diff --git a/backend/fluksio/api/routes/observability.py b/backend/fluksio/api/routes/observability.py
index 409f9c4..a0e3aa8 100644
--- a/backend/fluksio/api/routes/observability.py
+++ b/backend/fluksio/api/routes/observability.py
@@ -20,7 +20,8 @@ from sqlmodel import col, select
 from fluksio.api.deps import FlowControllerDep, SessionDep, get_current_user
 from fluksio.api.routes.runs import elapsed_ms
 from fluksio.core.config import settings
-from fluksio.flow.controller import ADVISORY_ISSUES, NodeStatus
+from fluksio.flow.controller import NodeStatus
+from fluksio.flow.pipeline import ADVISORY_ISSUES
 from fluksio.models import EngineEvent, FlowRun, MetricBucket
 
 router = APIRouter(
diff --git a/backend/fluksio/flow/controller.py b/backend/fluksio/flow/controller.py
index 2e35944..4883eb9 100644
--- a/backend/fluksio/flow/controller.py
+++ b/backend/fluksio/flow/controller.py
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ from fluksio.flow.nodes import (
     TriggerNode,
 )
 from fluksio.flow.pipeline import (
+    ADVISORY_ISSUES,
     NodeOutcome,
     Pipeline,
     RunCacheLookup,
@@ -81,10 +82,6 @@ logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 HOOK_PREFIX = "/hooks"
 
-# Validation codes that are worth saying but do not stop a flow running, so
-# neither the brain graph nor the health summary treats them as a fault.
-ADVISORY_ISSUES = frozenset({"unauthenticated_hook"})
-
 # How long a node gets to close what it opened before the rebuild moves on.
 # A node's `stop` talks to whatever it connected to, and a broker that has gone
 # away can leave it waiting for an acknowledgement that never arrives — which
diff --git a/backend/fluksio/flow/pipeline.py b/backend/fluksio/flow/pipeline.py
index 534c61b..69cb639 100644
--- a/backend/fluksio/flow/pipeline.py
+++ b/backend/fluksio/flow/pipeline.py
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ from concurrent.futures import Future, ThreadPoolExecutor, wait
 from contextlib import contextmanager
 from typing import Any, Literal, Protocol
 
-from pydantic import BaseModel
+from pydantic import BaseModel, computed_field
 
 from fluksio.flow import logs
 from fluksio.flow.artifacts import is_reference
@@ -41,9 +41,15 @@ logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 #: manual run shows up in the history — but it is no one's idempotency key.
 MANUAL_RUN_PREFIX = "manual-"
 
+# Validation codes that are worth saying but do not stop a flow running, so
+# neither the brain graph nor the health summary treats them as a fault.
+# Lives here rather than beside the controller so `ValidationIssue` can carry
+# the distinction itself, and every reader gets it for free.
+ADVISORY_ISSUES = frozenset({"unauthenticated_hook"})
+
 
 class ValidationIssue(BaseModel):
-    """A problem that keeps a flow from running correctly."""
+    """Something wrong with a flow — a fault, or merely advisory."""
 
     code: Literal[
         "cycle",
@@ -60,6 +66,12 @@ class ValidationIssue(BaseModel):
     port: str | None = None
     message_name: str | None = None
 
+    @computed_field  # type: ignore[prop-decorator]
+    @property
+    def advisory(self) -> bool:
+        """Worth saying, but not a fault — the UI says so in a softer tone."""
+        return self.code in ADVISORY_ISSUES
+
 
 class ValueSource(BaseModel):
     """Who caused a message to take its current value.
diff --git a/backend/tests/flow/test_pipeline.py b/backend/tests/flow/test_pipeline.py
index cec2058..65cb81b 100644
--- a/backend/tests/flow/test_pipeline.py
+++ b/backend/tests/flow/test_pipeline.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ from fluksio.flow.controller import _declared_inputs
 from fluksio.flow.events import EventBus
 from fluksio.flow.messages import DType, MessageSpec
 from fluksio.flow.nodes import Node
-from fluksio.flow.pipeline import Pipeline
+from fluksio.flow.pipeline import Pipeline, ValidationIssue
 from fluksio.flow.schemas import FlowDef, FlowInput
 
 
@@ -197,3 +197,12 @@ def test_values_carry_timestamps():
     values = pipeline.values("f")
     assert values["f.out"]["value"] == 1.0
     assert values["f.out"]["ts"] > 0
+
+
+def test_only_advisory_codes_are_flagged_advisory():
+    """The UI reads this to keep an advisory out of the fault tone."""
+    hook = ValidationIssue(code="unauthenticated_hook", message="open")
+    cycle = ValidationIssue(code="cycle", message="loop")
+
+    assert hook.advisory is True
+    assert cycle.advisory is False
diff --git a/frontend/biome.json b/frontend/biome.json
index 5058819..351123a 100644
--- a/frontend/biome.json
+++ b/frontend/biome.json
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
       "!**/dist/**/*",
       "!**/node_modules/**/*",
       "!**/src/routeTree.gen.ts",
+      "!**/openapi.json",
       "!**/src/client/**/*",
       "!**/src/components/ui/**/*",
       "!**/playwright-report",
diff --git a/frontend/src/client/schemas.gen.ts b/frontend/src/client/schemas.gen.ts
index fa2fcaa..6e7449b 100644
--- a/frontend/src/client/schemas.gen.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/client/schemas.gen.ts
@@ -3185,12 +3185,18 @@ export const ValidationIssueSchema = {
                 }
             ],
             title: 'Message Name'
+        },
+        advisory: {
+            type: 'boolean',
+            title: 'Advisory',
+            description: 'Worth saying, but not a fault — the UI says so in a softer tone.',
+            readOnly: true
         }
     },
     type: 'object',
-    required: ['code', 'message'],
+    required: ['code', 'message', 'advisory'],
     title: 'ValidationIssue',
-    description: 'A problem that keeps a flow from running correctly.'
+    description: 'Something wrong with a flow — a fault, or merely advisory.'
 } as const;
 
 export const ValidationResultSchema = {
diff --git a/frontend/src/client/types.gen.ts b/frontend/src/client/types.gen.ts
index 92221ac..694d840 100644
--- a/frontend/src/client/types.gen.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/client/types.gen.ts
@@ -1057,7 +1057,7 @@ export type ValidationError = {
 };
 
 /**
- * A problem that keeps a flow from running correctly.
+ * Something wrong with a flow — a fault, or merely advisory.
  */
 export type ValidationIssue = {
     code: 'cycle' | 'unconnected_input' | 'missing_initial_value' | 'node_error' | 'unauthenticated_hook' | 'self_loop_needs_initial';
@@ -1067,6 +1067,10 @@ export type ValidationIssue = {
     node?: (string | null);
     port?: (string | null);
     message_name?: (string | null);
+    /**
+     * Worth saying, but not a fault — the UI says so in a softer tone.
+     */
+    readonly advisory: boolean;
 };
 
 export type code = 'cycle' | 'unconnected_input' | 'missing_initial_value' | 'node_error' | 'unauthenticated_hook' | 'self_loop_needs_initial';
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/Flow/FlowDock.tsx b/frontend/src/components/Flow/FlowDock.tsx
index c8751bd..d0d06dd 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/Flow/FlowDock.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/Flow/FlowDock.tsx
@@ -110,6 +110,10 @@ export function FlowDock({
 }) {
   const { fitView } = useReactFlow()
   const connected = useLiveConnection()
+  // The engine marks the issues it does not count against a flow. They are
+  // still worth saying, so they stay in the list — but in the muted tone, and
+  // without turning the summary red, since nothing here is actually broken.
+  const faults = issues.filter((issue) => !issue.advisory)
 
   return (
     <motion.div
@@ -175,7 +179,12 @@ export function FlowDock({
               <Button
                 variant="ghost"
                 size="sm"
-                className="h-11 gap-1.5 text-destructive md:h-8"
+                className={cn(
+                  "h-11 gap-1.5 md:h-8",
+                  faults.length > 0
+                    ? "text-destructive"
+                    : "text-muted-foreground",
+                )}
                 data-testid="validation-summary"
               >
                 <AlertCircle className="size-4" />
@@ -191,7 +200,10 @@ export function FlowDock({
                   <li key={`${issue.code}-${issue.node}-${issue.message_name}`}>
                     <button
                       type="button"
-                      className="w-full rounded-sm px-2 py-1.5 text-left text-sm transition-colors hover:bg-accent/50 disabled:cursor-default disabled:hover:bg-transparent"
+                      className={cn(
+                        "w-full rounded-sm px-2 py-1.5 text-left text-sm transition-colors hover:bg-accent/50 disabled:cursor-default disabled:hover:bg-transparent",
+                        issue.advisory && "text-muted-foreground",
+                      )}
                       onClick={() => issue.node && onFocusNode(issue.node)}
                       disabled={!issue.node}
                     >
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/Flow/FlowEditor.tsx b/frontend/src/components/Flow/FlowEditor.tsx
index e989a57..c0b68d0 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/Flow/FlowEditor.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/Flow/FlowEditor.tsx
@@ -336,7 +336,10 @@ function FlowEditorInner({
   const issuesByNode = useMemo(() => {
     const map = new Map<string, string[]>()
     for (const issue of issues) {
-      if (!issue.node) continue
+      // A node's dot and border are its status channel, and status has no
+      // warning tier — an advisory is not a fault, so it says its piece in the
+      // dock rather than painting the node red.
+      if (!issue.node || issue.advisory) continue
       const list = map.get(issue.node) ?? []
       list.push(issue.message)
       map.set(issue.node, list)