+    // Wi-Fi interface at all: the watch loop classifies NoAdapter and would
+    // otherwise burn a network round-trip (curl/ping) every tick for nothing.
+    let internet = iface.is_some() && internet_ok(cfg);
 
     let prof = cfg.profile(profile_name);
     let ts_required = prof.map(|p| p.tailscale).unwrap_or(false);

src/tailscale.rs

@@ -21,6 +21,10 @@ pub enum TsHealth {
     ExitNodeMissing,
     /// The exit node exists but is offline.
     ExitNodeOffline,
+    /// The profile requires an exit node but none is configured
+    /// (`settings.exit_node` / per-profile `exit_node` empty). Cannot be
+    /// auto-fixed — the user must configure one.
+    NoExitNode,
     Error(String),
 }
 
@@ -37,6 +41,7 @@ impl TsHealth {
             TsHealth::Stopped => "backend stopped".into(),
             TsHealth::ExitNodeMissing => "exit node not found in tailnet".into(),
             TsHealth::ExitNodeOffline => "exit node is offline".into(),
+            TsHealth::NoExitNode => "no exit node configured".into(),
             TsHealth::Error(e) => format!("error: {e}"),
         }
     }
@@ -225,10 +230,30 @@ pub fn ensure_exit_node(node: &str) -> TsHealth {
     if !installed() {
         return TsHealth::NotInstalled;
     }
+    if node.trim().is_empty() {
+        // Never run `tailscale set --exit-node=` with an empty node — that
+        // would clear the user's current exit-node selection. This is a
+        // config error, surfaced as its own health state.
+        return TsHealth::NoExitNode;
+    }
 
     let v = match status_json() {
         Some(v) => v,
-        None => return TsHealth::Error("could not read tailscale status".into()),
+        None => {
+            // Daemon unreachable — usually *not running*: a stopped daemon
+            // prints its error to stderr and leaves stdout empty, which is
+            // exactly why this branch used to be dead code (the
+            // BackendState "Stopped" case below only fires when the daemon
+            // is up but the backend is stopped). Try to bring it up before
+            // giving up; `tailscale up` is idempotent when already running
+            // and fails fast (no sudo prompt — stdin is /dev/null) when
+            // the caller lacks permission to manage the daemon.
+            let _ = run("tailscale", &["up"], Duration::from_secs(20));
+            match status_json() {
+                Some(v2) => v2,
+                None => return TsHealth::Error("could not read tailscale status".into()),
+            }
+        }
     };
 
     match backend_state(&v).as_str() {
@@ -286,6 +311,11 @@ pub fn check(node: &str) -> TsHealth {
     if !installed() {
         return TsHealth::NotInstalled;
     }
+    if node.trim().is_empty() {
+        // Read-only check, so never runs `tailscale set` — an empty node is
+        // a config error, not something this probe can fix.
+        return TsHealth::NoExitNode;
+    }
     let v = match status_json() {
         Some(v) => v,
         None => return TsHealth::Error("status unavailable".into()),
@@ -433,6 +463,7 @@ mod tests {
         assert!(!TsHealth::Stopped.is_ok());
         assert!(!TsHealth::ExitNodeMissing.is_ok());
         assert!(!TsHealth::ExitNodeOffline.is_ok());
+        assert!(!TsHealth::NoExitNode.is_ok());
         assert!(!TsHealth::Error("x".into()).is_ok());
     }
 
@@ -443,6 +474,7 @@ mod tests {
             TsHealth::NeedsLogin.describe(),
             "not logged in (run: tailscale up)"
         );
+        assert_eq!(TsHealth::NoExitNode.describe(), "no exit node configured");
         assert_eq!(TsHealth::Error("boom".into()).describe(), "error: boom");
     }
 

src/util.rs

@@ -139,13 +139,6 @@ fn spawn_run(prog: &str, args: &[&str], stdin: Option<&str>, timeout: Duration)
         Err(_) => return Output::failed(),
     };
 
-    if let Some(data) = stdin {
-        if let Some(mut sink) = child.stdin.take() {
-            let _ = sink.write_all(data.as_bytes());
-            // Drop closes the pipe so the child's read sees EOF.
-        }
-    }
-
     let mut stdout_pipe = child.stdout.take();
     let mut stderr_pipe = child.stderr.take();
 
@@ -164,6 +157,16 @@ fn spawn_run(prog: &str, args: &[&str], stdin: Option<&str>, timeout: Duration)
         buf
     });
 
+    // Feed stdin only now that the reader threads are draining stdout and
+    // stderr: a chatty child could otherwise fill its stdout pipe while we
+    // block writing stdin, deadlocking both sides.
+    if let Some(data) = stdin {
+        if let Some(mut sink) = child.stdin.take() {
+            let _ = sink.write_all(data.as_bytes());
+            // Drop closes the pipe so the child's read sees EOF.
+        }
+    }
+
     let start = Instant::now();
     let status = loop {
         match child.try_wait() {

src/watch.rs

@@ -64,9 +64,11 @@ pub fn classify(cfg: &Config, profile: &str) -> (Health, Option<String>) {
     if s.tailscale_required {
         match s.tailscale {
             Some(TsHealth::Ok) => (Health::Up, ssid),
-            Some(TsHealth::NeedsLogin) | Some(TsHealth::NotInstalled) => {
-                (Health::DownTailscaleManual, ssid)
-            }
+            // NeedsLogin / NotInstalled / NoExitNode all need human action:
+            // a missing exit-node config can't be auto-fixed either.
+            Some(TsHealth::NeedsLogin)
+            | Some(TsHealth::NotInstalled)
+            | Some(TsHealth::NoExitNode) => (Health::DownTailscaleManual, ssid),
             Some(_) => (Health::DownTailscaleOther, ssid),
             None => (Health::DownTailscaleManual, ssid),
         }
@@ -84,9 +86,18 @@ fn debounce_ready(last: Option<Instant>, gap: Duration) -> bool {
     last.map(|t| t.elapsed() > gap).unwrap_or(true)
 }
 
+/// A wake signal for the watch loop. `SetProfile` is an *action* (applied on
+/// the loop thread), `LinkChurn` is just "go look" — the distinction keeps
+/// every config/state file access on the single loop thread, so the bread
+/// subscription thread can never race the loop's own `Config::load`/`save`.
+enum Wake {
+    LinkChurn,
+    SetProfile(String),
+}
+
 /// Tail `nmcli monitor` and ping the channel on link-state churn so we react
 /// to drops within a second instead of waiting out the poll interval.
-fn spawn_nm_monitor(tx: mpsc::Sender<()>) {
+fn spawn_nm_monitor(tx: mpsc::Sender<Wake>) {
     thread::spawn(move || loop {
         let child = Command::new("nmcli")
             .arg("monitor")
@@ -113,11 +124,18 @@ fn spawn_nm_monitor(tx: mpsc::Sender<()>) {
             let mut last: Option<Instant> = None;
             for line in reader.lines().map_while(Result::ok) {
                 let l = line.to_lowercase();
-                let interesting =
-                    l.contains("disconnect") || l.contains("unavailable") || l.contains("failed");
+                // `connectivity` lines catch drops that keep the device
+                // "connected" but lose the internet (captive portal, DHCP
+                // failure); `deactivating` covers teardown. Everything else
+                // waits out the poll interval.
+                let interesting = l.contains("disconnect")
+                    || l.contains("unavailable")
+                    || l.contains("failed")
+                    || l.contains("deactivating")
+                    || l.contains("connectivity");
                 if interesting && debounce_ready(last, Duration::from_millis(1500)) {
                     last = Some(Instant::now());
-                    let _ = tx.send(());
+                    let _ = tx.send(Wake::LinkChurn);
                 }
             }
         }
@@ -127,17 +145,32 @@ fn spawn_nm_monitor(tx: mpsc::Sender<()>) {
     });
 }
 
-/// Sleep up to `dur`, but wake early if `nmcli monitor` signals link churn.
-fn wait_for_tick(rx: &Receiver<()>, dur: Duration) {
+/// Sleep up to `dur`, but wake early if `nmcli monitor` signals link churn or
+/// a `set_profile` command arrives. Returns the pending action, if any.
+fn wait_for_tick(rx: &Receiver<Wake>, dur: Duration) -> Option<Wake> {
     match rx.recv_timeout(dur) {
-        Ok(()) => {
-            // Drain any burst of events so we don't re-fire immediately.
-            while rx.try_recv().is_ok() {}
+        Ok(first) => {
+            // Drain any burst of churn signals so we don't re-fire
+            // immediately, but never drop a queued set_profile — it's an
+            // action, not a signal, and the earliest one wins.
+            let mut pending = match &first {
+                Wake::SetProfile(_) => Some(first),
+                Wake::LinkChurn => None,
+            };
+            while let Ok(w) = rx.try_recv() {
+                if pending.is_none() && matches!(&w, Wake::SetProfile(_)) {
+                    pending = Some(w);
+                }
+            }
+            pending
         }
-        Err(mpsc::RecvTimeoutError::Timeout) => {}
+        Err(mpsc::RecvTimeoutError::Timeout) => None,
         // Monitor thread gone (shouldn't happen: we hold the sender) — fall
         // back to a plain sleep so we don't busy-spin.
-        Err(mpsc::RecvTimeoutError::Disconnected) => thread::sleep(dur),
+        Err(mpsc::RecvTimeoutError::Disconnected) => {
+            thread::sleep(dur);
+            None
+        }
     }
 }
 
@@ -150,21 +183,25 @@ pub fn run(mut cfg: Config, run_initial: bool) -> i32 {
     );
     log("watch: started");
 
-    let (tx, rx) = mpsc::channel::<()>();
+    let (tx, rx) = mpsc::channel::<Wake>();
     spawn_nm_monitor(tx.clone());
 
     // Long-lived, so this uses BreadClient::subscribe (a persistent
     // background thread with its own reconnect/backoff loop). breadd being
     // absent or restarting is transparent: the subscription just quietly
-    // stops delivering commands until it reconnects. A successful
-    // `set_profile` wakes this loop the same way `nmcli monitor` does, so
-    // the new profile is applied on the next tick instead of waiting out
-    // the current poll interval.
+    // stops delivering commands until it reconnects. The callback only
+    // *validates* the command and forwards an action through the channel —
+    // it never touches config/state files itself (that would race this
+    // loop's own Config::load/save), so all file access stays on this one
+    // thread.
     let bread = BreadClient::connect(bread_events::APP_ID);
     let wake = tx;
     let _commands = bread.subscribe("bread.command.crumbs.**", move |event| {
-        if bread_events::handle_command(&event) {
-            let _ = wake.send(());
+        match bread_events::handle_command(&event) {
+            bread_events::CommandAction::SetProfile(name) => {
+                let _ = wake.send(Wake::SetProfile(name));
+            }
+            bread_events::CommandAction::Ignore => {}
         }
     });
 
@@ -178,7 +215,7 @@ pub fn run(mut cfg: Config, run_initial: bool) -> i32 {
             ));
         } else {
             log(&format!("watch: initial flow for profile={profile}"));
-            let _ = flow::run(&mut cfg, &profile);
+            let _ = flow::run_quiet(&mut cfg, &profile);
         }
     }
 
@@ -193,9 +230,10 @@ pub fn run(mut cfg: Config, run_initial: bool) -> i32 {
         // This always runs *before* `flow::run` below (never after, within
         // the same tick), so a password `flow::run` clears-and-saves this
         // iteration is durably on disk by the time the *next* iteration's
-        // reload runs — there's no window where a stale (still-has-password)
-        // reload could clobber the save, since the two never race on
-        // different threads: everything here is sequential on this loop.
+        // reload runs. All config/state file access happens on this loop
+        // thread: `set_profile` commands from the bread bus are queued as
+        // [`Wake::SetProfile`] and applied here (see the bottom of the
+        // loop), never on the subscription thread.
         if let Ok(fresh) = Config::load() {
             cfg = fresh;
         }
@@ -248,29 +286,43 @@ pub fn run(mut cfg: Config, run_initial: bool) -> i32 {
                 fail_streak = fail_streak.saturating_add(1);
             }
             Health::UnknownProfile => {
-                // flow::run() already notifies + logs the "unknown profile"
-                // critical error; re-running it here would just spam that on
-                // every tick, so only surface it once per transition.
+                // flow::run() is quiet from here, so surface the misconfig
+                // ourselves — once per transition/change, not every tick.
                 if transition || profile_changed {
-                    let _ = flow::run(&mut cfg, &profile);
+                    notify(
+                        "breadcrumbs: unknown profile",
+                        &format!("'{profile}' is not defined in breadcrumbs.toml"),
+                        Urgency::Critical,
+                    );
                 }
                 fail_streak = fail_streak.saturating_add(1);
             }
             Health::DownTailscaleManual => {
-                // Can't be auto-fixed (login / not installed). Notify once.
+                // Can't be auto-fixed (login / install / exit-node config).
+                // Notify once per transition.
                 if transition {
                     notify(
                         "Tailscale Error",
-                        "Tailscale needs manual attention (login / install). \
-                         Other Wi-Fi automation paused until resolved.",
+                        "Tailscale needs manual attention (login / install / \
+                         exit node config). Other Wi-Fi automation paused \
+                         until resolved.",
                         Urgency::Critical,
                     );
                 }
-                // Re-run flow only on transition so we land on the bootstrap net.
-                if transition || profile_changed {
-                    let _ = flow::run(&mut cfg, &profile);
+                // Re-attempt periodically and on the transition into this
+                // state: login may have completed since the last attempt, or
+                // the user may have missed the browser window. Quiet — a
+                // still-broken state must not re-notify on every retry.
+                let elapsed = last_flow_at.map(|t| t.elapsed().as_secs()).unwrap_or(u64::MAX);
+                if elapsed >= FLOW_COOLDOWN {
+                    let outcome = flow::run_quiet(&mut cfg, &profile);
+                    last_flow_at = Some(Instant::now());
+                    fail_streak = if outcome.ok() {
+                        0
+                    } else {
+                        fail_streak.saturating_add(1)
+                    };
                 }
-                fail_streak = fail_streak.saturating_add(1);
             }
             Health::DownNoNet | Health::DownTailscaleOther => {
                 if transition {
@@ -288,7 +340,7 @@ pub fn run(mut cfg: Config, run_initial: bool) -> i32 {
                         "watch: down ({:?}) profile={profile} ssid={:?} — running flow",
                         health, ssid
                     ));
-                    let outcome = flow::run(&mut cfg, &profile);
+                    let outcome = flow::run_quiet(&mut cfg, &profile);
                     log(&format!("watch: recovery outcome = {:?}", outcome));
                     last_flow_at = Some(Instant::now());
                     fail_streak = if outcome.ok() {
@@ -310,7 +362,12 @@ pub fn run(mut cfg: Config, run_initial: bool) -> i32 {
         // Adaptive backoff: healthy -> base; failing -> grow up to ~6x.
         let mult = 1 + fail_streak.min(5);
         let dur = Duration::from_secs(base * mult as u64);
-        wait_for_tick(&rx, dur);
+        // Apply a queued set_profile on this thread — the single owner of
+        // config/state file access — and emit the confirmation. The next
+        // iteration's reload sees the new profile and recovers accordingly.
+        if let Some(Wake::SetProfile(name)) = wait_for_tick(&rx, dur) {
+            bread_events::apply_set_profile(&name);
+        }
     }
 }
 

tests/cli.rs

@@ -317,7 +317,10 @@ fn install_service_no_enable_writes_valid_unit_file() {
     let o = sb.cmd(&["install-service", "--no-enable"]);
     assert!(o.status.success(), "stderr: {}", stderr(&o));
 
-    let unit_path = sb.root.join(".config/systemd/user/breadcrumbs.service");
+    // The sandbox sets XDG_CONFIG_HOME=$root/config, so the unit lands
+    // under $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/systemd/user — the whole point of the fix is
+    // honoring XDG rather than hardcoding ~/.config.
+    let unit_path = sb.root.join("config/systemd/user/breadcrumbs.service");
     assert!(unit_path.exists());
     let text = fs::read_to_string(unit_path).unwrap();
     assert!(text.contains("ExecStart="));
@@ -423,6 +426,8 @@ case "$args" in
   "device wifi rescan"*) ;;
   "-t -f SSID device wifi list ifname wlan0")
     echo "TestNet" ;;
+  "-t -f ACTIVE,SSID device wifi list ifname wlan0")
+    echo "yes:TestNet" ;;
   "-t -f NAME,TYPE connection show")
     if [ -f "$marker" ]; then
       echo "TestNet:802-11-wireless"

tests/common/mod.rs

@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ impl RecordedCall {
 }
 
 type Matcher = Box<dyn Fn(&str, &[&str]) -> bool>;
+type DynamicRule = (Matcher, Box<dyn Fn(&str, &[&str]) -> Output>);
 
 /// A canned, rule-based [`Runner`]. Rules are tried in registration order;
 /// the first whose matcher returns `true` supplies the response. No rule
@@ -58,6 +59,7 @@ type Matcher = Box<dyn Fn(&str, &[&str]) -> bool>;
 /// (a wrong exit code) rather than silently returning success.
 pub struct FakeRunner {
     rules: Vec<(Matcher, Output)>,
+    dynamic_rules: Vec<DynamicRule>,
     commands: HashSet<String>,
     calls: Rc<RefCell<Vec<RecordedCall>>>,
 }
@@ -66,6 +68,7 @@ impl FakeRunner {
     pub fn new() -> Self {
         FakeRunner {
             rules: Vec::new(),
+            dynamic_rules: Vec::new(),
             commands: HashSet::new(),
             calls: Rc::new(RefCell::new(Vec::new())),
         }
@@ -99,6 +102,20 @@ impl FakeRunner {
             output,
         )
     }
+
+    /// Register a rule whose *response* is computed at call time (rather
+    /// than canned), enabling stateful fakes — e.g. answering "which SSID is
+    /// active?" with the SSID of the most recently dialed connection.
+    /// Dynamic rules are tried after the static ones.
+    pub fn on_dynamic(
+        mut self,
+        matcher: impl Fn(&str, &[&str]) -> bool + 'static,
+        out: impl Fn(&str, &[&str]) -> Output + 'static,
+    ) -> Self {
+        self.dynamic_rules
+            .push((Box::new(matcher), Box::new(out)));
+        self
+    }
 }
 
 impl Default for FakeRunner {
@@ -119,6 +136,11 @@ impl Runner for FakeRunner {
                 return out.clone();
             }
         }
+        for (matcher, out) in &self.dynamic_rules {
+            if matcher(prog, args) {
+                return out(prog, args);
+            }
+        }
         Output::failed()
     }
 

tests/flow_watch.rs

@@ -52,16 +52,53 @@ fn base_config() -> Config {
 /// the device reports connected after any successful connect attempt.
 fn base_nm(visible_ssids: &[&str]) -> FakeRunner {
     let visible = visible_ssids.join("\n");
-    FakeRunner::new()
+    let runner = FakeRunner::new()
         .on_contains("nmcli", "DEVICE,TYPE", ok("wlan0:wifi"))
         .on_contains("nmcli", "radio wifi on", ok(""))
         .on_contains("nmcli", "wifi rescan", ok(""))
-        .on_contains("nmcli", "-f SSID device wifi list", ok(&visible))
+        // Exact match: `-f ACTIVE,SSID` queries (which contain the substring
+        // "SSID device wifi list") must NOT be answered with the visible
+        // list — they go to the stateful rule below.
+        .on(
+            move |_prog, args| args.join(" ") == "-t -f SSID device wifi list ifname wlan0",
+            ok(&visible),
+        )
         .on_contains("nmcli", "NAME,TYPE", ok("")) // no saved profiles
         .on_contains("nmcli", "GENERAL.CON-UUID", ok("uuid-1"))
         .on_contains("nmcli", "ipv4.ignore-auto-dns", ok(""))
         .on_contains("nmcli", "device reapply", ok(""))
-        .on_contains("nmcli", "DEVICE,STATE", ok("wlan0:connected"))
+        .on_contains("nmcli", "DEVICE,STATE", ok("wlan0:connected"));
+    let calls = runner.calls_handle();
+    runner.on_dynamic(
+        move |_prog, args| args.join(" ") == "-t -f ACTIVE,SSID device wifi list ifname wlan0",
+        move |_prog, _args| {
+            // Stateful: answer with the SSID of the most recently dialed
+            // connection, so connect_and_verify's post-connect SSID check
+            // sees the network that was just activated (bootstrap first,
+            // then the target).
+            let rec = calls.borrow();
+            let ssid = rec.iter().rev().find_map(|call| {
+                let j = call.args.join(" ");
+                if j.contains("connect") {
+                    call.args
+                        .iter()
+                        .position(|a| a == "connect")
+                        .map(|i| call.args[i + 1].clone())
+                } else if j.contains("connection up") {
+                    call.args
+                        .iter()
+                        .position(|a| a == "up")
+                        .map(|i| call.args[i + 1].clone())
+                } else {
+                    None
+                }
+            });
+            match ssid {
+                Some(s) => ok(&format!("yes:{s}")),
+                None => ok(""),
+            }
+        },
+    )
 }
 
 /// A successful `device wifi connect <ssid> ...` for every ssid in `ssids`.
@@ -494,12 +531,17 @@ fn set_profile_command_persists_even_with_no_daemon_reachable() {
     state::set_profile(&cfg, "away").unwrap();
     assert_eq!(State::load("away").profile, "away");
 
-    let acted = bread_events::handle_command(&command_event(
+    // handle_command only parses/validates (no file I/O on the subscription
+    // thread); the loop thread then applies the action.
+    let action = bread_events::handle_command(&command_event(
         "bread.command.crumbs.set_profile",
         serde_json::json!({ "profile": "home" }),
     ));
-
-    assert!(acted, "known profile must persist");
+    assert!(
+        matches!(action, bread_events::CommandAction::SetProfile(n) if n == "home"),
+        "a known profile must yield a SetProfile action"
+    );
+    bread_events::apply_set_profile("home");
     assert_eq!(State::load("away").profile, "home");
 }
 
@@ -509,12 +551,14 @@ fn set_profile_command_rejects_unknown_profile() {
     let cfg = Config::load().expect("fresh config");
     state::set_profile(&cfg, "away").unwrap();
 
-    let acted = bread_events::handle_command(&command_event(
+    let action = bread_events::handle_command(&command_event(
         "bread.command.crumbs.set_profile",
         serde_json::json!({ "profile": "bogus" }),
     ));
-
-    assert!(!acted);
+    assert!(matches!(action, bread_events::CommandAction::SetProfile(n) if n == "bogus"));
+    // The rejection happens when the loop thread applies it: state is
+    // untouched and the failure event is emitted (a no-op without breadd).
+    bread_events::apply_set_profile("bogus");
     assert_eq!(
         State::load("away").profile,
         "away",
@@ -528,12 +572,11 @@ fn set_profile_command_rejects_missing_profile_field() {
     let cfg = Config::load().expect("fresh config");
     state::set_profile(&cfg, "away").unwrap();
 
-    let acted = bread_events::handle_command(&command_event(
+    let action = bread_events::handle_command(&command_event(
         "bread.command.crumbs.set_profile",
         serde_json::json!({}),
     ));
-
-    assert!(!acted);
+    assert!(matches!(action, bread_events::CommandAction::Ignore));
     assert_eq!(State::load("away").profile, "away");
 }
 
@@ -543,12 +586,11 @@ fn handle_command_ignores_unrecognized_verb() {
     let cfg = Config::load().expect("fresh config");
     state::set_profile(&cfg, "away").unwrap();
 
-    let acted = bread_events::handle_command(&command_event(
+    let action = bread_events::handle_command(&command_event(
         "bread.command.crumbs.pin",
         serde_json::json!({}),
     ));
-
-    assert!(!acted);
+    assert!(matches!(action, bread_events::CommandAction::Ignore));
     assert_eq!(
         State::load("away").profile,
         "away",
@@ -562,14 +604,20 @@ fn handle_command_ignores_events_outside_its_own_command_namespace() {
     let cfg = Config::load().expect("fresh config");
     state::set_profile(&cfg, "away").unwrap();
 
-    assert!(!bread_events::handle_command(&command_event(
-        "bread.command.clip.clear",
-        serde_json::json!({}),
-    )));
-    assert!(!bread_events::handle_command(&command_event(
-        "bread.crumbs.profile.changed",
-        serde_json::json!({ "from": "away", "to": "home" }),
-    )));
+    assert!(matches!(
+        bread_events::handle_command(&command_event(
+            "bread.command.clip.clear",
+            serde_json::json!({}),
+        )),
+        bread_events::CommandAction::Ignore
+    ));
+    assert!(matches!(
+        bread_events::handle_command(&command_event(
+            "bread.crumbs.profile.changed",
+            serde_json::json!({ "from": "away", "to": "home" }),
+        )),
+        bread_events::CommandAction::Ignore
+    ));
     assert_eq!(State::load("away").profile, "away");
 }