diff --git a/scripts/refresh_stale.py b/scripts/refresh_stale.py
index 8e1221ec2..960b2c3da 100755
--- a/scripts/refresh_stale.py
+++ b/scripts/refresh_stale.py
@@ -34,7 +34,9 @@ has ended, and its export is rewritten even when no row named it.
 
 Surfaced only (no refresh): data rows that are not a _data_dirs.yml key
 (the registry itself, buildbot assets it does not track), coreinfo gaps, redump/no-intro/tosec packs,
-CI pins (install.py SHA-256, PyPI, pinned actions), profile_sync. Each needs
+CI pins (install.py SHA-256, PyPI, pinned actions), profile_sync, rom-folder
+pins (moved by hand, then python -m scripts.scraper.romfolders --setup NAME
+reads them again). Each needs
 a human read (new .info file, manual DAT download, PyPI version bump).
 
 Usage:
@@ -65,7 +67,9 @@ PLATFORMS_REGISTRY = REPO_ROOT / "platforms" / "_registry.yml"
 DATA_DIRS_REGISTRY = REPO_ROOT / "platforms" / "_data_dirs.yml"
 
 AUTO_AREAS = ("platforms", "native", "targets", "data", "catalogs")
-MANUAL_AREAS = ("coreinfo", "ci", "profiles")
+# A rom-folder pin is moved by hand in platforms/romfolders/_sources/,
+# then `python -m scripts.scraper.romfolders --setup NAME` reads it again.
+MANUAL_AREAS = ("romfolders", "coreinfo", "ci", "profiles")
 
 JOB_TIMEOUT = 1800  # 30 minutes per refresher, scrapers rarely exceed 10
 
@@ -563,7 +567,8 @@ def main() -> int:
     parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(allow_abbrev=False, description=__doc__.split("\n\n")[0])
     parser.add_argument(
         "--only",
-        help="comma-separated areas to check: " + ",".join(AUTO_AREAS),
+        help="comma-separated areas to check: " + ",".join(AUTO_AREAS)
+        + " (refreshed), " + ",".join(MANUAL_AREAS) + " (listed for a human)",
     )
     parser.add_argument(
         "--dry-run",
diff --git a/tests/test_refresh_stale.py b/tests/test_refresh_stale.py
index dedd6629b..a1c463b0c 100644
--- a/tests/test_refresh_stale.py
+++ b/tests/test_refresh_stale.py
@@ -256,6 +256,16 @@ class SavedFindings(unittest.TestCase):
                          [("catalogs", "mame recipes")])
         self.assertEqual([f["subject"] for f in plan["surfaced"]], ["anybor"])
 
+    def test_every_area_check_freshness_reports_is_known(self):
+        """romfolders was added to check_freshness and not here: its rows
+        were dropped from a saved report without a word, and --only
+        romfolders was refused."""
+        import check_freshness  # noqa: PLC0415
+
+        self.assertEqual(set(check_freshness.AREAS), set(rs.AUTO_AREAS + rs.MANUAL_AREAS))
+        jobs, surfaced, _ = rs.plan_jobs([finding("romfolders", "muos")], REGISTRY, {})
+        self.assertEqual((jobs, [f["subject"] for f in surfaced]), ([], ["muos"]))
+
     def test_a_report_that_is_not_a_list_is_refused(self):
         with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory(dir=REPO_ROOT / "tmp" / "tests") as directory:
             path = Path(directory) / "freshness.json"
diff --git a/wiki/tools.md b/wiki/tools.md
index dab60e5b0..f566efe53 100644
--- a/wiki/tools.md
+++ b/wiki/tools.md
@@ -760,7 +760,10 @@ committed.
 
 Rows that need a decision are listed and never run: a buildbot core with no
 profile, a new `.info` file, the Redump, No-Intro and TOSEC packs, the CI
-pins, and `profile_sync`. A failed scraper leaves its cached original
+pins, `profile_sync`, and a rom-folder pin (moved by hand in
+`platforms/romfolders/_sources/`, then `python -m scripts.scraper.romfolders
+--setup NAME` reads it again). `--dry-run --json` prints the plan as JSON.
+A failed scraper leaves its cached original
 untouched. Each job writes its output to `tmp/refresh_stale/`, and a GitHub
 token is taken from `GITHUB_TOKEN` or from `gh auth token`.