diff --git a/docs/swarm/ui.md b/docs/swarm/ui.md
index 7e7ee3e7..9f54c649 100644
--- a/docs/swarm/ui.md
+++ b/docs/swarm/ui.md
@@ -24,9 +24,9 @@ domain, covers host-level detail for one hive.
 | `/builds`                                      | the swarm builder's recent builds of agent config PRs, with what nix printed when one failed                                                                                                                                 |
 
 Everything it shows comes from [`swarm-controller`](../../swarm-controller/README.md).
-Pages that refresh on a timer share one polling rule: a tick is skipped while
-the last request is still running, so a slow answer is never overtaken by an
-older one, and a failed refresh keeps the rows already on screen under an
+Pages that refresh on a timer share one polling rule: the page sends no new
+request while the last one is still running, so an older answer never overtakes
+a slow one, and a failed refresh keeps the rows already on screen under an
 error.
 An agent created here or with `swarmctl agent create` starts `paused`; set it
 `up` from its card. A card shows **login needed** when the agent's own