diff --git a/scripts/verify.py b/scripts/verify.py
index d740e96f2..3b1d73b6e 100644
--- a/scripts/verify.py
+++ b/scripts/verify.py
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ import contextlib
 import json
 import os
 import sys
+from collections import Counter
 from collections.abc import Mapping
 from pathlib import Path
 
@@ -1800,6 +1801,19 @@ def _core_required_missing(bios_files: list[dict]) -> list[dict]:
     ]
 
 
+def _omission_reasons(entries: list[dict]) -> str:
+    """Each reason a held file was left out, with its count when several.
+
+    Printing the first entry's reason for the whole count named one cause
+    for 412 RomM files when 20 carried it.
+    """
+    counts = Counter(u.get("omitted", "not placed") for u in entries)
+    if len(counts) == 1:
+        return next(iter(counts))
+    ranked = sorted(counts.items(), key=lambda item: (-item[1], item[0]))
+    return ", ".join(f"{count} {reason}" for reason, count in ranked)
+
+
 def _print_undeclared_section(result: dict, verbose: bool) -> None:
     """Print cross-reference section for undeclared files used by cores."""
     undeclared = result.get("undeclared_files", [])
@@ -1843,7 +1857,8 @@ def _print_undeclared_section(result: dict, verbose: bool) -> None:
         names = ", ".join(sorted({u["name"] for u in bundled}))
         print(f"  Bundled with their emulator, not collected: {names}")
     if unplaced:
-        print(f"  Core files held but not packed: {len(unplaced)} ({unplaced[0]['omitted']})")
+        print(f"  Core files held but not packed: {len(unplaced)} "
+              f"({_omission_reasons(unplaced)})")
 
     for u in req_not_in_repo:
         _print_undeclared_entry(u, "MISSING (required)", verbose)
@@ -1869,7 +1884,7 @@ def _print_undeclared_section(result: dict, verbose: bool) -> None:
         if gd_unplaced:
             print(
                 f"  Game data held but not packed: {len(gd_unplaced)} "
-                f"({gd_unplaced[0].get('omitted', 'not placed')})"
+                f"({_omission_reasons(gd_unplaced)})"
             )
 
 
diff --git a/tests/test_tool_messages.py b/tests/test_tool_messages.py
index 1d97f3b7c..a866120e2 100644
--- a/tests/test_tool_messages.py
+++ b/tests/test_tool_messages.py
@@ -157,6 +157,44 @@ class EveryPlatformInTheSummaryCarriesItsCount(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertIn("3 warning (Lakka 2, ROCKNIX 1)", summary)
 
 
+class HeldButNotPackedNamesEachReason(unittest.TestCase):
+    """'Core files held but not packed: 16 (a packed file occupies its
+    directory)' on Lakka, where 14 of the 16 are installed with their
+    emulator: the first entry's reason stood for the whole count."""
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def _entry(name: str, reason: str, category: str = "bios") -> dict:
+        return {"name": name, "emulator": "x", "required": True, "in_repo": True,
+                "in_pack": False, "omitted": reason, "category": category}
+
+    def _printed(self, entries: list[dict]) -> str:
+        import contextlib  # noqa: PLC0415
+        import io  # noqa: PLC0415
+
+        out = io.StringIO()
+        with contextlib.redirect_stdout(out):
+            verify._print_undeclared_section({"undeclared_files": entries}, False)
+        return out.getvalue()
+
+    def test_each_reason_carries_its_count(self):
+        entries = [self._entry("a.rom", "a packed file occupies its directory")]
+        entries += [self._entry(f"{i}.rom", "installed with its emulator") for i in range(3)]
+        entries += [self._entry(f"g{i}", "installed with its emulator", "game_data")
+                    for i in range(2)]
+        entries.append(self._entry("g9", "no platform slug for its system", "game_data"))
+        text = self._printed(entries)
+        self.assertIn(
+            "Core files held but not packed: 4 (3 installed with its emulator, "
+            "1 a packed file occupies its directory)", text)
+        self.assertIn(
+            "Game data held but not packed: 3 (2 installed with its emulator, "
+            "1 no platform slug for its system)", text)
+
+    def test_a_single_reason_reads_as_before(self):
+        text = self._printed([self._entry("a.rom", "installed with its emulator")] * 2)
+        self.assertIn("Core files held but not packed: 2 (installed with its emulator)", text)
+
+
 class OneSpellingPerOption(unittest.TestCase):
     """verify.py -p batocera worked and slots.py -p batocera was refused."""
 
diff --git a/wiki/reading-reports.md b/wiki/reading-reports.md
index 159fef7b7..c6ce6e212 100644
--- a/wiki/reading-reports.md
+++ b/wiki/reading-reports.md
@@ -117,7 +117,8 @@ RetroDECK: 2007/2008 OK, 1 untested [md5]
 
 The run prints more `DISCREPANCY` lines than this excerpt shows. The core
 and game data lines count what the emulator cores add beyond the platform's
-own list. A file held but not packed is left out for the reason in parentheses.
+own list. A file held but not packed is left out for the reason in parentheses, each
+reason with its count when the files have several.
 
 `--verbose` also lists the passing entries that an emulator validates, with
 the check and the source lines behind it: