diff --git a/backend/lib/ytdlp.js b/backend/lib/ytdlp.js
index ecf1cf3..c8daefc 100644
--- a/backend/lib/ytdlp.js
+++ b/backend/lib/ytdlp.js
@@ -198,7 +198,10 @@ async function downloadTrack({ jobId, artist, rawArtist, albumArtist, title, alb
     log(jobId, `🔗 Direkter Download: ${sourceUrl}`);
     await spawnYtdlp([sourceUrl, '--no-playlist', ...baseArgs]);
     const audioFile = hasAudio() ? expectedAudio : null;
-    if (!audioFile) { log(jobId, '⚠️  Download fehlgeschlagen'); return { success: true, dir }; }
+    // Direct-link download failed (e.g. YouTube 403 / bot check) — must report FAILURE, not success.
+    // Previously returned { success: true }, so the job was marked "done/Fertig!" and the UI wrongly
+    // said the track was added.
+    if (!audioFile) { log(jobId, '⚠️  Download fehlgeschlagen'); return { success: false, failed: true, dir }; }
     return embedMetadata({ jobId, audioFile, dir, trackPrefix, safeTitle, rawArtist, artist, mainArtist, album, year, trackNum, totalTracks, discNum, discTotal, compilation, genre, artworkUrl, explicit, title: searchTitle });
   }
 
diff --git a/backend/novasonic-server.js b/backend/novasonic-server.js
index f18ca28..35a27a7 100644
--- a/backend/novasonic-server.js
+++ b/backend/novasonic-server.js
@@ -657,6 +657,8 @@ app.post('/api/download', async (req, res) => {
           updateJob(jobId, { status: 'done', progress: 100, message: 'Bereits vorhanden – übersprungen', skipped: true });
         } else if (result?.notFound) {
           updateJob(jobId, { status: 'error', message: 'Nicht eindeutig gefunden — bitte Direktlink im Importer nutzen' });
+        } else if (result?.failed) {
+          updateJob(jobId, { status: 'error', message: 'Download fehlgeschlagen — YouTube hat den Abruf blockiert (403).' });
         } else {
           updateJob(jobId, { status: 'done', progress: 100, message: 'Fertig!' });
         }