diff --git a/scripts/verify.py b/scripts/verify.py
index fbe3cae1..46460037 100644
--- a/scripts/verify.py
+++ b/scripts/verify.py
@@ -1794,13 +1794,25 @@ def verify_emulator(
             emu_results.setdefault(dest, []).append((result, required, hle))
 
         for dest, alternatives in emu_results.items():
-            held = [a for a in alternatives if a[0]["status"] == Status.OK]
-            if held and len(alternatives) > 1:
-                alternatives = held[:1]
             # What the emulator pack places here: an accepted file, else a
             # file whose hash the profile contradicts. A refused copy is held
             # but never packed.
             fallback_reason = "declared hash contradicted by the local file"
+            if len(alternatives) > 1:
+                # Reduced in the order generate_emulator_pack chooses, so the
+                # destination's status is the one the pack reports: a slot it
+                # fills with a contradicted copy, or counts as refused by the
+                # core, is not missing because another alternative is absent.
+                for keep in (
+                    lambda a: a[0]["status"] == Status.OK,
+                    lambda a: a[0]["status"] == Status.UNTESTED
+                    and a[0].get("reason") == fallback_reason,
+                    lambda a: a[0]["status"] != Status.MISSING,
+                ):
+                    chosen = [a for a in alternatives if keep(a)]
+                    if chosen:
+                        alternatives = chosen[:1]
+                        break
             packed = next(
                 (a[0].get("path") for a in alternatives
                  if a[0]["status"] == Status.OK and a[0].get("path")),
diff --git a/tests/test_path_conflict_status.py b/tests/test_path_conflict_status.py
index 846c1170..af3ae883 100644
--- a/tests/test_path_conflict_status.py
+++ b/tests/test_path_conflict_status.py
@@ -223,5 +223,60 @@ class TheEmulatorPackShipsWhatTheCoreAccepts(unittest.TestCase):
         result = verify_emulator(["mac"], str(self.emulators), self.db)
         self.assertEqual(result["severity_counts"][Severity.OK], 0)
 
+
+class AlternativesAgreeWithThePack(unittest.TestCase):
+    """Two versions declared at one path: the held one has a contradicted
+    md5, the other is not held. The pack ships the held copy with a
+    discrepancy; verify took the worst status and said missing."""
+
+    def setUp(self):
+        self._tmp = tempfile.TemporaryDirectory(dir=REPO_ROOT / "tmp")
+        self.root = Path(self._tmp.name)
+        bios = self.root / "bios"
+        self.emulators = self.root / "emulators"
+        for directory in (bios, self.emulators):
+            directory.mkdir(parents=True)
+        payload = b"held version"
+        (bios / "game.grp").write_bytes(payload)
+        sha1 = hashlib.sha1(payload).hexdigest()
+        files = {sha1: {
+            "path": str(bios / "game.grp"), "name": "game.grp", "size": len(payload),
+            "sha1": sha1, "md5": hashlib.md5(payload).hexdigest(),
+            "sha256": hashlib.sha256(payload).hexdigest(), "crc32": "00000004",
+        }}
+        self.db = {"files": files, "indexes": generate_db.build_indexes(files, {})}
+        profile = {
+            "emulator": "Eng", "type": "libretro", "cores": ["eng"], "systems": ["x"],
+            "files": [
+                {"name": "game.grp", "path": "slot.grp", "required": True, "md5": "0" * 32},
+                {"name": "other.grp", "path": "slot.grp", "required": True},
+            ],
+        }
+        (self.emulators / "eng.yml").write_text(yaml.dump(profile))
+        common._emulator_profiles_cache.clear()
+
+    def tearDown(self):
+        common._emulator_profiles_cache.clear()
+        self._tmp.cleanup()
+
+    def test_verify_counts_what_the_pack_ships(self):
+        import zipfile
+
+        from verify import Status, verify_emulator
+
+        out = self.root / "dist"
+        out.mkdir()
+        with contextlib.redirect_stdout(io.StringIO()):
+            zip_path = builder.generate_emulator_pack(
+                ["eng"], str(self.emulators), self.db, str(self.root / "bios"),
+                str(out), offline=True,
+            )
+        with zipfile.ZipFile(zip_path) as archive:
+            self.assertIn("slot.grp", archive.namelist())
+        result = verify_emulator(["eng"], str(self.emulators), self.db)
+        self.assertEqual(result["status_counts"].get(Status.MISSING, 0), 0)
+        self.assertEqual(result["status_counts"].get(Status.UNTESTED), 1)
+
+
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     unittest.main()