diff --git a/skills/watch/scripts/gemini.py b/skills/watch/scripts/gemini.py
index 5359a9e..845bb54 100644
--- a/skills/watch/scripts/gemini.py
+++ b/skills/watch/scripts/gemini.py
@@ -68,9 +68,11 @@ def _call(method: str, url: str, key: str, *, data=None, headers=None, timeout:
         with urlopen(request, timeout=timeout) as response:
             return response.status, dict(response.headers), response.read()
     except HTTPError as exc:
-        category = ('auth' if exc.code in (401, 403) else 'quota' if exc.code == 429
+        message = _error_message(exc.read())
+        # The Files API answers a malformed key with 400 "API key not valid", not 401.
+        category = ('auth' if exc.code in (401, 403) or 'api key' in message.lower() else 'quota' if exc.code == 429
                     else 'service' if exc.code >= 500 else 'rejected')
-        raise _fail(category, f'HTTP {exc.code}: {_error_message(exc.read())}', key) from None
+        raise _fail(category, f'HTTP {exc.code}: {message}', key) from None
     except (URLError, TimeoutError, OSError) as exc:
         raise _fail('network', f'{type(exc).__name__}: {getattr(exc, "reason", exc)}', key) from None
 
diff --git a/skills/watch/scripts/watch.py b/skills/watch/scripts/watch.py
index 1a2c623..b5b322a 100755
--- a/skills/watch/scripts/watch.py
+++ b/skills/watch/scripts/watch.py
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ from __future__ import annotations
 
 import argparse
 import math
+import shutil
 import sys
 import tempfile
 from pathlib import Path
@@ -34,7 +35,7 @@ def run_gemini(args, config, key, start_sec, end_sec, auth) -> int:
     ignored = [flag for flag, name in LOCAL_ONLY_FLAGS if getattr(args, name) is not None]
     ignored += [flag for flag, on in (("--no-whisper", args.no_whisper), ("--no-dedup", args.no_dedup)) if on]
     clip = (start_sec, end_sec) if start_sec is not None or end_sec is not None else None
-    uploaded, warning, result, error, sent = None, None, None, None, "URL sent to Google"
+    uploaded, warning, result, error, sent, work = None, None, None, None, "URL sent to Google", None
     try:
         if gemini.is_youtube(args.source):
             video = {"uri": args.source}
@@ -42,9 +43,11 @@ def run_gemini(args, config, key, start_sec, end_sec, auth) -> int:
             parent = Path(args.out_dir).expanduser().resolve() if args.out_dir else None
             if parent:
                 parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+            sent = "not sent to Google"
             work = Path(tempfile.mkdtemp(prefix="watch-", dir=parent))
             print("[watch] downloading media…" if is_url(args.source) else "[watch] using local file…", file=sys.stderr)
             media = download(args.source, work / "download", **(auth if is_url(args.source) else {}))
+            sent = "upload to Google failed"
             print("[watch] uploading to the Gemini Files API…", file=sys.stderr)
             uploaded = gemini.upload_file(Path(media["video_path"]), key)
             video = {"uri": uploaded["uri"], "mime_type": uploaded["mime_type"]}
@@ -57,6 +60,8 @@ def run_gemini(args, config, key, start_sec, end_sec, auth) -> int:
     finally:
         if uploaded:
             warning = gemini.delete_file(uploaded["name"], key)
+        if work:  # Run-owned; holds at most a downloaded copy. A local source file lives elsewhere.
+            shutil.rmtree(work, ignore_errors=True)
 
     print()
     print("# watch: video report")
diff --git a/tests/test_gemini.py b/tests/test_gemini.py
index 46de56e..96dd89f 100644
--- a/tests/test_gemini.py
+++ b/tests/test_gemini.py
@@ -210,3 +210,10 @@ def test_delete_is_best_effort(calls):
     calls.replies = [http_error(500, b'boom')]
     warning = gemini.delete_file('files/abc', KEY)
     assert 'files/abc' in warning and '48 hours' in warning and KEY not in warning
+
+
+def test_invalid_key_reported_as_http_400_is_still_auth(calls):
+    """Observed live: the Files API answers a malformed key with 400, not 401."""
+    calls.replies = [http_error(400, b'{"error":{"code":400,"message":"API key not valid. Please pass a valid API key.","status":"INVALID_ARGUMENT"}}')]
+    with pytest.raises(SystemExit, match='^Gemini auth:'):
+        gemini.ask({'uri': 'https://youtu.be/abc'}, None, model='m', key=KEY)
diff --git a/tests/test_watch.py b/tests/test_watch.py
index 4c0c2db..1bc00e9 100644
--- a/tests/test_watch.py
+++ b/tests/test_watch.py
@@ -269,3 +269,18 @@ def test_explicit_gemini_without_key_fails_before_any_work(monkeypatch):
     monkeypatch.setattr(sys, 'argv', ['watch', 'https://vimeo.com/1', '--engine', 'gemini'])
     with pytest.raises(ConfigError, match='GEMINI_API_KEY'):
         watch.main()
+
+
+def test_failed_upload_is_reported_honestly_and_work_dir_removed(monkeypatch, capsys, static_clip, tmp_path):
+    import gemini
+    monkeypatch.setenv('GEMINI_API_KEY', 'unit-key')
+    def boom(path, key, **kw):
+        raise SystemExit('Gemini upload: nope. No local fallback was attempted; rerun with --engine local')
+    monkeypatch.setattr(gemini, 'upload_file', boom)
+    out_dir = tmp_path / 'out'
+    monkeypatch.setattr(sys, 'argv', ['watch', str(static_clip), '--out-dir', str(out_dir)])
+    assert watch.main() == 1
+    out = capsys.readouterr().out
+    assert 'URL sent to Google' not in out and 'upload to Google failed' in out
+    assert out_dir.is_dir() and list(out_dir.iterdir()) == [], 'the run-owned work dir must be removed'
+    assert static_clip.is_file(), 'the user source file is never deleted'