diff --git a/src/commands/snapshot.rs b/src/commands/snapshot.rs
index 5ac0dda7..7c044c3e 100644
--- a/src/commands/snapshot.rs
+++ b/src/commands/snapshot.rs
@@ -1082,10 +1082,11 @@ pub async fn cmd_snapshot_run(args: SnapshotRunArgs) -> Result<()> {
         }
     }
 
-    // Verify pasta's L2 forwarding path has ARP resolved before starting health monitor.
+    // Verify pasta's L2 forwarding path is ready before starting health monitor.
     // After snapshot restore, pasta may not have learned the guest's MAC yet.
-    // This probes each forwarded port to trigger and verify ARP resolution —
-    // no guest service needs to be running, just the guest's kernel.
+    // This pings the guest to trigger ARP resolution, then probes each forwarded
+    // port to confirm end-to-end forwarding works. Only the guest kernel needs
+    // to be running (no guest services required for the ARP/ping step).
     network
         .verify_port_forwarding()
         .await
diff --git a/src/network/pasta.rs b/src/network/pasta.rs
index fd82c542..77430602 100644
--- a/src/network/pasta.rs
+++ b/src/network/pasta.rs
@@ -687,20 +687,22 @@ impl NetworkManager for PastaNetwork {
             // Ping the guest to trigger ARP resolution. A successful ping (exit 0)
             // proves ARP resolved AND the guest is reachable — skip the ip neigh check.
             // Use 200ms timeout for ~16 retries within the 5s deadline.
-            let ping_result = Command::new(&nsenter_prefix[0])
+            let output = Command::new(&nsenter_prefix[0])
                 .args(&nsenter_prefix[1..])
                 .args(["ping", "-c", "1", "-W", "0.2", GUEST_IP])
                 .stdout(Stdio::null())
                 .stderr(Stdio::null())
                 .output()
-                .await;
+                .await
+                .context("running ping via nsenter in namespace")?;
 
-            if let Ok(ref out) = ping_result {
-                if out.status.success() {
-                    info!(guest_ip = GUEST_IP, "guest reachable via ping, ARP resolved");
-                    self.wait_for_port_forwarding().await?;
-                    return Ok(());
-                }
+            if output.status.success() {
+                info!(
+                    guest_ip = GUEST_IP,
+                    "guest reachable via ping, ARP resolved"
+                );
+                self.wait_for_port_forwarding().await?;
+                return Ok(());
             }
 
             if std::time::Instant::now() > deadline {