diff --git a/Services/BackupStatusService.swift b/Services/BackupStatusService.swift
index d2601c9..bf8e5b7 100644
--- a/Services/BackupStatusService.swift
+++ b/Services/BackupStatusService.swift
@@ -111,12 +111,14 @@ final class BackupStatusService: NSObject, ObservableObject {
 
         do {
             let data = try await transfer.downloadData(at: manifestPath)
-            manifest = (try? JSONDecoder().decode(BackupManifest.self, from: data)) ?? {
+            if let decoded = try? JSONDecoder().decode(BackupManifest.self, from: data) {
+                manifest = decoded
+            } else {
                 let items = (try? await transfer.listDirectory(at: conn.remotePath)) ?? []
-                return BackupManifest.buildFromNASListing(items)
-            }()
+                manifest = BackupManifest.buildFromNASListing(items)
+            }
         } catch {
-            // Manifest not found — build from directory listing
+            // Manifest not found — bootstrap from directory listing
             let items = (try? await transfer.listDirectory(at: conn.remotePath)) ?? []
             manifest = BackupManifest.buildFromNASListing(items)
         }