diff --git a/core/artwork/explain.go b/core/artwork/explain.go
index c6bba8553..9001c5cb6 100644
--- a/core/artwork/explain.go
+++ b/core/artwork/explain.go
@@ -131,6 +131,9 @@ func Explain(ctx context.Context, ds model.DataStore, ag *agents.Agents, kind mo
 			return ExplainReport{}, fmt.Errorf("reading the artwork queue: %w", err)
 		}
 	}
+	// Set even for a kind the chain never walks, so a caller that asked to walk (e.g. --live on a
+	// playlist) is reported as having tried, matching the pre-refactor CLI's unconditional flag.
+	rep.Walked = opts.Walk != nil
 	if !Explainable(kind) {
 		return rep, nil
 	}
@@ -138,7 +141,6 @@ func Explain(ctx context.Context, ds model.DataStore, ag *agents.Agents, kind mo
 		rep.Agents = FormatAgents(conf.Server.Agents, ImageAgentNames(ag, kind), opts.UnavailableNote)
 	}
 
-	rep.Walked = opts.Walk != nil
 	switch {
 	case rep.Walked:
 		trace := &ChainTrace{}
@@ -161,11 +163,19 @@ func (r ExplainReport) ChainOrigin() string {
 		return "walked now"
 	}
 	if r.Stored != nil {
-		return "recorded " + r.Stored.AttemptedAt.Format(time.RFC3339)
+		return "recorded " + formatAttemptedAt(r.Stored.AttemptedAt)
 	}
 	return "not recorded"
 }
 
+// formatAttemptedAt matches the CLI's formatTime: a zero time reads as unset, not as year 1.
+func formatAttemptedAt(t time.Time) string {
+	if t.IsZero() {
+		return "-"
+	}
+	return t.Format(time.RFC3339)
+}
+
 // LastAttemptFailed decodes why the queued row's last attempt failed, if there is one queued.
 func (r ExplainReport) LastAttemptFailed() []TraceStep {
 	if r.Queued == nil {
diff --git a/core/artwork/explain_test.go b/core/artwork/explain_test.go
index 8f9abf224..676f626d0 100644
--- a/core/artwork/explain_test.go
+++ b/core/artwork/explain_test.go
@@ -133,6 +133,11 @@ var _ = Describe("Explain", func() {
 		Expect(rep.ChainOrigin()).To(ContainSubstring("recorded"))
 	})
 
+	It("renders a zero attempted-at the same way the CLI's formatTime does", func() {
+		rep := artwork.ExplainReport{Stored: &model.ItemArtwork{Source: "folder"}}
+		Expect(rep.ChainOrigin()).To(Equal("recorded -"))
+	})
+
 	It("reports nothing recorded when there is no stored state", func() {
 		rep, err := artwork.Explain(ctx, ds, nil, model.KindArtistArtwork, "ar-1", artwork.ExplainOptions{})
 		Expect(err).ToNot(HaveOccurred())
@@ -166,4 +171,28 @@ var _ = Describe("Explain", func() {
 		Expect(rep.Stored).To(BeNil())
 		Expect(rep.Steps).To(BeEmpty())
 	})
+
+	It("performs a fresh walk and reports its outcome, including a failed one, when a walker is supplied", func() {
+		// GetAll erroring mid-walk is a deterministic way to force ResolveErr without a real library.
+		ds.Album(ctx).(*tests.MockAlbumRepo).SetError(true)
+		opts := artwork.ExplainOptions{Walk: func(t *artwork.ChainTrace) *artwork.TracingResolver {
+			return artwork.NewTracingResolver(ds, nil, nil, t, false)
+		}}
+
+		rep, err := artwork.Explain(ctx, ds, nil, model.KindArtistArtwork, "ar-1", opts)
+		Expect(err).ToNot(HaveOccurred())
+		Expect(rep.Walked).To(BeTrue())
+		Expect(rep.ResolveErr).To(HaveOccurred())
+	})
+
+	It("still reports Walked for a kind with no chain to walk, when a walker is supplied", func() {
+		Expect(ds.Playlist(ctx).Put(&model.Playlist{ID: "pl-1", Name: "Favorites"})).To(Succeed())
+		opts := artwork.ExplainOptions{Walk: func(*artwork.ChainTrace) *artwork.TracingResolver {
+			panic("a kind that cannot walk must never be handed to the walker")
+		}}
+
+		rep, err := artwork.Explain(ctx, ds, nil, model.KindPlaylistArtwork, "pl-1", opts)
+		Expect(err).ToNot(HaveOccurred())
+		Expect(rep.Walked).To(BeTrue())
+	})
 })