diff --git a/app/client/models/AdminChecks.ts b/app/client/models/AdminChecks.ts
index f8ee5420..51ff8b2b 100644
--- a/app/client/models/AdminChecks.ts
+++ b/app/client/models/AdminChecks.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import { reportError } from 'app/client/models/errors';
 import { BootProbeIds, BootProbeInfo, BootProbeResult } from 'app/common/BootProbe';
 import { InstallAPI } from 'app/common/InstallAPI';
 import { getGristConfig } from 'app/common/urlUtils';
@@ -32,7 +33,7 @@ export class AdminChecks {
     const config = getGristConfig();
     const errMessage = config.errMessage;
     if (!errMessage) {
-      const _probes = await this._installAPI.getChecks().catch(() => undefined);
+      const _probes = await this._installAPI.getChecks().catch(reportError);
       if (!this._parent.isDisposed()) {
         // Currently, probes are forbidden if not admin.
         // TODO: May want to relax this to allow some probes that help
diff --git a/app/client/ui/AdminPanel.ts b/app/client/ui/AdminPanel.ts
index ac231960..0da4c3aa 100644
--- a/app/client/ui/AdminPanel.ts
+++ b/app/client/ui/AdminPanel.ts
@@ -484,9 +484,7 @@ Please log in as an administrator.`),
                           result: BootProbeResult,
                           details: ProbeDetails|undefined) {
 
-    const status = (result.success !== undefined) ?
-        (result.success ? '✅' : '❗') : '―';
-
+    const status = this._encodeSuccess(result);
     return dom.create(AdminSectionItem, {
       id: `probe-${info.id}`,
       name: info.id,
@@ -521,6 +519,20 @@ Please log in as an administrator.`),
       ],
     });
   }
+
+  /**
+   * Give an icon summarizing success or failure. Factor in the
+   * severity of the result for failures. This is crude, the
+   * visualization of the results can be elaborated in future.
+   */
+  private _encodeSuccess(result: BootProbeResult) {
+    if (result.success === undefined)  { return '―';  }
+    if (result.success)                { return '✅'; }
+    if (result.severity === 'warning') { return '❗';  }
+    if (result.severity === 'hmm') { return '?';  }
+    // remaining case is a fault.
+    return '❌';
+  }
 }
 
 //function maybeSwitchToggle(value: Observable<boolean|null>): DomContents {
diff --git a/app/server/lib/BootProbes.ts b/app/server/lib/BootProbes.ts
index 11e2d961..b1186c51 100644
--- a/app/server/lib/BootProbes.ts
+++ b/app/server/lib/BootProbes.ts
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ const _bootProbe: Probe = {
   id: 'boot-page',
   name: 'Is the boot page adequately protected',
   apply: async (server) => {
-    const bootKey = server.getBootKey;
+    const bootKey = server.getBootKey() || '';
     const hasBoot = Boolean(bootKey);
     const details: Record<string, any> = {
       bootKeySet: hasBoot,
@@ -178,10 +178,19 @@ const _bootProbe: Probe = {
       return { success: true, details };
     }
     details.bootKeyLength = bootKey.length;
+    if (bootKey.length < 10) {
+      return {
+        success: false,
+        verdict: 'Boot key length is shorter than 10.',
+        details,
+        severity: 'fault',
+      };
+    }
     return {
-      success: bootKey.length > 10,
+      success: false,
+      verdict: 'Boot key ideally should be removed after installation.',
       details,
-      severity: 'hmm',
+      severity: 'warning',
     };
   },
 };