diff --git a/scripts/generate_pack.py b/scripts/generate_pack.py
index a6988e89..2b81570b 100644
--- a/scripts/generate_pack.py
+++ b/scripts/generate_pack.py
@@ -355,6 +355,7 @@ def _data_directory_members(
                 print(
                     f"  WARNING: data directory '{ref_key}' not cached at {local_path} -run refresh_data_dirs.py"
                 )
+                _MISSING_DATA_DIRS.add(ref_key)
                 continue
             dd_dest = dd.get("destination", "")
             if base_dest and dd_dest:
@@ -1640,6 +1641,7 @@ def generate_emulator_pack(
         print(
             f"  Note: data directory '{ref}' required but not included (use refresh_data_dirs.py)"
         )
+    _MISSING_DATA_DIRS.update(data_dir_notices)
 
     return (
         zip_path
@@ -2777,9 +2779,22 @@ def _given_flags(args) -> set[str]:
     return {flag for flag, on in flags.items() if on}
 
 
+# Data directories a pack needed and the cache did not hold. The pack is
+# written without them, so the run cannot exit as if it were complete: a
+# refresh refused by a quota left the PPSSPP pack with 2 files, exit 0.
+_MISSING_DATA_DIRS: set[str] = set()
+
+
 def main():
     with contextlib.ExitStack() as held:
         _main(held)
+    if _MISSING_DATA_DIRS:
+        print(
+            "ERROR: packs written without data directories that are not cached: "
+            f"{', '.join(sorted(_MISSING_DATA_DIRS))} (run refresh_data_dirs.py)",
+            file=sys.stderr,
+        )
+        sys.exit(1)
 
 
 def _main(held: contextlib.ExitStack) -> None:
diff --git a/tests/test_core_file_fills_declaration.py b/tests/test_core_file_fills_declaration.py
index 32899d8b..67e1f2de 100644
--- a/tests/test_core_file_fills_declaration.py
+++ b/tests/test_core_file_fills_declaration.py
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ frontend sees a file at the path. verify kept it MISSING, so the pack said
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 import hashlib
+import contextlib
 import io
 import os
 import shutil
@@ -18,6 +19,7 @@ import unittest
 import zipfile
 from contextlib import redirect_stdout
 from pathlib import Path
+from unittest import mock
 
 import yaml
 
@@ -141,5 +143,44 @@ class AFileDeclaredUnderAnotherName(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertIn(("ROM", True), reported)
 
 
+
+class AMissingDataDirectoryFailsTheRun(unittest.TestCase):
+    """A refresh refused by a quota left the PPSSPP pack with 2 files and
+    the run exited 0; nothing downstream checks data directories."""
+
+    def test_the_pack_records_it_and_main_exits_non_zero(self):
+        import generate_pack as gp
+
+        root = Path(tempfile.mkdtemp(dir=REPO_ROOT / "tmp"))
+        self.addCleanup(shutil.rmtree, root, True)
+        (root / "platforms").mkdir()
+        (root / "emulators").mkdir()
+        (root / "bios").mkdir()
+        (root / "platforms" / "fakeplat.yml").write_text(yaml.safe_dump({
+            "platform": "FakePlat", "verification_mode": "existence",
+            "base_destination": "system", "cores": [],
+            "systems": {"console-a": {"files": [], "data_directories": [
+                {"ref": "assets", "destination": "assets"},
+            ]}},
+        }))
+        db = {"files": {}, "indexes": {"by_md5": {}, "by_name": {}, "by_crc32": {},
+                                      "by_path_suffix": {}}}
+        gp._MISSING_DATA_DIRS.clear()
+        self.addCleanup(gp._MISSING_DATA_DIRS.clear)
+        with redirect_stdout(io.StringIO()):
+            gp.generate_pack(
+                "fakeplat", str(root / "platforms"), db, str(root / "bios"),
+                str(root / "out"), emulators_dir=str(root / "emulators"),
+                data_registry={"assets": {"local_cache": str(root / "absent")}},
+                offline=True,
+            )
+        self.assertEqual(gp._MISSING_DATA_DIRS, {"assets"})
+        with mock.patch.object(gp, "_main", lambda held: None), \
+                contextlib.redirect_stderr(io.StringIO()), \
+                self.assertRaises(SystemExit) as stop:
+            gp.main()
+        self.assertEqual(stop.exception.code, 1)
+
+
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     unittest.main()