diff --git a/AGENTS.md b/AGENTS.md
index fd47d95..cf7df8c 100644
--- a/AGENTS.md
+++ b/AGENTS.md
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ avoid comments or tests that restate the implementation. Add or update concise
 docstrings when changing public behavior. Write codex32 in lowercase except
 when referring to the Codex32 Book.
 
-Keep the installed package below 5,200 logical review lines, as enforced by the
+Keep the installed package below 5,250 logical review lines, as enforced by the
 existing test. New dependencies, public API signature or return-shape changes,
 and lint suppressions require user authorization; an explicit request can
 already provide that authorization.
diff --git a/docs/developer/api.md b/docs/developer/api.md
index 4e6cd06..dadf99f 100644
--- a/docs/developer/api.md
+++ b/docs/developer/api.md
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ unsupported but remains in the review scope.
 
 ### Size budget
 
-V1 keeps the installed package below 5,200 logical review lines, excluding
+V1 keeps the installed package below 5,250 logical review lines, excluding
 blank and comment-only lines while counting subpackages recursively. Changing
 the budget requires explicit review and authorization together with the matching
 documentation and enforcement update.
diff --git a/src/codex32/_bitcoin_core.py b/src/codex32/_bitcoin_core.py
index 5b78a74..67052fb 100644
--- a/src/codex32/_bitcoin_core.py
+++ b/src/codex32/_bitcoin_core.py
@@ -102,7 +102,10 @@ def connect(
     ) -> BitcoinCore:
         executable = shutil.which("bitcoin-cli")
         if executable is None:
-            raise BitcoinCoreError("Install a reviewed bitcoin-cli before creating a backup.")
+            raise BitcoinCoreError(
+                "bitcoin-cli was not found. Install a reviewed Bitcoin Core 32 or newer and run it with RPC "
+                "enabled. An unsynced regtest or signet node is enough for practice."
+            )
         choices: list[BitcoinCore] = []
         for chain, _label in _CHAINS:
             client = cls(executable, chain, 0)
@@ -119,7 +122,7 @@ def connect(
                 choices.append(cls(executable, chain, version))
         if not choices:
             raise BitcoinCoreError(
-                "No local Bitcoin Core RPC server found.\nStart Bitcoin Core "
+                "No local Bitcoin Core 32 or newer RPC server found.\nStart Bitcoin Core "
                 "with local RPC enabled.\nFor signet practice: bitcoin-qt -signet -server"
             )
         if len(choices) > 1:
diff --git a/src/codex32/cli.py b/src/codex32/cli.py
index 6e81e43..758fd8d 100644
--- a/src/codex32/cli.py
+++ b/src/codex32/cli.py
@@ -442,22 +442,25 @@ def _initialize_wallet(
 
 
 def _connected_core(fallback: str | None = None) -> BitcoinCore:
+    # A pipe can't choose a network, and redirected stderr keeps only the gate's error.
     try:
         core = BitcoinCore.connect(
-            lambda prompt: _text(prompt, optional=True),
-            lambda message: _print(message, err=True),
+            (lambda prompt: _text(prompt, optional=True)) if sys.stdin.isatty() else None,
+            (lambda message: _print(message, err=True)) if sys.stderr.isatty() else None,
         )
-        _print("", err=True)
+        if sys.stderr.isatty():
+            _print("", err=True)
         return core
     except KeyboardInterrupt as error:
         raise _CoreSelectionInterrupted from error
     except BitcoinCoreError as error:
-        suggestion = (
-            f" Run 'codex32 {fallback}' instead for a Core-independent operation."
+        use = (
+            "uses Bitcoin Core to show the master fingerprint and rank corrections. "
+            f"'codex32 {fallback}' works without Core but doesn't show the fingerprint."
             if fallback is not None
-            else ""
+            else "gives Bitcoin Core the master key."
         )
-        raise _CommandError(str(error) + suggestion) from error
+        raise _CommandError(f"{error}\nThis command {use}") from error
 
 
 def _create(
@@ -611,6 +614,8 @@ def _correct(
             raise _UsageError("--bytes does not match the valid master-seed backup length.")
         _print("The codex32 string is already valid.")
         return 0
+    if context.master_seed:
+        core = core or _connected_core("correct")
     search_value, erased, immutable = normalized, normalized, normalized[: separator + 1]
     interpreted = _case_interpretation(normalized, immutable, context.profiles, None)
     if interpreted is not None:
@@ -632,15 +637,12 @@ def _correct(
         raise _CommandError("The correction search did not complete within ten seconds.")
     if not candidates:
         raise _CommandError("No valid correction found. Check the original backup.")
-    if context.master_seed and len(candidates) > 1:
-        core = core or _connected_core("correct")
+    if core is not None and len(candidates) > 1:
         candidates = _best(candidates, fingerprint_match=_fingerprint_matcher(core.fingerprint))
     if len(candidates) != 1:
         raise _CommandError("Several corrections are possible. Check the original backup.")
     fixed = candidates[0]
     _require_correction_confirmation(fixed.low_checksum_discrimination)
-    if context.master_seed:
-        core = core or _connected_core("correct")
     warning = (
         "Warning: This is only a correction suggestion. Compare it with the original backup before using it."
     )
diff --git a/tests/test_bitcoin_core.py b/tests/test_bitcoin_core.py
index f6323c9..7c97877 100644
--- a/tests/test_bitcoin_core.py
+++ b/tests/test_bitcoin_core.py
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ def test_preflight_rejection_is_helpful_without_echoing_core_output(
 
     message = str(failure.value)
     assert message == (
-        "No local Bitcoin Core RPC server found.\n"
+        "No local Bitcoin Core 32 or newer RPC server found.\n"
         "Start Bitcoin Core with local RPC enabled.\n"
         "For signet practice: bitcoin-qt -signet -server"
     )
@@ -199,7 +199,14 @@ def run(command: list[str], **_options: object) -> subprocess.CompletedProcess[s
     monkeypatch.setattr("codex32._bitcoin_core.shutil.which", lambda _name: "/reviewed/bitcoin-cli")
     monkeypatch.setattr(subprocess, "run", run)
 
-    with pytest.raises(BitcoinCoreError, match="No local Bitcoin Core RPC server"):
+    with pytest.raises(BitcoinCoreError, match="No local Bitcoin Core 32 or newer RPC server"):
+        BitcoinCore.connect()
+
+
+def test_missing_bitcoin_cli_names_the_core_requirement(monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch) -> None:
+    monkeypatch.setattr("codex32._bitcoin_core.shutil.which", lambda _name: None)
+
+    with pytest.raises(BitcoinCoreError, match="Bitcoin Core 32 or newer and run it with RPC enabled"):
         BitcoinCore.connect()
 
 
diff --git a/tests/test_cli.py b/tests/test_cli.py
index 889b175..dac9620 100644
--- a/tests/test_cli.py
+++ b/tests/test_cli.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 import contextlib
 import importlib
 import io
+import json
 import re
 import subprocess
 import sys
@@ -32,7 +33,7 @@
     parse_codex32,
     recover_secret,
 )
-from codex32._bitcoin_core import BitcoinCore
+from codex32._bitcoin_core import BitcoinCore, BitcoinCoreError
 from codex32.bech32 import _chars_to_u5, bech32_encode
 from codex32.checksums import _CODEX32, _CODEX32_LONG
 from codex32.cli import main, ms_main
@@ -123,6 +124,9 @@ def initialize(
         return "test-wallet"
 
 
+_REAL_CONNECT = BitcoinCore.connect
+
+
 @pytest.fixture(autouse=True)
 def _offline_core(monkeypatch):
     monkeypatch.setattr("codex32.cli.BitcoinCore.connect", lambda *args, **kwargs: _FakeBitcoinCore())
@@ -287,6 +291,63 @@ def test_check_accepts_shared_core_lightning_artifacts(value: str) -> None:
     assert result.stderr == ""
 
 
+def _missing_core(*_args: object, **_kwargs: object) -> BitcoinCore:
+    raise BitcoinCoreError("bitcoin-cli was not found.")
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("command", ("secret", "share", "correct"))
+def test_missing_core_names_the_codex32_fallback(
+    monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch, capsys: pytest.CaptureFixture[str], command: str
+) -> None:
+    def search(*_args: object, **_kwargs: object) -> None:
+        raise AssertionError("searched before connecting to Bitcoin Core")
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr("codex32.cli.BitcoinCore.connect", _missing_core)
+    monkeypatch.setattr("codex32.cli._scheduled_candidates", search)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(sys, "stdin", io.StringIO(VECTOR_1["secret_s"].replace("x", "q", 1) + "\n"))
+
+    assert ms_main([command, "d"] if command == "share" else [command]) == (3 if command == "correct" else 1)
+    assert capsys.readouterr().err == (
+        f"ms32 {command}: bitcoin-cli was not found.\nThis command uses Bitcoin Core to show the master "
+        f"fingerprint and rank corrections. 'codex32 {command}' works without Core but doesn't show the "
+        "fingerprint.\n"
+    )
+
+
+def test_missing_core_for_wallet_setup_offers_no_fallback(monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch) -> None:
+    cli = importlib.import_module("codex32.cli")
+    monkeypatch.setattr("codex32.cli.BitcoinCore.connect", _missing_core)
+
+    with pytest.raises(cli._CommandError) as failure:
+        cli._connected_core()
+
+    assert str(failure.value) == "bitcoin-cli was not found.\nThis command gives Bitcoin Core the master key."
+
+
+def test_piped_input_never_answers_the_core_network_choice(
+    monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch, capsys: pytest.CaptureFixture[str]
+) -> None:
+    def run(command: list[str], **_options: object) -> subprocess.CompletedProcess[str]:
+        chain = command[1].removeprefix("-chain=")
+        if chain not in ("main", "signet"):
+            return subprocess.CompletedProcess(command, 1, "", "")
+        response = {"version": 320000} if command[-1] == "getnetworkinfo" else {"chain": chain}
+        return subprocess.CompletedProcess(command, 0, json.dumps(response), "")
+
+    damaged = VECTOR_1["secret_s"].replace("x", "q", 1)
+    reads = iter((damaged,))  # A second read would be the pipe's EOF answering the network prompt.
+    monkeypatch.setattr("codex32._bitcoin_core.shutil.which", lambda _name: "/reviewed/bitcoin-cli")
+    monkeypatch.setattr(subprocess, "run", run)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(BitcoinCore, "connect", _REAL_CONNECT)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(sys, "stdin", io.StringIO(damaged))
+    monkeypatch.setattr("codex32._cli_input._stdin", lambda: next(reads))
+
+    assert ms_main(["correct"]) == 3
+    assert capsys.readouterr().err.startswith(
+        "ms32 correct: More than one local Bitcoin Core network is running.\nThis command uses Bitcoin Core"
+    )
+
+
 def test_check_does_not_derive_wallet_keys(monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch) -> None:
     cli_module = importlib.import_module("codex32.cli")
 
@@ -2193,7 +2254,7 @@ def test_production_size_budgets_are_enforced() -> None:
         for path in package.rglob("*.py")
     }
 
-    assert sum(counts.values()) < 5200, counts
+    assert sum(counts.values()) < 5250, counts
 
 
 @pytest.mark.parametrize(
diff --git a/tests/test_correction_disclosure.py b/tests/test_correction_disclosure.py
index 08592ee..dbfb06f 100644
--- a/tests/test_correction_disclosure.py
+++ b/tests/test_correction_disclosure.py
@@ -98,11 +98,18 @@ def test_public_api_full_checksum_erasure_completion_carries_risk(source, degree
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("plain", (False, True))
 def test_noninteractive_gate_emits_only_operational_error(entrypoint, plain):
     stdout, stderr = io.StringIO(), io.StringIO()
+
+    def connect(ask=None, tell=None):
+        if tell is not None:
+            tell("Using Bitcoin Core on signet.")
+        return _FakeBitcoinCore()
+
     with (
         patch.object(sys, "stdin", io.StringIO(VECTOR_1["secret_s"][:-1] + "?")),
         contextlib.redirect_stdout(stdout),
         contextlib.redirect_stderr(stderr),
         patch.object(_cli_input, "_correction_candidates", return_value=((_candidate(),), True, None)),
+        patch.object(cli.BitcoinCore, "connect", connect),
     ):
         status = entrypoint(["correct", *(["--plain"] if plain else [])])
     prog = "codex32" if entrypoint is cli.main else "ms32"