diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index 4644a6d..f943810 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -2317,12 +2317,26 @@ fn backfill_missing_content_hashes(
         .ok()
         .and_then(|s| s.parse().ok())
         .filter(|n: &usize| *n > 0)
-        .unwrap_or(500);
+        .unwrap_or(2000);
+
+    // Count the unhashed backlog up front so we can surface "still needs
+    // backfill: N" in the log — without it, a face-scan that's stuck at
+    // 44% looks stalled when really it's chipping through hashes.
+    let unhashed_total = exif_records
+        .iter()
+        .filter(|r| r.content_hash.is_none())
+        .count();
 
     let mut backfilled = 0usize;
     let mut errors = 0usize;
     for record in &exif_records {
-        if backfilled + errors >= cap {
+        // Cap on successes only — earlier this counted errors too, so a
+        // pocket of chronically-unhashable files at the front of the
+        // table (vanished mid-scan, permission denied, etc.) burned the
+        // budget every tick and the rest of the backlog never advanced.
+        // Errors are still bounded by `unhashed_total` (the loop walks
+        // each unhashed record at most once per tick).
+        if backfilled >= cap {
             break;
         }
         if record.content_hash.is_some() {
@@ -2362,10 +2376,14 @@ fn backfill_missing_content_hashes(
             }
         }
     }
-    if backfilled > 0 || errors > 0 {
+    // Always log when there's an unhashed backlog so an operator
+    // looking at "scan stuck at 44%" can see backfill is running and
+    // how much remains. Quiet only when there's nothing to do.
+    if unhashed_total > 0 || backfilled > 0 || errors > 0 {
+        let remaining = unhashed_total.saturating_sub(backfilled);
         info!(
-            "face_watch: backfilled content_hash for {} file(s) in library '{}' ({} error(s); cap={})",
-            backfilled, library.name, errors, cap
+            "face_watch: backfilled {}/{} content_hash for library '{}' ({} error(s); {} still need backfill; cap={})",
+            backfilled, unhashed_total, library.name, errors, remaining, cap
         );
     }
 }