diff --git a/client/src/launcher/mod.rs b/client/src/launcher/mod.rs
index b2768b8..c155d36 100644
--- a/client/src/launcher/mod.rs
+++ b/client/src/launcher/mod.rs
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ pub use diagnostics::{DiagnosticsLog, PerformanceSample, SnapshotReport, quality
 pub use state::{DeviceSelection, InputRouting, LauncherState, ViewMode};
 
 pub fn maybe_run_launcher(args: &[String]) -> Result<bool> {
-    if args.iter().any(|arg| arg == "--launcher") {
+    if should_run_launcher(args) {
         let server_addr = resolve_server_addr(args);
         ui::run_gui_launcher(server_addr)?;
         return Ok(true);
@@ -20,6 +20,14 @@ pub fn maybe_run_launcher(args: &[String]) -> Result<bool> {
     Ok(false)
 }
 
+/// Decides when to present the GUI launcher instead of direct session startup.
+fn should_run_launcher(args: &[String]) -> bool {
+    if args.iter().any(|arg| arg == "--no-launcher") {
+        return false;
+    }
+    args.iter().any(|arg| arg == "--launcher") || args.is_empty()
+}
+
 pub fn runtime_env_vars(state: &LauncherState) -> BTreeMap<String, String> {
     let mut envs = BTreeMap::new();
     envs.insert(
@@ -107,4 +115,35 @@ mod tests {
         let args = vec!["http://server:50051".to_string()];
         assert!(!maybe_run_launcher(&args).expect("launcher check"));
     }
+
+    #[test]
+    #[cfg(coverage)]
+    fn maybe_run_launcher_returns_true_with_launcher_flag() {
+        let args = vec!["--launcher".to_string()];
+        assert!(maybe_run_launcher(&args).expect("launcher should run"));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    #[cfg(coverage)]
+    fn maybe_run_launcher_defaults_to_launcher_for_empty_args() {
+        let args: Vec<String> = vec![];
+        assert!(maybe_run_launcher(&args).expect("launcher should run"));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn should_run_launcher_defaults_true_for_empty_args() {
+        assert!(should_run_launcher(&[]));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn should_run_launcher_honors_explicit_opt_out() {
+        let args = vec!["--no-launcher".to_string()];
+        assert!(!should_run_launcher(&args));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn should_run_launcher_respects_direct_server_args() {
+        let args = vec!["http://server:50051".to_string()];
+        assert!(!should_run_launcher(&args));
+    }
 }
diff --git a/scripts/ci/hygiene_gate_baseline.json b/scripts/ci/hygiene_gate_baseline.json
index 0dab04d..028c386 100644
--- a/scripts/ci/hygiene_gate_baseline.json
+++ b/scripts/ci/hygiene_gate_baseline.json
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@
     "client/src/launcher/mod.rs": {
       "clippy_warnings": 4,
       "doc_debt": 4,
-      "loc": 110
+      "loc": 149
     },
     "client/src/launcher/state.rs": {
       "clippy_warnings": 8,
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@
     "server/src/paste.rs": {
       "clippy_warnings": 6,
       "doc_debt": 3,
-      "loc": 146
+      "loc": 204
     },
     "server/src/runtime_support.rs": {
       "clippy_warnings": 14,
diff --git a/scripts/ci/quality_gate_baseline.json b/scripts/ci/quality_gate_baseline.json
index 2e79647..61b8842 100644
--- a/scripts/ci/quality_gate_baseline.json
+++ b/scripts/ci/quality_gate_baseline.json
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@
     },
     "client/src/launcher/mod.rs": {
       "line_percent": 96.15384615384616,
-      "loc": 110
+      "loc": 149
     },
     "client/src/launcher/state.rs": {
       "line_percent": 99.32432432432432,
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@
     },
     "server/src/paste.rs": {
       "line_percent": 96.73913043478261,
-      "loc": 146
+      "loc": 204
     },
     "server/src/runtime_support.rs": {
       "line_percent": 96.42857142857143,
diff --git a/server/src/paste.rs b/server/src/paste.rs
index 2aee7c8..5011c32 100644
--- a/server/src/paste.rs
+++ b/server/src/paste.rs
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ pub fn decrypt(req: &PasteRequest) -> Result<String> {
     let plaintext = cipher
         .decrypt(nonce, req.data.as_ref())
         .map_err(|e| anyhow::anyhow!("paste decrypt failed: {e}"))?;
-    Ok(String::from_utf8(plaintext).context("paste plaintext not UTF-8")?)
+    String::from_utf8(plaintext).context("paste plaintext not UTF-8")
 }
 
 /// Type clipboard text into the HID keyboard gadget.
@@ -51,6 +51,13 @@ pub async fn type_text(kb: &Mutex<File>, text: &str) -> Result<()> {
         .unwrap_or(8);
     let delay = std::time::Duration::from_millis(delay_ms);
 
+    let (unsupported_count, unsupported_preview) = unsupported_chars(text.chars().take(max));
+    if unsupported_count > 0 {
+        anyhow::bail!(
+            "paste contains {unsupported_count} unsupported character(s): {unsupported_preview}"
+        );
+    }
+
     let mut kb = kb.lock().await;
     for c in text.chars().take(max) {
         if let Some((usage, mods)) = char_to_usage(c) {
@@ -65,6 +72,26 @@ pub async fn type_text(kb: &Mutex<File>, text: &str) -> Result<()> {
     Ok(())
 }
 
+/// Summarize unsupported clipboard characters for explicit operator feedback.
+fn unsupported_chars(chars: impl Iterator<Item = char>) -> (usize, String) {
+    let mut count = 0usize;
+    let mut preview = Vec::new();
+    for ch in chars {
+        if char_to_usage(ch).is_some() {
+            continue;
+        }
+        count += 1;
+        if preview.len() < 6 {
+            preview.push(format!("{:?}", ch));
+        }
+    }
+    if count == 0 {
+        (0, String::new())
+    } else {
+        (count, preview.join(", "))
+    }
+}
+
 fn load_key() -> Result<[u8; 32]> {
     let raw = std::env::var("LESAVKA_PASTE_KEY")
         .context("LESAVKA_PASTE_KEY not set (required for PasteText RPC)")?;
@@ -73,7 +100,7 @@ fn load_key() -> Result<[u8; 32]> {
 
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
-    use super::{decrypt, type_text};
+    use super::{decrypt, type_text, unsupported_chars};
     use chacha20poly1305::aead::{Aead, KeyInit};
     use chacha20poly1305::{ChaCha20Poly1305, Key, Nonce};
     use lesavka_common::lesavka::PasteRequest;
@@ -134,12 +161,43 @@ mod tests {
                     .await
                     .expect("open temp file");
                 let kb = Mutex::new(file);
-                type_text(&kb, "A!🙂").await.expect("type text");
+                type_text(&kb, "A!?").await.expect("type text");
 
                 let mut bytes = Vec::new();
                 let mut file = File::open(&path).await.expect("reopen temp file");
                 file.read_to_end(&mut bytes).await.expect("read reports");
-                assert_eq!(bytes.len(), 32);
+                assert_eq!(bytes.len(), 48);
+            });
+        });
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn unsupported_chars_reports_count_and_preview() {
+        let (count, preview) = unsupported_chars("ok🙂éx".chars());
+        assert_eq!(count, 2);
+        assert!(preview.contains("'🙂'"));
+        assert!(preview.contains("'é'"));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    #[serial]
+    /// Reject unsupported clipboard characters instead of silently dropping them.
+    fn type_text_rejects_unsupported_chars() {
+        let rt = Runtime::new().expect("runtime");
+        with_var("LESAVKA_PASTE_DELAY_MS", Some("0"), || {
+            rt.block_on(async {
+                let dir = tempdir().expect("tempdir");
+                let path = dir.path().join("hidg0.bin");
+                let file = OpenOptions::new()
+                    .create(true)
+                    .truncate(true)
+                    .write(true)
+                    .open(&path)
+                    .await
+                    .expect("open temp file");
+                let kb = Mutex::new(file);
+                let err = type_text(&kb, "pw🙂").await.expect_err("unsupported char should fail");
+                assert!(err.to_string().contains("unsupported character"));
             });
         });
     }