diff --git a/plugin/hooks/scribe_session_context.sh b/plugin/hooks/scribe_session_context.sh
index c9c90b9..111da25 100755
--- a/plugin/hooks/scribe_session_context.sh
+++ b/plugin/hooks/scribe_session_context.sh
@@ -23,16 +23,22 @@
 # vars above are the supported channel; SCRIBE_URL / SCRIBE_TOKEN override for
 # the settings.json dogfooding path.
 #
-# FAIL-OPEN: the dynamic tier injects nothing on any error; the static tier
-# still fires. A session is never blocked by Scribe.
+# FAIL-OPEN, BUT NOT SILENT: the dynamic tier never blocks a session. A *failed*
+# dynamic fetch is surfaced as a short status line (not swallowed), so a session
+# can tell "couldn't load live context" apart from "Scribe had nothing to say".
+# A fully unconfigured install (no url AND no token) is the intended static-only
+# mode and stays quiet.
 set -uo pipefail
 
 command -v jq >/dev/null 2>&1 || exit 0   # needed to emit the JSON envelope safely
 
 here=$(CDPATH= cd -- "$(dirname -- "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" && pwd) || exit 0
 
-# --- Tier 1: static behavioral mandate (always, keyless, networkless) ---
 out=""
+# Append $1 to $out, separated by a horizontal rule when $out already has content.
+append() { if [ -n "$out" ]; then out="${out}"$'\n\n---\n\n'"$1"; else out="$1"; fi; }
+
+# --- Tier 1: static behavioral mandate (always, keyless, networkless) ---
 [ -f "$here/scribe_static_context.md" ] && out=$(cat "$here/scribe_static_context.md")
 
 # --- Tier 2: dynamic rules + active-project context (best-effort) ---
@@ -44,7 +50,9 @@ token=${SCRIBE_TOKEN:-${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_OPTION_api_token:-}}
 case "$url"   in *'${'*) url="" ;;  esac
 case "$token" in *'${'*) token="" ;; esac
 
-if command -v curl >/dev/null 2>&1 && [ -n "$url" ] && [ -n "$token" ]; then
+dyn=""
+status=""
+if [ -n "$url" ] && [ -n "$token" ] && command -v curl >/dev/null 2>&1; then
   # Resolve the working repo's remote so the server can map it to a project.
   repo_dir=${CLAUDE_PROJECT_DIR:-$PWD}
   repo=$(git -C "$repo_dir" remote get-url origin 2>/dev/null || true)
@@ -56,19 +64,18 @@ if command -v curl >/dev/null 2>&1 && [ -n "$url" ] && [ -n "$token" ]; then
   body=$(curl -fsS --max-time 8 \
     -H "Authorization: Bearer ${token}" \
     "${url%/}/api/plugin/context${q}" 2>/dev/null) || body=""
-  if [ -n "$body" ]; then
-    dyn=$(printf '%s' "$body" | jq -r '.context // empty' 2>/dev/null) || dyn=""
-    if [ -n "$dyn" ]; then
-      if [ -n "$out" ]; then
-        out="${out}"$'\n\n---\n\n'"${dyn}"
-      else
-        out="$dyn"
-      fi
-    fi
-  fi
+  [ -n "$body" ] && dyn=$(printf '%s' "$body" | jq -r '.context // empty' 2>/dev/null)
+  [ -z "$dyn" ] && status="> ⚠️ Scribe: live rules/project context could not be loaded this session (instance unreachable or request failed). The standing guidance above still applies — pull rules with \`list_always_on_rules()\` and project context with \`enter_project()\` as needed."
+elif [ -n "$url" ] && [ -z "$token" ]; then
+  # Endpoint configured but token absent: the signature of the known Claude Code
+  # userConfig export gap (sensitive values not always reaching the hook).
+  status="> ⚠️ Scribe: live context disabled this session — the API token did not reach this hook (a known Claude Code plugin-config gap). Tools still work; pull rules with \`list_always_on_rules()\` and project context with \`enter_project()\`."
 fi
 
-# Nothing to inject (no static file AND no dynamic context) → stay silent.
+[ -n "$dyn" ]    && append "$dyn"
+[ -n "$status" ] && append "$status"
+
+# Nothing at all to inject (no static file, no dynamic context, no status) → stay silent.
 [ -n "$out" ] || exit 0
 
 jq -n --arg c "$out" \