diff --git a/clone-backup.sh b/clone-backup.sh
index 3dfe222b..b3ef6f21 100755
--- a/clone-backup.sh
+++ b/clone-backup.sh
@@ -305,6 +305,10 @@ transfer_backup() {
     backup_file=$(select_newest_local_backup "$backup_dir" "$volume_name")
     
     if [[ -z "$backup_file" ]] || [[ ! -f "$backup_file" ]]; then
+        if [[ "$volume_name" == *-secrets ]]; then
+            echo "Note: no backup for secrets volume $volume_name (regenerated at create-node), skipping"
+            return 2
+        fi
         echo "Warning: No restorable backup file found for $volume_name, skipping"
         return 1
     fi
@@ -505,6 +509,10 @@ transfer_backup_ssh() {
     backup_file=$(select_newest_local_backup "$backup_dir" "$volume_name")
     
     if [[ -z "$backup_file" ]] || [[ ! -f "$backup_file" ]]; then
+        if [[ "$volume_name" == *-secrets ]]; then
+            echo "Note: no backup for secrets volume $volume_name (regenerated at create-node), skipping"
+            return 2
+        fi
         echo "Warning: No restorable backup file found for $volume_name, skipping"
         return 1
     fi
@@ -629,18 +637,26 @@ main() {
     echo "----------------------------------------"
     
     success_count=0
+    skipped_volumes=""
     failed_volumes=""
-    
+
     for key in $keys; do
         # Try nc method first
         transfer_backup "$key"
-        
-        if [[ $? -ne 0 ]]; then
+        rc=$?
+
+        if [[ $rc -eq 2 ]]; then
+            # secrets volume with no backup — regenerated at create-node, not a failure
+            skipped_volumes="$skipped_volumes $key"
+        elif [[ $rc -ne 0 ]]; then
             echo "NC transfer failed, trying direct SSH..."
             transfer_backup_ssh "$key"
-            
-            if [[ $? -eq 0 ]]; then
+            rc=$?
+
+            if [[ $rc -eq 0 ]]; then
                 success_count=$((success_count + 1))
+            elif [[ $rc -eq 2 ]]; then
+                skipped_volumes="$skipped_volumes $key"
             else
                 failed_volumes="$failed_volumes $key"
             fi
@@ -654,6 +670,7 @@ main() {
     echo ""
     echo "Transfer Summary:"
     echo "  Successful: $success_count/$volume_count"
+    [[ -n "$skipped_volumes" ]] && echo "  Skipped (no backup by design):$skipped_volumes"
     [[ -n "$failed_volumes" ]] && echo "  Failed:$failed_volumes"
     
     # Restore Network buffer and congestion control settings.
@@ -683,7 +700,7 @@ main() {
     $SSH_CMD -O exit "$DEST_HOST" 2>/dev/null
     
     # Exit with appropriate status (cleanup will be handled by trap)
-    [[ $success_count -eq $volume_count ]] && exit 0 || exit 1
+    [[ -z "$failed_volumes" ]] && exit 0 || exit 1
 }
 
 main "$@"