diff --git a/scripts/generate_pack.py b/scripts/generate_pack.py
index 090c98d4..8eb40f29 100644
--- a/scripts/generate_pack.py
+++ b/scripts/generate_pack.py
@@ -73,6 +73,7 @@ from nativemode import (
     reads_file_contents,
 )
 from validation import (
+    existence_discrepancy,
     destination_owners,
     validated_choice,
     inner_rom_check,
@@ -908,15 +909,9 @@ def generate_pack(
                     # their code never reads the bytes. An upstream hash that
                     # contradicts a local dump is reported, not acted on.
                     if status == "hash_mismatch" and local_path:
-                        declared = file_entry.get("md5", "") or file_entry.get(
-                            "sha1", ""
-                        )
-                        actual = compute_hashes(local_path)
                         file_reasons.setdefault(
                             dedup_key,
-                            f"packed per {platform_display} existence check; "
-                            f"declared hash {declared}, file md5 "
-                            f"{actual['md5']} sha1 {actual['sha1']}",
+                            existence_discrepancy(file_entry, local_path, platform_display),
                         )
                     file_status.setdefault(dedup_key, "ok")
 
diff --git a/scripts/validation.py b/scripts/validation.py
index 16f9cf08..8661622f 100644
--- a/scripts/validation.py
+++ b/scripts/validation.py
@@ -559,3 +559,15 @@ def validated_choice(
         return better, None
     reason, emulators = check
     return local_path, f"{', '.join(emulators)} says {reason}"
+
+
+def existence_discrepancy(file_entry: dict, local_path: str, platform_display: str) -> str:
+    """What an existence platform is told when its declared hash contradicts
+    the file it loads: the file is kept, the gap is said out loud. The pack
+    and verify both print this one line."""
+    declared = file_entry.get("md5", "") or file_entry.get("sha1", "")
+    actual = compute_hashes(local_path)
+    return (
+        f"packed per {platform_display} existence check; declared hash {declared}, "
+        f"file md5 {actual['md5']} sha1 {actual['sha1']}"
+    )
diff --git a/scripts/verify.py b/scripts/verify.py
index 453b0443..8c4b2cdd 100644
--- a/scripts/verify.py
+++ b/scripts/verify.py
@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@ from nativemode import (
     reads_file_contents,
 )
 from validation import (
+    existence_discrepancy,
     destination_owners,
     validated_choice,
     agnostic_substitute,
@@ -124,6 +125,8 @@ def verify_entry_existence(
     db: dict | None = None,
     destination: str = "",
     owners: dict | None = None,
+    resolve_status: str = "",
+    platform_display: str = "",
 ) -> dict:
     """RetroArch verification: path_is_valid() -file exists = OK."""
     name = file_entry.get("name", "")
@@ -131,6 +134,13 @@ def verify_entry_existence(
     if not local_path:
         return {"name": name, "status": Status.MISSING, "required": required}
     result = {"name": name, "status": Status.OK, "required": required}
+    if resolve_status == "hash_mismatch":
+        # The frontend reads no bytes, so the file stays; the declared hash
+        # it contradicts is reported, as the pack does.
+        result["discrepancy"] = existence_discrepancy(
+            file_entry, local_path, platform_display
+        )
+        return result
     if not validation_index:
         return result
     if db:
@@ -874,6 +884,8 @@ def verify_platform(
                     db,
                     destination,
                     validation_owners,
+                    resolve_status,
+                    config.get("platform", ""),
                 )
             elif digest_algorithm(mode) == "sha1":
                 result = verify_entry_sha1(file_entry, local_path)
diff --git a/tests/test_verify_listing.py b/tests/test_verify_listing.py
index d52dff3f..95641bd2 100644
--- a/tests/test_verify_listing.py
+++ b/tests/test_verify_listing.py
@@ -115,5 +115,24 @@ class CoreArchivesAreCounted(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertIn("1 required missing", out.getvalue())
         self.assertIn("neogeo.zip", out.getvalue())
 
+
+class ExistenceReportsWhatThePackReports(unittest.TestCase):
+    def test_a_contradicted_hash_is_a_discrepancy(self):
+        """30 RetroArch entries printed DISCREPANCY in the pack, nothing in verify."""
+        import tempfile  # noqa: PLC0415
+
+        sys.path.insert(0, str(REPO_ROOT / "scripts"))
+        import verify  # noqa: PLC0415
+
+        with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory(dir=REPO_ROOT / "tmp") as tmp:
+            path = Path(tmp) / "aes.zip"
+            path.write_bytes(b"local dump")
+            entry = {"name": "aes.zip", "md5": "9d2ff2333e23910cf56f7f785609d36a"}
+            result = verify.verify_entry_existence(
+                entry, str(path), resolve_status="hash_mismatch", platform_display="RetroArch"
+            )
+        self.assertEqual(result["status"], verify.Status.OK)
+        self.assertIn("declared hash 9d2ff233", result["discrepancy"])
+
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     unittest.main()