diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index 42307d2..76569d4 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -465,9 +465,12 @@ func (u *ui) describeActionError(label string, err error) string {
 		return ""
 	}
 	if errors.Is(err, webdav.ErrConflict) || strings.Contains(err.Error(), webdav.ErrConflict.Error()) {
-		return fmt.Sprintf("%s failed: remote vault changed on the server; reopen the remote vault and retry", label)
+		return "Save conflict: the remote vault changed. Reopen it and retry the save."
 	}
-	return fmt.Sprintf("%s failed: %v", label, err)
+	if label == "open remote vault" {
+		return fmt.Sprintf("%s failed: %v", label, err)
+	}
+	return err.Error()
 }
 
 func (u *ui) bannerSurface() uiBanner {
diff --git a/main_test.go b/main_test.go
index aa76ab6..9bde448 100644
--- a/main_test.go
+++ b/main_test.go
@@ -557,8 +557,8 @@ func TestUIRemoteSaveConflictShowsVisibleErrorAndKeepsDirtyState(t *testing.T) {
 
 	u.runAction("save vault", u.saveAction)
 
-	if got := u.errorMessage; !strings.Contains(got, "remote vault changed on the server") {
-		t.Fatalf("errorMessage = %q, want visible remote conflict guidance", got)
+	if got := u.errorMessage; got != "Save conflict: the remote vault changed. Reopen it and retry the save." {
+		t.Fatalf("errorMessage = %q, want normalized save conflict guidance", got)
 	}
 	if got := u.statusMessage; got != "" {
 		t.Fatalf("statusMessage = %q, want empty after remote save conflict", got)