diff --git a/containers/backupchecks/src/backend/app/cove_importer.py b/containers/backupchecks/src/backend/app/cove_importer.py
index 27371d8..2f3b06a 100644
--- a/containers/backupchecks/src/backend/app/cove_importer.py
+++ b/containers/backupchecks/src/backend/app/cove_importer.py
@@ -360,7 +360,13 @@ def _process_account(account: dict) -> bool:
     computer_name = (flat.get("I18") or "").strip() or None
     customer_name = (flat.get("I8") or "").strip() or None
     datasource_types = (flat.get("I78") or "").strip() or None
-    last_run_at = _ts_to_dt(flat.get("D09F15"))
+    # Prefer "last session end" (D09F15); fallback to "last successful session" (D09F09)
+    # so accounts without D09F15 can still produce an initial run.
+    last_run_ts_raw = flat.get("D09F15")
+    last_run_at = _ts_to_dt(last_run_ts_raw)
+    if last_run_at is None:
+        last_run_ts_raw = flat.get("D09F09")
+        last_run_at = _ts_to_dt(last_run_ts_raw)
     colorbar_28d = (flat.get("D09F08") or "").strip() or None
     try:
         last_status_code = int(flat["D09F00"]) if flat.get("D09F00") is not None else None
@@ -397,7 +403,10 @@ def _process_account(account: dict) -> bool:
         db.session.commit()
         return False
 
-    run_ts = int(flat.get("D09F15", 0))
+    try:
+        run_ts = int(last_run_ts_raw or 0)
+    except (TypeError, ValueError):
+        run_ts = 0
     external_id = f"cove-{account_id}-{run_ts}"
 
     existing = JobRun.query.filter_by(external_id=external_id).first()
diff --git a/containers/backupchecks/src/backend/app/main/routes_cove.py b/containers/backupchecks/src/backend/app/main/routes_cove.py
index 9dfa459..25905a2 100644
--- a/containers/backupchecks/src/backend/app/main/routes_cove.py
+++ b/containers/backupchecks/src/backend/app/main/routes_cove.py
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ from .routes_shared import *  # noqa: F401,F403
 from .routes_shared import _log_admin_event
 from ..cove_importer import CoveImportError, run_cove_import
 
-from ..models import CoveAccount, Customer, Job, SystemSettings
+from ..models import CoveAccount, Customer, Job, JobRun, SystemSettings
 
 
 _COVE_DATASOURCE_LABELS = {
@@ -215,8 +215,25 @@ def cove_account_link(cove_account_db_id: int):
     # after linking (instead of waiting for the next scheduled/manual import).
     settings = SystemSettings.query.first()
     if settings and getattr(settings, "cove_enabled", False):
+        linked_job_id = cove_acc.job_id
+        before_count = 0
+        if linked_job_id:
+            before_count = (
+                JobRun.query
+                .filter_by(job_id=linked_job_id, source_type="cove_api")
+                .count()
+            )
         try:
             total, created, skipped, errors = run_cove_import(settings)
+            after_count = 0
+            if linked_job_id:
+                after_count = (
+                    JobRun.query
+                    .filter_by(job_id=linked_job_id, source_type="cove_api")
+                    .count()
+                )
+            linked_created = max(after_count - before_count, 0)
+
             _log_admin_event(
                 "cove_import_after_link",
                 (
@@ -224,19 +241,27 @@ def cove_account_link(cove_account_db_id: int):
                     f"accounts={total}, created={created}, skipped={skipped}, errors={errors}"
                 ),
             )
-            if created > 0:
+            if linked_created > 0:
                 flash(
                     (
                         f"Immediate import complete for '{linked_job_name}'. "
-                        f"New runs: {created} (accounts: {total}, skipped: {skipped}, errors: {errors})."
+                        f"New linked runs: {linked_created} (accounts: {total}, skipped: {skipped}, errors: {errors})."
                     ),
                     "success" if errors == 0 else "warning",
                 )
             else:
+                latest_cove = CoveAccount.query.get(cove_acc.id)
+                if latest_cove and latest_cove.last_run_at:
+                    reason = (
+                        "latest run seems unchanged (already imported) "
+                        "or Cove has not published a newer session yet"
+                    )
+                else:
+                    reason = "Cove returned no usable last-session timestamp yet for this account"
                 flash(
                     (
                         f"Immediate import complete for '{linked_job_name}', but no new run was found yet. "
-                        f"(accounts: {total}, skipped: {skipped}, errors: {errors})"
+                        f"Reason: {reason}. (accounts: {total}, skipped: {skipped}, errors: {errors})"
                     ),
                     "info" if errors == 0 else "warning",
                 )