diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index d7797d5..caffdc8 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -26,14 +26,22 @@ const (
 const wireOverhead = 24
 
 type endpoint struct {
-	name string
-	idx  int
-	mac  [6]byte
-	mtu  int
+	name  string
+	tag   string
+	idx   int
+	mac   [6]byte
+	mtu   int
+	speed float64
+}
+
+func (e endpoint) macString() string {
+	return fmt.Sprintf("%02x:%02x:%02x:%02x:%02x:%02x",
+		e.mac[0], e.mac[1], e.mac[2], e.mac[3], e.mac[4], e.mac[5])
 }
 
 type direction struct {
 	label   string
+	short   string
 	tx      endpoint
 	rx      endpoint
 	spec    *frameSpec
@@ -44,10 +52,12 @@ type direction struct {
 	rxFDs   []int
 	reports chan string
 
-	prev  sample
-	drops uint64
-	nicTX nicCounters
-	nicRX nicCounters
+	prev   sample
+	drops  uint64
+	nicTX  nicCounters
+	nicRX  nicCounters
+	nicTX0 nicCounters
+	nicRX0 nicCounters
 }
 
 type sample struct {
@@ -69,7 +79,11 @@ func lookupEndpoint(name string) (endpoint, error) {
 	}
 	var mac [6]byte
 	copy(mac[:], ifi.HardwareAddr)
-	return endpoint{name: name, idx: ifi.Index, mac: mac, mtu: ifi.MTU}, nil
+	e := endpoint{name: name, idx: ifi.Index, mac: mac, mtu: ifi.MTU}
+	if v, ok := readUint("/sys/class/net/" + name + "/speed"); ok {
+		e.speed = float64(v) / 1000
+	}
+	return e, nil
 }
 
 func parseSizes(s string) ([]int, error) {
@@ -151,12 +165,13 @@ func (d *direction) snapshot() sample {
 		s.badLen += r.badLen.Load()
 	}
 	for i := range d.streams {
+		expected := d.streams[i].maxSeq.Load() + 1
 		c := d.streams[i].count.Load()
 		if c == 0 {
 			continue
 		}
 		s.count += c
-		s.expected += d.streams[i].maxSeq.Load() + 1
+		s.expected += expected
 	}
 	return s
 }
@@ -171,7 +186,20 @@ func gbps(bytes, frames uint64, secs float64) float64 {
 	return float64((bytes+frames*wireOverhead)*8) / secs / 1e9
 }
 
-func (d *direction) reportInterval(secs float64) string {
+var intervalCols = []colSpec{
+	{title: "TIME", width: 6, right: true},
+	{title: "DIR", width: 5},
+	{title: "TX pps", width: 9, right: true},
+	{title: "TX Gb/s", width: 7, right: true},
+	{title: "RX pps", width: 9, right: true},
+	{title: "RX Gb/s", width: 7, right: true},
+	{title: "GAP", width: 9, right: true},
+	{title: "CRC", width: 5, right: true},
+	{title: "BADMAG", width: 6, right: true},
+	{title: "KDROP", width: 7, right: true},
+}
+
+func (d *direction) intervalRow(elapsed, secs, target float64) []string {
 	now := d.snapshot()
 	p := d.prev
 	d.prev = now
@@ -181,43 +209,53 @@ func (d *direction) reportInterval(secs float64) string {
 	rxF := now.rxFrames - p.rxFrames
 	rxB := now.rxBytes - p.rxBytes
 
-	lost := int64(now.expected) - int64(now.count)
-
 	before := d.drops
 	d.sampleDrops()
-	drops := d.drops - before
 
-	return fmt.Sprintf("%s tx %8.0f pps %6.2f Gb/s | rx %8.0f pps %6.2f Gb/s | lost(cum) %6d crc %d badmagic %d kdrop %d txshort %d txerr %d",
-		d.label,
-		float64(txF)/secs, gbps(txB, txF, secs),
-		float64(rxF)/secs, gbps(rxB, rxF, secs),
-		lost,
-		now.crcErr-p.crcErr,
-		now.badMagic-p.badMagic,
-		drops,
-		now.txShort-p.txShort,
-		now.txErrs-p.txErrs,
-	)
+	return []string{
+		fmt.Sprintf("%.0fs", elapsed),
+		paint(d.short, cCyan),
+		commas(uint64(float64(txF) / secs)),
+		rateCell(gbps(txB, txF, secs), target),
+		commas(uint64(float64(rxF) / secs)),
+		rateCell(gbps(rxB, rxF, secs), target),
+		gapCell(int64(now.expected) - int64(now.count)),
+		statusCell(now.crcErr - p.crcErr),
+		statusCell(now.badMagic - p.badMagic),
+		statusCell(d.drops - before),
+	}
 }
 
-func (d *direction) reportNIC() string {
+func (d *direction) reportNIC() []string {
 	tx := readNIC(d.tx.name)
 	rx := readNIC(d.rx.name)
 	var parts []string
 	if s := tx.diff(d.nicTX); s != "" {
-		parts = append(parts, "  "+d.tx.name+"(tx): "+s)
+		parts = append(parts, paint("  ▲ "+d.tx.name+" tx-side: "+s, cYellow))
 	}
 	if s := rx.diff(d.nicRX); s != "" {
-		parts = append(parts, "  "+d.rx.name+"(rx): "+s)
+		parts = append(parts, paint("  ▲ "+d.rx.name+" rx-side: "+s, cYellow))
 	}
 	d.nicTX = tx
 	d.nicRX = rx
-	return strings.Join(parts, "\n")
+	return parts
+}
+
+func (d *direction) nicRunTotals() string {
+	var parts []string
+	if s := readNIC(d.tx.name).diff(d.nicTX0); s != "" {
+		parts = append(parts, d.tx.name+" tx-side: "+s)
+	}
+	if s := readNIC(d.rx.name).diff(d.nicRX0); s != "" {
+		parts = append(parts, d.rx.name+" rx-side: "+s)
+	}
+	return strings.Join(parts, "; ")
 }
 
 func buildDirection(label string, tx, rx endpoint, patIdx int, sizes []int, cfg config) (*direction, error) {
 	d := &direction{
 		label:   label,
+		short:   tx.tag + "→" + rx.tag,
 		tx:      tx,
 		rx:      rx,
 		spec:    newFrameSpec(patIdx, rx.mac, tx.mac, sizes),
@@ -226,6 +264,8 @@ func buildDirection(label string, tx, rx endpoint, patIdx int, sizes []int, cfg
 	}
 	d.nicTX = readNIC(tx.name)
 	d.nicRX = readNIC(rx.name)
+	d.nicTX0 = d.nicTX
+	d.nicRX0 = d.nicRX
 
 	fm, err := fanoutMode(cfg.fanout, cfg.rxWorkers)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -335,9 +375,15 @@ func main() {
 		rxRing   = flag.Uint("rx-ring", 8160, "required rx ring size, clamped to hardware maximum")
 		txRing   = flag.Uint("tx-ring", 4096, "required tx ring size, clamped to hardware maximum")
 		setRings = flag.Bool("set-rings", true, "allow ring resizing at startup, which resets the link")
+		color    = flag.String("color", "auto", "colored output: auto, always, never")
 	)
 	flag.Parse()
 
+	if err := initColor(*color); err != nil {
+		fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, "error:", err)
+		os.Exit(1)
+	}
+
 	tcfg := tuneConfig{
 		enabled:  *tune,
 		governor: *governor,
@@ -394,15 +440,20 @@ func run(aName, bName, sizesArg, patArg, fanout, txCPUsArg, rxCPUsArg string,
 		}
 	}
 
+	a.tag, b.tag = "A", "B"
 	ifnames := []string{a.name, b.name}
-	fmt.Println("host settings:")
+
 	var fatal []string
+	var tuneRows [][]string
 	for _, r := range applyTuning(tcfg, ifnames) {
-		fmt.Println(r)
+		tuneRows = append(tuneRows, []string{r.item, r.status(), r.detail()})
 		if r.fatal {
 			fatal = append(fatal, r.item)
 		}
 	}
+	fmt.Println(renderBox("HOST SETTINGS",
+		[]string{"CHECK", "STATUS", "DETAIL"},
+		[]bool{false, false, false}, tuneRows))
 	if len(fatal) > 0 {
 		return fmt.Errorf("cannot test with %s in this state", strings.Join(fatal, ", "))
 	}
@@ -442,18 +493,43 @@ func run(aName, bName, sizesArg, patArg, fanout, txCPUsArg, rxCPUsArg string,
 		}
 	}()
 
-	fmt.Printf("pattern=%s sizes=%v tx=%d rx=%d batch=%d verify=%v fanout=%s duplex=%v\n",
-		patterns[patIdx].name, sizes, txN, rxN, batch, verify, fanout, duplex)
-	for _, d := range dirs {
-		fmt.Printf("  %s  %02x:%02x:%02x:%02x:%02x:%02x -> %02x:%02x:%02x:%02x:%02x:%02x  ethertype 0x%04x\n",
-			d.label,
-			d.tx.mac[0], d.tx.mac[1], d.tx.mac[2], d.tx.mac[3], d.tx.mac[4], d.tx.mac[5],
-			d.rx.mac[0], d.rx.mac[1], d.rx.mac[2], d.rx.mac[3], d.rx.mac[4], d.rx.mac[5],
-			etherType)
+	var linkRows [][]string
+	for _, e := range []endpoint{a, b} {
+		linkRows = append(linkRows, []string{
+			paint(e.tag, cCyan), e.name, e.macString(),
+			fmt.Sprintf("%.0f Gb/s", e.speed), fmt.Sprintf("%d", e.mtu),
+		})
 	}
-	fmt.Printf("  sndbuf %d rcvbuf %d (as granted by kernel)\n",
-		sockBufSize(dirs[0].txFDs[0], unix.SO_SNDBUF),
-		sockBufSize(dirs[0].rxFDs[0], unix.SO_RCVBUF))
+	fmt.Println(renderBox("LINKS",
+		[]string{"TAG", "INTERFACE", "MAC", "SPEED", "MTU"},
+		[]bool{false, false, false, true, true}, linkRows))
+
+	target := a.speed
+	if target <= 0 {
+		target = 10
+	}
+	sizeStrs := make([]string, len(sizes))
+	for i, s := range sizes {
+		sizeStrs[i] = fmt.Sprintf("%d", s)
+	}
+	fmt.Println(renderBox("TEST",
+		[]string{"SETTING", "VALUE"},
+		[]bool{false, false}, [][]string{
+			{"pattern", patterns[patIdx].name},
+			{"frame sizes", strings.Join(sizeStrs, " ")},
+			{"ethertype", fmt.Sprintf("0x%04x", etherType)},
+			{"workers", fmt.Sprintf("%d tx, %d rx per direction", txN, rxN)},
+			{"batch", fmt.Sprintf("%d frames per syscall", batch)},
+			{"payload verify", fmt.Sprintf("%v", verify)},
+			{"rx fanout", fanout},
+			{"duplex", fmt.Sprintf("%v", duplex)},
+			{"socket buffers", fmt.Sprintf("sndbuf %s, rcvbuf %s (granted)",
+				humanBytes(uint64(sockBufSize(dirs[0].txFDs[0], unix.SO_SNDBUF))),
+				humanBytes(uint64(sockBufSize(dirs[0].rxFDs[0], unix.SO_RCVBUF))))},
+		}))
+	fmt.Println(paint("GAP counts frames below the high-water mark not yet drained from the rx queues;", cDim))
+	fmt.Println(paint("it is provisional and settles at the drain. RESULTS at the end is authoritative.", cDim))
+	fmt.Println()
 
 	var doneTx, doneRx atomic.Bool
 	var wg sync.WaitGroup
@@ -483,6 +559,7 @@ func run(aName, bName, sizesArg, patArg, fanout, txCPUsArg, rxCPUsArg string,
 	}
 
 	last := time.Now()
+	stats := &streamTable{cols: intervalCols, headerEvery: 20}
 loop:
 	for {
 		select {
@@ -493,18 +570,22 @@ loop:
 		case now := <-tick.C:
 			secs := now.Sub(last).Seconds()
 			last = now
-			for _, w := range verifyTuning(tcfg, ifnames) {
-				fmt.Println(w)
+			elapsed := now.Sub(start).Seconds()
+			for _, r := range verifyTuning(tcfg, ifnames) {
+				fmt.Printf("  %s host config drifted: %s — %s\n",
+					paint("!", cYellow), r.item, r.detail())
 			}
 			for _, d := range dirs {
-				fmt.Println(d.reportInterval(secs))
-				if s := d.reportNIC(); s != "" {
-					fmt.Println(s)
+				for _, line := range stats.emit(d.intervalRow(elapsed, secs, target)) {
+					fmt.Println(line)
+				}
+				for _, line := range d.reportNIC() {
+					fmt.Println(line)
 				}
 				for {
 					select {
 					case msg := <-d.reports:
-						fmt.Println("  " + d.label + ": " + msg)
+						fmt.Println(paint("  ✗ "+d.short+": "+msg, cRed))
 						continue
 					default:
 					}
@@ -520,22 +601,65 @@ loop:
 	doneRx.Store(true)
 	wg.Wait()
 
-	fmt.Println("---")
+	fmt.Println()
+	var resultRows, nicRows [][]string
+	var problems []string
 	for _, d := range dirs {
 		d.sampleDrops()
 		s := d.snapshot()
 		lost := int64(s.expected) - int64(s.count)
-		fmt.Printf("%s total tx %d frames %.2f GB | rx %d frames %.2f GB | lost %d (%.3g%%) crc %d badmagic %d badlen %d kdrop %d\n",
-			d.label,
-			s.txFrames, float64(s.txBytes)/1e9,
-			s.rxFrames, float64(s.rxBytes)/1e9,
-			lost, 100*float64(lost)/float64(max(s.expected, 1)),
-			s.crcErr, s.badMagic, s.badLen, d.drops)
-		fmt.Printf("%s avg tx %.2f Gb/s rx %.2f Gb/s over %.1fs\n",
-			d.label,
-			gbps(s.txBytes, s.txFrames, elapsed),
-			gbps(s.rxBytes, s.rxFrames, elapsed),
-			elapsed)
+		lostPct := 100 * float64(lost) / float64(max(s.expected, 1))
+
+		resultRows = append(resultRows, []string{
+			paint(d.short, cCyan),
+			commas(s.txFrames),
+			commas(s.rxFrames),
+			humanBytes(s.rxBytes),
+			rateCell(gbps(s.txBytes, s.txFrames, elapsed), target),
+			rateCell(gbps(s.rxBytes, s.rxFrames, elapsed), target),
+			lostCell(lost),
+			fmt.Sprintf("%.4f", lostPct),
+			statusCell(s.crcErr),
+			statusCell(s.badMagic),
+			statusCell(s.badLen),
+			statusCell(d.drops),
+		})
+
+		if n := d.nicRunTotals(); n != "" {
+			nicRows = append(nicRows, []string{paint(d.short, cCyan), n})
+		}
+		if lost != 0 {
+			problems = append(problems, fmt.Sprintf("%s lost %d frames (%.4f%%)", d.short, lost, lostPct))
+		}
+		if s.crcErr != 0 {
+			problems = append(problems, fmt.Sprintf("%s had %d payload CRC failures", d.short, s.crcErr))
+		}
+		if d.drops != 0 {
+			problems = append(problems, fmt.Sprintf("%s dropped %d frames in the kernel (host too slow, not the cable)", d.short, d.drops))
+		}
+	}
+
+	fmt.Println(renderBox(fmt.Sprintf("RESULTS after %.1fs", elapsed),
+		[]string{"DIR", "TX FRAMES", "RX FRAMES", "RX DATA", "TX Gb/s", "RX Gb/s", "LOST", "LOST %", "CRC", "BAD", "BADLEN", "KDROP"},
+		[]bool{false, true, true, true, true, true, true, true, true, true, true, true},
+		resultRows))
+
+	if len(nicRows) > 0 {
+		fmt.Println(renderBox("NIC COUNTER CHANGES DURING RUN",
+			[]string{"DIR", "COUNTERS"}, []bool{false, false}, nicRows))
+		problems = append(problems, "NIC error counters moved during the run")
+	}
+
+	fmt.Println()
+	if len(problems) == 0 {
+		fmt.Println(paint(" PASS ", cBold+"\x1b[42m\x1b[30m") + " " +
+			paint(fmt.Sprintf("every frame arrived, no errors, %s each way at %.2f Gb/s",
+				humanBytes(dirs[0].snapshot().rxBytes), target), cGreen))
+	} else {
+		fmt.Println(paint(" FAIL ", cBold+"\x1b[41m\x1b[37m"))
+		for _, p := range problems {
+			fmt.Println(paint("  ✗ "+p, cRed))
+		}
 	}
 	return nil
 }
diff --git a/render.go b/render.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f1185a5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/render.go
@@ -0,0 +1,231 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+	"strings"
+)
+
+const (
+	cReset  = "\x1b[0m"
+	cBold   = "\x1b[1m"
+	cDim    = "\x1b[2m"
+	cRed    = "\x1b[31m"
+	cGreen  = "\x1b[32m"
+	cYellow = "\x1b[33m"
+	cCyan   = "\x1b[36m"
+	cGrey   = "\x1b[90m"
+)
+
+var useColor bool
+
+func initColor(mode string) error {
+	switch mode {
+	case "always":
+		useColor = true
+	case "never":
+		useColor = false
+	case "auto":
+		if os.Getenv("NO_COLOR") != "" || os.Getenv("TERM") == "dumb" {
+			useColor = false
+			return nil
+		}
+		st, err := os.Stdout.Stat()
+		useColor = err == nil && st.Mode()&os.ModeCharDevice != 0
+	default:
+		return fmt.Errorf("unknown color mode %q (want auto, always, never)", mode)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func paint(s, code string) string {
+	if !useColor || s == "" {
+		return s
+	}
+	return code + s + cReset
+}
+
+func stripANSI(s string) string {
+	var b strings.Builder
+	for i := 0; i < len(s); {
+		if s[i] == 0x1b {
+			for i < len(s) && s[i] != 'm' {
+				i++
+			}
+			if i < len(s) {
+				i++
+			}
+			continue
+		}
+		b.WriteByte(s[i])
+		i++
+	}
+	return b.String()
+}
+
+func visWidth(s string) int {
+	return len([]rune(stripANSI(s)))
+}
+
+func pad(s string, w int, right bool) string {
+	gap := w - visWidth(s)
+	if gap < 0 {
+		gap = 0
+	}
+	if right {
+		return strings.Repeat(" ", gap) + s
+	}
+	return s + strings.Repeat(" ", gap)
+}
+
+func commas(v uint64) string {
+	s := fmt.Sprintf("%d", v)
+	if len(s) <= 3 {
+		return s
+	}
+	var parts []string
+	for len(s) > 3 {
+		parts = append([]string{s[len(s)-3:]}, parts...)
+		s = s[:len(s)-3]
+	}
+	return strings.Join(append([]string{s}, parts...), ",")
+}
+
+func humanBytes(b uint64) string {
+	const unit = 1000.0
+	v := float64(b)
+	for _, suffix := range []string{"B", "kB", "MB", "GB", "TB"} {
+		if v < unit {
+			return fmt.Sprintf("%.1f %s", v, suffix)
+		}
+		v /= unit
+	}
+	return fmt.Sprintf("%.1f PB", v)
+}
+
+type colSpec struct {
+	title string
+	width int
+	right bool
+}
+
+type streamTable struct {
+	cols        []colSpec
+	sinceHeader int
+	headerEvery int
+}
+
+func (t *streamTable) headerLines() []string {
+	var titles, rules []string
+	for _, c := range t.cols {
+		titles = append(titles, pad(c.title, c.width, c.right))
+		rules = append(rules, strings.Repeat("─", c.width))
+	}
+	return []string{
+		paint(strings.Join(titles, " "), cBold),
+		paint(strings.Join(rules, " "), cGrey),
+	}
+}
+
+func (t *streamTable) emit(cells []string) []string {
+	var out []string
+	if t.sinceHeader == 0 || (t.headerEvery > 0 && t.sinceHeader >= t.headerEvery) {
+		out = append(out, t.headerLines()...)
+		t.sinceHeader = 0
+	}
+	var padded []string
+	for i, c := range t.cols {
+		v := ""
+		if i < len(cells) {
+			v = cells[i]
+		}
+		padded = append(padded, pad(v, c.width, c.right))
+	}
+	t.sinceHeader++
+	return append(out, strings.Join(padded, " "))
+}
+
+func renderBox(title string, headers []string, rights []bool, rows [][]string) string {
+	n := len(headers)
+	widths := make([]int, n)
+	for i, h := range headers {
+		widths[i] = visWidth(h)
+	}
+	for _, r := range rows {
+		for i := 0; i < n && i < len(r); i++ {
+			if w := visWidth(r[i]); w > widths[i] {
+				widths[i] = w
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	line := func(l, m, r string) string {
+		var parts []string
+		for _, w := range widths {
+			parts = append(parts, strings.Repeat("─", w+2))
+		}
+		return paint(l+strings.Join(parts, m)+r, cGrey)
+	}
+	rowText := func(cells []string, bold bool) string {
+		var parts []string
+		for i := 0; i < n; i++ {
+			v := ""
+			if i < len(cells) {
+				v = cells[i]
+			}
+			if bold {
+				v = paint(v, cBold)
+			}
+			parts = append(parts, " "+pad(v, widths[i], rights[i])+" ")
+		}
+		bar := paint("│", cGrey)
+		return bar + strings.Join(parts, bar) + bar
+	}
+
+	var b strings.Builder
+	if title != "" {
+		b.WriteString(paint(title, cBold+cCyan) + "\n")
+	}
+	b.WriteString(line("┌", "┬", "┐") + "\n")
+	b.WriteString(rowText(headers, true) + "\n")
+	b.WriteString(line("├", "┼", "┤") + "\n")
+	for _, r := range rows {
+		b.WriteString(rowText(r, false) + "\n")
+	}
+	b.WriteString(line("└", "┴", "┘"))
+	return b.String()
+}
+
+func statusCell(v uint64) string {
+	s := commas(v)
+	if v == 0 {
+		return paint(s, cGreen)
+	}
+	return paint(s, cRed)
+}
+
+func gapCell(v int64) string {
+	if v <= 0 {
+		return paint("0", cGreen)
+	}
+	return paint(commas(uint64(v)), cYellow)
+}
+
+func lostCell(v int64) string {
+	if v <= 0 {
+		return paint("0", cGreen)
+	}
+	return paint(commas(uint64(v)), cRed)
+}
+
+func rateCell(gb float64, target float64) string {
+	s := fmt.Sprintf("%.2f", gb)
+	switch {
+	case gb >= target*0.995:
+		return paint(s, cGreen)
+	case gb >= target*0.90:
+		return paint(s, cYellow)
+	default:
+		return paint(s, cRed)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/tune.go b/tune.go
index 4add685..8086bd8 100644
--- a/tune.go
+++ b/tune.go
@@ -80,17 +80,27 @@ type tuneResult struct {
 	err   error
 }
 
-func (r tuneResult) String() string {
+func (r tuneResult) status() string {
 	switch {
 	case r.err != nil:
-		return fmt.Sprintf("  %-34s FAIL  %s (%v)", r.item, r.state, r.err)
+		return paint("FAIL", cRed)
 	case r.fixed:
-		return fmt.Sprintf("  %-34s FIXED %s", r.item, r.state)
+		return paint("FIXED", cYellow)
 	default:
-		return fmt.Sprintf("  %-34s ok    %s", r.item, r.state)
+		return paint("ok", cGreen)
 	}
 }
 
+func (r tuneResult) detail() string {
+	if r.err != nil {
+		if r.state == "" {
+			return r.err.Error()
+		}
+		return fmt.Sprintf("%s: %v", r.state, r.err)
+	}
+	return r.state
+}
+
 func ethtoolCall(fd int, ifname string, data unsafe.Pointer) error {
 	var ifr ethtoolIfreq
 	if len(ifname) >= unix.IFNAMSIZ {
@@ -346,24 +356,25 @@ func applyTuning(cfg tuneConfig, ifnames []string) []tuneResult {
 	return out
 }
 
-func verifyTuning(cfg tuneConfig, ifnames []string) []string {
+func verifyTuning(cfg tuneConfig, ifnames []string) []tuneResult {
 	fd, err := unix.Socket(unix.AF_INET, unix.SOCK_DGRAM, 0)
 	if err != nil {
-		return []string{fmt.Sprintf("drift check failed: %v", err)}
+		return []tuneResult{{item: "drift check", err: err}}
 	}
 	defer unix.Close(fd)
 
-	var warnings []string
+	var drifted []tuneResult
 	if r := checkGovernor(cfg.governor, cfg.enabled); r.fixed || r.err != nil {
-		warnings = append(warnings, "host config drifted:"+r.String())
+		drifted = append(drifted, r)
 	}
 	for _, ifname := range ifnames {
 		if r := checkCoalesce(fd, ifname, cfg.rxUsecs, cfg.txUsecs, cfg.enabled); r.fixed || r.err != nil {
-			warnings = append(warnings, "host config drifted:"+r.String())
+			drifted = append(drifted, r)
 		}
 		if r, _ := checkRings(fd, ifname, cfg.rxRing, cfg.txRing, false); r.err != nil {
-			warnings = append(warnings, "host config drifted (not corrected, would reset link):"+r.String())
+			r.state = "left alone, resizing would reset the link"
+			drifted = append(drifted, r)
 		}
 	}
-	return warnings
+	return drifted
 }