diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
index 11f42b9..623c21e 100644
--- a/.env.example
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -161,6 +161,8 @@ BACKUP_SFTP_CONNECTIONS=2
 # Optional upload cap in KiB/s for restic and the mirror, e.g. 5000 (about 40 Mbit/s).
 # Empty = uncapped. Useful while the first upload of a large library runs.
 BACKUP_LIMIT_UPLOAD_KBPS=
+# Progress lines in the backup log, per second: 0.0166 is one a minute. 0 for none.
+RESTIC_PROGRESS_FPS=0.0166
 BACKUP_CRON_SCHEDULE=0 * * * *
 BACKUP_KEEP_HOURLY=48
 BACKUP_KEEP_DAILY=14
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index 645691e..619196a 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -90,6 +90,9 @@ services:
       # Parallel SFTP connections, and an optional upload cap in KiB/s (empty = none).
       - BACKUP_SFTP_CONNECTIONS=${BACKUP_SFTP_CONNECTIONS:-2}
       - BACKUP_LIMIT_UPLOAD_KBPS=${BACKUP_LIMIT_UPLOAD_KBPS:-}
+      # restic shows no progress when its output is a log rather than a terminal, so a
+      # day-long first upload was silent from start to finish. One status line a minute.
+      - RESTIC_PROGRESS_FPS=${RESTIC_PROGRESS_FPS:-0.0166}
       - BACKUP_CRON_SCHEDULE=${BACKUP_CRON_SCHEDULE:-0 * * * *}
       - BACKUP_KEEP_HOURLY=${BACKUP_KEEP_HOURLY:-48}
       - BACKUP_KEEP_DAILY=${BACKUP_KEEP_DAILY:-14}
diff --git a/ops/backup/README.md b/ops/backup/README.md
index 3434720..2a343e1 100644
--- a/ops/backup/README.md
+++ b/ops/backup/README.md
@@ -424,6 +424,13 @@ repository lock.
 The first run sends the whole library, which over a home line can take most of a day
 (restic prints an ETA). Later runs send only what changed, in minutes.
 
+- **The log prints one progress line a minute** (`[1:23:45] 12.34%  … files … ETA …`;
+  `RESTIC_PROGRESS_FPS` in `.env` changes the rate). Between them it is quiet, not
+  stuck. A `previous run still going, skipping` line from an hourly tick is proof the
+  run is alive: it is printed only while the run holds its lock. To see how much has
+  landed on the NAS, `docker compose exec backup rclone size nas:/GeckoNotes/gam/restic`
+  (your `BACKUP_SFTP_REMOTE_PATH`), a few minutes apart; or watch NET I/O climb in
+  `docker stats gam-backup-1`.
 - **If it dies, run the same `exec` line again.** restic saves its index as it goes, so
   what already reached the NAS is not sent twice; the rerun picks up roughly where the
   last one stopped. The dead run's leftover repository lock is cleared automatically.