diff --git a/cmd/restic/global.go b/cmd/restic/global.go
index 6920caa8d..a06e6b4d3 100644
--- a/cmd/restic/global.go
+++ b/cmd/restic/global.go
@@ -416,7 +416,11 @@ func OpenRepository(ctx context.Context, opts GlobalOptions) (*repository.Reposi
 	}
 
 	report := func(msg string, err error, d time.Duration) {
-		Warnf("%v returned error, retrying after %v: %v\n", msg, d, err)
+		if d < 0 {
+			Warnf("%v returned error, retrying after %v: %v\n", msg, d, err)
+		} else {
+			Warnf("%v failed: %v\n", msg, err)
+		}
 	}
 	success := func(msg string, retries int) {
 		Warnf("%v operation successful after %d retries\n", msg, retries)
diff --git a/internal/backend/retry/backend_retry.go b/internal/backend/retry/backend_retry.go
index c63338fb6..3c51a3497 100644
--- a/internal/backend/retry/backend_retry.go
+++ b/internal/backend/retry/backend_retry.go
@@ -39,20 +39,28 @@ func New(be backend.Backend, maxTries int, report func(string, error, time.Durat
 // retryNotifyErrorWithSuccess is an extension of backoff.RetryNotify with notification of success after an error.
 // success is NOT notified on the first run of operation (only after an error).
 func retryNotifyErrorWithSuccess(operation backoff.Operation, b backoff.BackOff, notify backoff.Notify, success func(retries int)) error {
+	var operationWrapper backoff.Operation
 	if success == nil {
-		return backoff.RetryNotify(operation, b, notify)
-	}
-	retries := 0
-	operationWrapper := func() error {
-		err := operation()
-		if err != nil {
-			retries++
-		} else if retries > 0 {
-			success(retries)
+		operationWrapper = operation
+	} else {
+		retries := 0
+		operationWrapper = func() error {
+			err := operation()
+			if err != nil {
+				retries++
+			} else if retries > 0 {
+				success(retries)
+			}
+			return err
 		}
-		return err
 	}
-	return backoff.RetryNotify(operationWrapper, b, notify)
+	err := backoff.RetryNotify(operationWrapper, b, notify)
+
+	if err != nil && notify != nil {
+		// log final error
+		notify(err, -1)
+	}
+	return err
 }
 
 var fastRetries = false