diff --git a/hive-c0re/src/host_stats.rs b/hive-c0re/src/host_stats.rs
index f0ac7dca..2413df32 100644
--- a/hive-c0re/src/host_stats.rs
+++ b/hive-c0re/src/host_stats.rs
@@ -98,10 +98,11 @@ pub fn agent_state_warnings<S: std::hash::BuildHasher>(
             kind: "pending_logins",
             level: "warn",
             message: format!(
-                "{n} agent{plural} need claude login: {list} \
+                "{n} agent{plural} {verb} claude login: {list} \
                  — run `hivectl login <agent>` to authenticate",
                 n = pending.len(),
                 plural = if pending.len() == 1 { "" } else { "s" },
+                verb = if pending.len() == 1 { "needs" } else { "need" },
                 list = pending.join(", "),
             ),
         });