diff --git a/cmd/csv_real_purchase_test.go b/cmd/csv_real_purchase_test.go
index 3211c4f5f..a3deb8aae 100644
--- a/cmd/csv_real_purchase_test.go
+++ b/cmd/csv_real_purchase_test.go
@@ -100,6 +100,9 @@ type csvPurchaseEnv struct {
 	denyHits *atomic.Int64
 	dir      string
 	run      func(report string) // buys the CSV rows against the stub, report written to the given name
+	// expectPurchaseFailure makes run require errPurchasesFailed (#2157):
+	// a real run with any failed purchase now returns it so the CLI exits non-zero.
+	expectPurchaseFailure bool
 }
 
 // newCSVPurchaseEnv wires the stub with the RDS and ElastiCache offering and
@@ -132,7 +135,12 @@ func newCSVPurchaseEnvFor(t *testing.T, csv string, fixtureSets ...map[string]aw
 		recs, err := loadRecommendationsFromCSV(csvPath)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 		cfg := Config{CallerAccountID: defaultTestAccount, CSVOutput: filepath.Join(dir, report), AuditLog: filepath.Join(dir, "audit.jsonl")}
-		require.NoError(t, runCSVPurchases(context.Background(), awsCfg, recs, false, cfg, "run-"+report))
+		err = runCSVPurchases(context.Background(), awsCfg, recs, false, cfg, "run-"+report)
+		if env.expectPurchaseFailure {
+			require.ErrorIs(t, err, errPurchasesFailed)
+			return
+		}
+		require.NoError(t, err)
 	}
 	return env
 }
@@ -218,6 +226,7 @@ func TestCSVRealPurchase_RDSAndElastiCache(t *testing.T) {
 func TestCSVRealPurchase_FailedPurchaseCarriesError(t *testing.T) {
 	env := newCSVPurchaseEnv(t)
 	env.stub.fixtures["elasticache "+cachePurch] = queryErr("ReservedCacheNodeQuotaExceeded", "cache quota exceeded by fixture")
+	env.expectPurchaseFailure = true
 	env.run("report1.csv")
 
 	rep := env.report(t, "report1.csv")
diff --git a/cmd/multi_service_stats.go b/cmd/multi_service_stats.go
index 33bad3330..c53d8ced4 100644
--- a/cmd/multi_service_stats.go
+++ b/cmd/multi_service_stats.go
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ func printMultiServiceSummary(allRecommendations []common.Recommendation, allRes
 	success := riAggregates.success + spStats.SuccessfulPurchases
 	failed := riAggregates.failed + spStats.FailedPurchases
 	printSuccessRate(success, failed)
-	printFinalMessage(isDryRun, success, failed)
+	printFinalMessage(isDryRun, riAggregates.success, success, failed)
 }
 
 // riAggregateStats holds aggregated RI statistics.
@@ -208,8 +208,9 @@ func printSuccessRate(success, failed int) {
 const archeraSignupURL = common.ArcheraSignupURL
 
 // printFinalMessage prints the final message based on mode and results.
-// success and failed cover both Reserved Instances and Savings Plans.
-func printFinalMessage(isDryRun bool, success, failed int) {
+// success and failed cover both Reserved Instances and Savings Plans;
+// riSuccess (the RI share of success) gates the RI-propagation hint.
+func printFinalMessage(isDryRun bool, riSuccess, success, failed int) {
 	if isDryRun {
 		AppLogger.Println("\n💡 To actually purchase these commitments, run with --purchase flag")
 		return
@@ -219,7 +220,9 @@ func printFinalMessage(isDryRun bool, success, failed int) {
 	}
 	if success > 0 {
 		AppLogger.Println("\n🎉 Purchase operations completed!")
-		AppLogger.Println("⏰ Allow up to 15 minutes for RIs to appear in your account")
+		if riSuccess > 0 {
+			AppLogger.Println("⏰ Allow up to 15 minutes for RIs to appear in your account")
+		}
 		printArcheraPitch()
 	}
 }
diff --git a/cmd/multi_service_stats_test.go b/cmd/multi_service_stats_test.go
index 38f735243..004f192da 100644
--- a/cmd/multi_service_stats_test.go
+++ b/cmd/multi_service_stats_test.go
@@ -559,7 +559,7 @@ func TestPrintFinalMessage(t *testing.T) {
 	for _, tt := range tests {
 		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
 			output := captureAppOutput(t, func() {
-				printFinalMessage(tt.isDryRun, tt.riSuccess, 0)
+				printFinalMessage(tt.isDryRun, tt.riSuccess, tt.riSuccess, 0)
 			})
 
 			for _, want := range tt.wantOutput {
diff --git a/cmd/purchase_failure_exit_2157_test.go b/cmd/purchase_failure_exit_2157_test.go
index ab39cf37b..54c147a55 100644
--- a/cmd/purchase_failure_exit_2157_test.go
+++ b/cmd/purchase_failure_exit_2157_test.go
@@ -174,3 +174,42 @@ func TestPurchaseFailureError(t *testing.T) {
 	require.ErrorIs(t, err, errPurchasesFailed)
 	assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), "2 of 3")
 }
+
+// riHint is the RI-propagation hint; it applies only when an RI was bought.
+const riHint = "Allow up to 15 minutes for RIs to appear"
+
+func TestPrintMultiServiceSummary_RIHintOnlyAfterRISuccess(t *testing.T) {
+	ri := ServiceProcessingStats{Service: common.ServiceEC2, RecommendationsSelected: 1, SuccessfulPurchases: 1}
+	riFailed := ServiceProcessingStats{Service: common.ServiceEC2, RecommendationsSelected: 1, FailedPurchases: 1}
+	sp := ServiceProcessingStats{Service: common.ServiceSavingsPlansCompute, RecommendationsSelected: 1, SuccessfulPurchases: 1}
+	tests := []struct {
+		name     string
+		stats    map[common.ServiceType]ServiceProcessingStats
+		isDryRun bool
+		wantHint bool
+	}{
+		{"savings plan only", map[common.ServiceType]ServiceProcessingStats{common.ServiceSavingsPlansCompute: sp}, false, false},
+		{"savings plan success with failed RI", map[common.ServiceType]ServiceProcessingStats{common.ServiceSavingsPlansCompute: sp, common.ServiceEC2: riFailed}, false, false},
+		{"RI only", map[common.ServiceType]ServiceProcessingStats{common.ServiceEC2: ri}, false, true},
+		{"RI and savings plan", map[common.ServiceType]ServiceProcessingStats{common.ServiceSavingsPlansCompute: sp, common.ServiceEC2: ri}, false, true},
+		{"dry run", map[common.ServiceType]ServiceProcessingStats{common.ServiceEC2: ri}, true, false},
+	}
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			output := captureAppOutput(t, func() {
+				printMultiServiceSummary(nil, nil, tt.stats, tt.isDryRun)
+			})
+			if tt.wantHint {
+				assert.Contains(t, output, riHint)
+			} else {
+				assert.NotContains(t, output, riHint)
+			}
+			if tt.isDryRun {
+				assert.Contains(t, output, "run with --purchase flag")
+				assert.NotContains(t, output, "Purchase operations completed")
+			} else {
+				assert.Contains(t, output, "Purchase operations completed")
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}