diff --git a/lib/message/mu-message-file.cc b/lib/message/mu-message-file.cc
index 41861608..6067f622 100644
--- a/lib/message/mu-message-file.cc
+++ b/lib/message/mu-message-file.cc
@@ -105,14 +105,16 @@ Mu::flags_from_path(const std::string& path)
 	/* it's cur/ message, so parse the file name */
 	const auto parts{message_file_parts(dirfile->file)};
 	auto flags{flags_from_absolute_expr(parts.flags_suffix,
-						    true/*ignore invalid*/)};
+					    true/*ignore invalid*/)};
 	if (!flags) {
 		/* LCOV_EXCL_START*/
 		return Err(Error{Error::Code::InvalidArgument,
 				"invalid flags ('%s')", parts.flags_suffix.c_str()});
 		/* LCOV_EXCL_STOP*/
-	} else
-		return Ok(std::move(flags.value()));
+	}
+
+	/* of course, only _file_ flags are allowed */
+	return Ok(flags_filter(flags.value(), MessageFlagCategory::Mailfile));
 }
 
 
diff --git a/lib/tests/test-mu-msg.cc b/lib/tests/test-mu-msg.cc
index ae7a665c..cd3ec40e 100644
--- a/lib/tests/test-mu-msg.cc
+++ b/lib/tests/test-mu-msg.cc
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ test_mu_msg_flags(void)
 			 (Flags::Flagged | Flags::Seen |
 			  Flags::HasAttachment)},
 			{MU_TESTMAILDIR4 "/special!2,Sabc",
-			 (Flags::Seen|Flags::HasAttachment)}
+			 (Flags::Seen)}
 		}};
 
 	for (auto&& test: tests) {