diff --git a/src/cliproxy/binary/lifecycle.ts b/src/cliproxy/binary/lifecycle.ts
index 474a3857..f16b103d 100644
--- a/src/cliproxy/binary/lifecycle.ts
+++ b/src/cliproxy/binary/lifecycle.ts
@@ -132,9 +132,7 @@ export async function ensureBinary(config: BinaryManagerConfig): Promise<string>
     return binaryPath;
   }
 
-  // Binary missing - download
-  log('Binary not found, downloading...', verbose);
-
+  // Binary missing
   if (!config.allowInstall) {
     throw new Error(
       `${getBackendLabel(backend)} binary is not installed locally. ` +
@@ -142,6 +140,9 @@ export async function ensureBinary(config: BinaryManagerConfig): Promise<string>
     );
   }
 
+  // Only log download intent when a download will actually happen
+  log('Binary not found, downloading...', verbose);
+
   if (!config.forceVersion) {
     try {
       const latestVersion = await fetchLatestVersion(verbose, backend);
diff --git a/src/commands/cliproxy/index.ts b/src/commands/cliproxy/index.ts
index b580fdda..b0595c62 100644
--- a/src/commands/cliproxy/index.ts
+++ b/src/commands/cliproxy/index.ts
@@ -146,9 +146,14 @@ export async function handleCliproxyCommand(args: string[]): Promise<void> {
   const verbose = hasAnyFlag(remainingArgs, ['--verbose', '-v']);
   const command = remainingArgs[0];
 
-  if (hasAnyFlag(remainingArgs, ['--help', '-h'])) {
-    await showHelp();
-    return;
+  // Show global cliproxy help only when --help/-h is the top-level intent (no
+  // subcommand, or the flag is the first arg).  Subcommands that accept --help
+  // (e.g. routing affinity --help) handle it themselves after dispatch.
+  if (!command || command === '--help' || command === '-h') {
+    if (hasAnyFlag(remainingArgs, ['--help', '-h'])) {
+      await showHelp();
+      return;
+    }
   }
 
   // Catalog commands
diff --git a/src/commands/cliproxy/pool-subcommand.ts b/src/commands/cliproxy/pool-subcommand.ts
index a2758bbe..c19cb269 100644
--- a/src/commands/cliproxy/pool-subcommand.ts
+++ b/src/commands/cliproxy/pool-subcommand.ts
@@ -79,7 +79,8 @@ export async function handlePoolSubcommand(args: string[]): Promise<void> {
       console.log(warn(result.message));
       process.exitCode = 1;
     } else if (result.changed) {
-      console.log(ok(result.message));
+      // message already carries the correct [OK]/[!] prefix from routing-strategy
+      console.log(result.message);
     } else {
       console.log(info(result.message));
     }
@@ -93,7 +94,8 @@ export async function handlePoolSubcommand(args: string[]): Promise<void> {
       console.log(warn(result.message));
       process.exitCode = 1;
     } else if (result.changed) {
-      console.log(ok(result.message));
+      // message already carries the correct [OK]/[!] prefix from routing-strategy
+      console.log(result.message);
     } else {
       console.log(info(result.message));
     }