diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 32115f2..25188cc 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -7,8 +7,8 @@ Format follows [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.1.0/); version
 
 ## [1.2.4] - 2026-08-12
 
-Level-2 rate-limit semantics inverted after 1.2.3, plus a small DNS field
-height fix. Upgrading is a tag bump; no migration.
+Level-2 rate-limit semantics inverted after 1.2.3, with clearer L1 display and
+status badges. Upgrading is a tag bump; no migration.
 
 ### Changed
 
@@ -20,6 +20,10 @@ height fix. Upgrading is a tag bump; no migration.
   level-1 backstop on domain/application forms and Settings, rejects maxima
   above level 1, and requires an application override to exceed the domain
   maximum. Operator guide and architecture updated.
+- panel: level-1 backstop is shown as a dedicated line (`N messages / Ws`) and
+  in message-limit labels; Settings uses a code-row for the L1 value. Domain
+  and application rate-limit status uses the shared `st` badge (`active` /
+  `inactive — level 1 only`). Trusted-IP override copy is a single paragraph.
 
 ### Fixed
 
diff --git a/internal/web/view/templates/domain_detail.html b/internal/web/view/templates/domain_detail.html
index ed3af2e..9e6e6ab 100644
--- a/internal/web/view/templates/domain_detail.html
+++ b/internal/web/view/templates/domain_detail.html
@@ -316,7 +316,7 @@
              .panel-toggle in panel.css. -->
         <div class="actions">
           <input class="panel-toggle t-edit" id="edit-{{.ID}}" type="checkbox">
-          <label class="toggle for-edit" for="edit-{{.ID}}">Edit{{if .HasLimit}} (limit active){{end}}</label>
+          <label class="toggle for-edit" for="edit-{{.ID}}">Edit{{if .HasLimit}} <span class="st st-ok">limit</span>{{end}}</label>
           <form class="inline" method="post" action="/applications/{{.ID}}/password"
                 data-confirm="Regenerate the password for {{.Login}}? The current password stops working immediately.">
             <button type="submit">New password</button>
@@ -344,21 +344,21 @@
                 </form>
               </div>
               <div class="check-col">
-                <p class="check-col-title">Optional trusted-IP override</p>
-                <p class="muted">Listed client IPs get a higher ceiling than the
-                domain limit (still capped by level&nbsp;1:
-                {{$.L1Messages}} / {{$.L1Window}}s —
-                <a href="/settings">Settings</a>).
-                {{if $.DomainHasRL}}Domain ceiling: {{$.DomainRLMaxNum}}.{{else}}No domain ceiling (level&nbsp;1 only for other IPs).{{end}}</p>
+                <p class="check-col-title">Optional trusted-IP override
+                  {{if .HasLimit}}<span class="st st-ok">active</span>{{else}}<span class="st st-unknown">inactive</span>{{end}}</p>
+                <p class="muted">These IPs get a higher ceiling than the domain
+                (≤ level&nbsp;1) and skip the domain check; everyone else uses
+                {{if $.DomainHasRL}}the domain ceiling ({{$.DomainRLMaxNum}}){{else}}level&nbsp;1 only{{end}}.</p>
+                <p>Level&nbsp;1 backstop:
+                  <strong>{{$.L1Messages}}</strong> messages /
+                  <strong>{{$.L1Window}}</strong>s
+                  — <a href="/settings#rate-limits">Settings</a>.</p>
                 <form id="rl-{{.ID}}" method="post" action="/applications/{{.ID}}/ratelimit">
                   <label>Trusted client IPs (required; one per line or comma-separated)</label>
                   <textarea name="allowed_ips" rows="2" placeholder="203.0.113.10">{{.IPsText}}</textarea>
-                  <p class="muted">Only these IPs use the application ceiling and
-                  skip the domain limit. Other IPs stay under the domain (or
-                  level&nbsp;1).</p>
                   <div class="field-pair">
                     <div>
-                      <label>Message limit</label>
+                      <label>Message limit (max {{$.L1Messages}})</label>
                       <input name="max_messages" type="number" min="1" max="{{$.L1Messages}}"
                              value="{{.MaxText}}" placeholder="{{$.L1Messages}}">
                     </div>
@@ -420,17 +420,19 @@
     </div>
 
     <div class="check-col">
-      <p class="check-col-title">Optional level-2 sending rate limit</p>
-      <p class="muted">Applies to every client IP on this domain. Status:
-        {{if .DomainHasRL}}<strong>active</strong>{{else}}inactive (level&nbsp;1 only){{end}}.
-        Level&nbsp;1 backstop: {{.L1Messages}} messages / {{.L1Window}}s
-        (<a href="/settings">Settings</a>). Leave the message limit empty to
-        use level&nbsp;1 only.</p>
+      <p class="check-col-title">Optional level-2 sending rate limit
+        {{if .DomainHasRL}}<span class="st st-ok">active</span>{{else}}<span class="st st-unknown">inactive — level 1 only</span>{{end}}</p>
+      <p class="muted">Applies to every client IP on this domain. Leave the
+        message limit empty to use level&nbsp;1 only.</p>
+      <p>Level&nbsp;1 backstop (from <code>.env</code>):
+        <strong>{{.L1Messages}}</strong> messages /
+        <strong>{{.L1Window}}</strong>s
+        — see <a href="/settings#rate-limits">Settings</a>.</p>
 
       <form method="post" action="/domains/{{.Domain.ID}}/ratelimit">
         <div class="field-pair">
           <div>
-            <label for="d_max">Message limit</label>
+            <label for="d_max">Message limit (max {{.L1Messages}})</label>
             <input id="d_max" name="max_messages" type="number" min="1" max="{{.L1Messages}}"
                    value="{{.DomainRLMax}}" placeholder="{{.L1Messages}}">
           </div>
diff --git a/internal/web/view/templates/settings.html b/internal/web/view/templates/settings.html
index 7769665..27630ec 100644
--- a/internal/web/view/templates/settings.html
+++ b/internal/web/view/templates/settings.html
@@ -110,9 +110,9 @@ this one stays signed in.</p>
   each domain's page.</p>
 
   <label>Level 1 — per client IP (Postfix)</label>
-  <p><strong>{{.L1Messages}}</strong> messages per <strong>{{.L1Window}}</strong>
-  seconds (<code>RATE_LIMIT_MESSAGES_PER_IP</code> /
-  <code>RATE_LIMIT_WINDOW_SECONDS</code>). Hard ceiling for every connecting IP;
+  <p class="code-row"><span class="code">{{.L1Messages}} messages / {{.L1Window}} seconds</span></p>
+  <p class="muted"><code>RATE_LIMIT_MESSAGES_PER_IP</code> /
+  <code>RATE_LIMIT_WINDOW_SECONDS</code>. Hard ceiling for every connecting IP;
   the panel cannot raise a domain or application limit above this.</p>
 
   <label>Level 2 — domain</label>
diff --git a/internal/web/view/templates_test.go b/internal/web/view/templates_test.go
index 4a712a7..781c509 100644
--- a/internal/web/view/templates_test.go
+++ b/internal/web/view/templates_test.go
@@ -244,8 +244,11 @@ func TestDomainDetailPageHasPairedCards(t *testing.T) {
 	if strings.Contains(src, `id="d_ips"`) {
 		t.Error("domain rate limit must not ask for client IPs")
 	}
-	if !strings.Contains(src, "level&nbsp;1") {
-		t.Error("domain rate limit should mention the level-1 backstop")
+	if !strings.Contains(src, "{{.L1Messages}}") && !strings.Contains(src, "{{$.L1Messages}}") {
+		t.Error("domain rate limit should show the L1 message count")
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(src, "Level&nbsp;1 backstop") {
+		t.Error("domain rate limit should show a Level 1 backstop line")
 	}
 	if !strings.Contains(src, "Trusted client IPs") {
 		t.Error("application override should ask for trusted client IPs")
@@ -268,6 +271,7 @@ func TestSettingsPageDocumentsRateLimits(t *testing.T) {
 		"RATE_LIMIT_MESSAGES_PER_IP",
 		"Level 2 — domain",
 		"trusted IPs",
+		"{{.L1Messages}} messages / {{.L1Window}} seconds",
 	} {
 		if !strings.Contains(src, want) {
 			t.Errorf("settings rate limits card missing %q", want)