diff --git a/scripts/verify.py b/scripts/verify.py
index ebc06cee4..2f473c697 100644
--- a/scripts/verify.py
+++ b/scripts/verify.py
@@ -1809,7 +1809,8 @@ def _print_undeclared_entry(
                 ref_part = f" [{u['source_ref']}]" if u.get("source_ref") else ""
                 print(f"      validates {checks_label}{ref_part}")
         else:
-            print(f"      [{'+'.join(checks)}]")
+            # A bare "[size]" under the entry said nothing to a reader.
+            print(f"      validates {'+'.join(checks)}")
 
 
 def _split_undeclared(undeclared: list[dict]) -> tuple[list[dict], list[dict], list[dict]]:
diff --git a/tests/test_verify_listing.py b/tests/test_verify_listing.py
index 809d9fa71..267b5885c 100644
--- a/tests/test_verify_listing.py
+++ b/tests/test_verify_listing.py
@@ -272,6 +272,26 @@ class TheBundledLineSaysWhatItLeavesOut(unittest.TestCase):
         )
 
 
+class TheCheckLineSaysWhatItIs(unittest.TestCase):
+    """Without --verbose each missing core file was followed by a bare
+    '[size]' line, nine of them in verify --all."""
+
+    def test_the_checks_read_as_the_verbose_line(self):
+        import contextlib  # noqa: PLC0415
+        import io  # noqa: PLC0415
+
+        sys.path.insert(0, str(REPO_ROOT / "scripts"))
+        import verify  # noqa: PLC0415
+
+        entry = {"name": "FBASIC30.ROM", "emulator": "XM7", "checks": ["size"]}
+        with contextlib.redirect_stdout(io.StringIO()) as out:
+            verify._print_undeclared_entry(entry, "MISSING (required)", False, set())
+        self.assertEqual(out.getvalue().splitlines(), [
+            "    MISSING (required): XM7 needs FBASIC30.ROM",
+            "      validates size",
+        ])
+
+
 class CoreCopiesWithoutAGapEntryAreCounted(unittest.TestCase):
     """verify --platform recalbox --system nec-pc-engine printed no Core
     files line while the pack held six geargrafx syscard copies: the gap