diff --git a/internal/app/errors.go b/internal/app/errors.go
index bc86df6e..0ce3a69b 100644
--- a/internal/app/errors.go
+++ b/internal/app/errors.go
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"net"
 	"net/http"
-	"strconv"
 	"strings"
 	"syscall"
 	"time"
@@ -19,9 +18,6 @@ import (
 	"gitea.dev/tea/internal/transport"
 )
 
-// lookupTimeout bounds the follow-up reads that explain a failed request.
-const lookupTimeout = 5 * time.Second
-
 // explainedError replaces the message of err and keeps err reachable for exit codes.
 type explainedError struct {
 	text string
@@ -36,16 +32,15 @@ func explain(err error, format string, args ...any) error {
 	return &explainedError{text: fmt.Sprintf(format, args...), err: err}
 }
 
-// Explain words a command failure for people. It names the resource a failed request addressed
-// ("issue #9 not found in alice/x"), tells a missing or inaccessible repository from a disabled
-// feature, adds the next step to refusals Gitea explains, and words rejected credentials,
-// unreachable servers and expired timeouts. Exit codes are unchanged.
+// Explain words a command failure for people. It adds the next step to refusals Gitea explains,
+// and words rejected credentials, unreachable servers and expired timeouts. Exit codes are
+// unchanged.
 func Explain(ctx context.Context, deps Dependencies, err error) error {
 	if err == nil || errors.As(err, new(*explainedError)) {
 		return err
 	}
 	if apiErr, ok := errors.AsType[*transport.APIError](err); ok {
-		return explainAPIError(ctx, deps, err, apiErr)
+		return explainAPIError(deps, err, apiErr)
 	}
 	if failure, ok := errors.AsType[*transport.RequestFailure](err); ok {
 		if reason := unreachable(failure.Err); reason != "" && failure.Server != "" {
@@ -58,7 +53,7 @@ func Explain(ctx context.Context, deps Dependencies, err error) error {
 	return err
 }
 
-func explainAPIError(ctx context.Context, deps Dependencies, err error, apiErr *transport.APIError) error {
+func explainAPIError(deps Dependencies, err error, apiErr *transport.APIError) error {
 	if !explainable(err, apiErr) {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -69,27 +64,11 @@ func explainAPIError(ctx context.Context, deps Dependencies, err error, apiErr *
 		}
 		return explain(err, "authentication rejected by %s; run tea auth login", instance)
 	}
-	// Errors a service classified keep its wording; others are classified by their endpoint.
-	classified := err
-	if !errors.As(err, new(*services.NotFoundError)) && !errors.As(err, new(*services.ConflictError)) {
-		classified = services.ClassifyRequest(err)
-	}
-	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(ctx, lookupTimeout)
-	defer cancel()
-	resource := services.RequestResource(apiErr.Endpoint)
-	if apiErr.Status == http.StatusNotFound && resource.Repository != "" {
-		if explained := explainRepositoryNotFound(ctx, apiErr, resource); explained != "" {
-			return explain(err, "%s", explained)
-		}
-	}
-	if conflict, ok := errors.AsType[*services.ConflictError](classified); ok && conflict.Hint == "" {
-		if hint := conflictHint(ctx, apiErr, conflict); hint != "" {
+	if conflict, ok := errors.AsType[*services.ConflictError](err); ok && conflict.Hint == "" {
+		if hint := conflictHint(apiErr, conflict); hint != "" {
 			return explain(err, "%s; %s", conflict.Error(), hint)
 		}
 	}
-	if classified != err {
-		return explain(err, "%s", classified.Error())
-	}
 	return err
 }
 
@@ -111,47 +90,8 @@ func explainable(err error, apiErr *transport.APIError) bool {
 	return apiErr.Error() == text
 }
 
-// explainRepositoryNotFound tells why a request on a repository found nothing: the repository is
-// missing or hidden, the feature is disabled, the repository is empty, or a pull request number
-// names an issue. It returns "" when the resource itself is missing.
-func explainRepositoryNotFound(ctx context.Context, apiErr *transport.APIError, resource services.Resource) string {
-	repo := resource.Repository
-	var state services.RepositoryState
-	status := http.StatusNotFound
-	if resource.Kind != "repository" {
-		state, status = services.LookupRepository(ctx, apiErr, repo)
-	}
-	switch status {
-	case http.StatusNotFound:
-		return fmt.Sprintf("repository %s not found on %s (or you don't have access)", repo, cmp.Or(apiErr.Instance, "the instance"))
-	case http.StatusOK:
-	default:
-		return ""
-	}
-	features := map[string]struct {
-		name    string
-		enabled bool
-	}{
-		"issues": {"issues are", state.Issues}, "pulls": {"pull requests are", state.PullRequests},
-		"wiki": {"the wiki is", state.Wiki}, "releases": {"releases are", state.Releases},
-		"actions": {"Actions are", state.Actions}, "projects": {"projects are", state.Projects},
-	}
-	if feature, ok := features[resource.Section]; ok && !feature.enabled {
-		return feature.name + " disabled for " + repo
-	}
-	if state.Empty && resource.Section == "pulls" {
-		return repo + " is empty; it has no pull requests"
-	}
-	if number, ok := strings.CutPrefix(resource.Key, "#"); ok && resource.Kind == "pull request" {
-		if index, err := strconv.ParseInt(number, 10, 64); err == nil && services.LookupIsIssue(ctx, apiErr, repo, index) {
-			return fmt.Sprintf("#%s in %s is an issue, not a pull request; view it with: tea issue view %s", number, repo, number)
-		}
-	}
-	return ""
-}
-
 // conflictHint returns the next step for a refused request, or "".
-func conflictHint(ctx context.Context, apiErr *transport.APIError, conflict *services.ConflictError) string {
+func conflictHint(apiErr *transport.APIError, conflict *services.ConflictError) string {
 	number := strings.TrimPrefix(conflict.Key, "#")
 	switch conflict.Reason {
 	case services.ReasonArchived:
@@ -159,7 +99,9 @@ func conflictHint(ctx context.Context, apiErr *transport.APIError, conflict *ser
 			return "unarchive it with: tea repo unarchive " + conflict.Scope
 		}
 	case services.ReasonExists:
-		return existsHint(ctx, apiErr, conflict)
+		if conflict.Kind == "wiki page" {
+			return "edit it with: tea wiki edit " + conflict.Key
+		}
 	case services.ReasonMerged:
 		if apiErr.Method == http.MethodPatch {
 			return "its state can no longer change"
@@ -186,22 +128,6 @@ func conflictHint(ctx context.Context, apiErr *transport.APIError, conflict *ser
 	return ""
 }
 
-func existsHint(ctx context.Context, apiErr *transport.APIError, conflict *services.ConflictError) string {
-	switch conflict.Kind {
-	case "pull request":
-		head, base, ok := strings.Cut(strings.TrimPrefix(conflict.Key, "for "), " into ")
-		if !ok || conflict.Scope == "" {
-			return ""
-		}
-		if pullURL := services.LookupPullURL(ctx, apiErr, conflict.Scope, base, head); pullURL != "" {
-			return "see " + pullURL
-		}
-	case "wiki page":
-		return "edit it with: tea wiki edit " + conflict.Key
-	}
-	return ""
-}
-
 // unreachable words a failure to connect, or returns "" for other request failures.
 func unreachable(err error) string {
 	var dnsErr *net.DNSError
diff --git a/internal/app/errors_test.go b/internal/app/errors_test.go
index e5f72b84..3dc1d8de 100644
--- a/internal/app/errors_test.go
+++ b/internal/app/errors_test.go
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	"gitea.dev/tea/internal/clierr"
+	"gitea.dev/tea/internal/services"
 	"gitea.dev/tea/internal/transport"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 )
@@ -36,19 +37,15 @@ func fakeGitea(t *testing.T, responses map[string][2]string) *httptest.Server {
 	return server
 }
 
-func TestExplainNamesResourcesAndTellsWhyRepositoriesFail(t *testing.T) {
+func TestExplainKeepsClassifiedErrorsAndAddsHints(t *testing.T) {
 	server := fakeGitea(t, map[string][2]string{
-		"GET /api/v1/user":                                {"200", `{"login":"alice"}`},
-		"GET /api/v1/repos/alice/project":                 {"200", `{"full_name":"alice/project","has_issues":true,"has_pull_requests":true}`},
-		"GET /api/v1/repos/alice/project/issues/1":        {"200", `{"number":1,"pull_request":null}`},
-		"GET /api/v1/repos/bob/project":                   {"200", `{"full_name":"bob/project","has_issues":false,"has_pull_requests":true}`},
-		"GET /api/v1/repos/alice/empty":                   {"200", `{"full_name":"alice/empty","empty":true,"has_issues":true,"has_pull_requests":true}`},
-		"GET /api/v1/repos/alice/old":                     {"200", `{"full_name":"alice/old","archived":true,"has_issues":true}`},
-		"POST /api/v1/repos/alice/old/issues":             {"423", `{"message":"repo is archived"}`},
-		"POST /api/v1/repos/alice/project/pulls":          {"409", `{"message":"pull request already exists for these targets [id: 16, issue_id: 3, head_repo_id: 1, base_repo_id: 1, head_branch: feat, base_branch: main]"}`},
-		"GET /api/v1/repos/alice/project/pulls/main/feat": {"200", `{"number":3,"html_url":"https://example.org/alice/project/pulls/3"}`},
-		"GET /api/v1/repos/alice/project/pulls/3":         {"200", `{"number":3,"state":"open","mergeable":false,"head":{"sha":"abc"}}`},
-		"POST /api/v1/repos/alice/project/pulls/3/merge":  {"405", `{"message":"Please try again later"}`},
+		"GET /api/v1/user":                               {"200", `{"login":"alice"}`},
+		"GET /api/v1/repos/alice/project":                {"200", `{"full_name":"alice/project","has_issues":true,"has_pull_requests":true}`},
+		"GET /api/v1/repos/alice/old":                    {"200", `{"full_name":"alice/old","archived":true,"has_issues":true}`},
+		"POST /api/v1/repos/alice/old/issues":            {"423", `{"message":"repo is archived"}`},
+		"POST /api/v1/repos/alice/project/pulls":         {"409", `{"message":"pull request already exists for these targets [id: 16, issue_id: 3, head_repo_id: 1, base_repo_id: 1, head_branch: feat, base_branch: main]"}`},
+		"GET /api/v1/repos/alice/project/pulls/3":        {"200", `{"number":3,"state":"open","mergeable":false,"head":{"sha":"abc"}}`},
+		"POST /api/v1/repos/alice/project/pulls/3/merge": {"405", `{"message":"Please try again later"}`},
 	})
 	for _, tc := range []struct {
 		name string
@@ -56,13 +53,9 @@ func TestExplainNamesResourcesAndTellsWhyRepositoriesFail(t *testing.T) {
 		want string
 	}{
 		{"missing issue", []string{"issue", "view", "999", "-R", "alice/project"}, "issue #999 not found in alice/project"},
-		{"missing repository", []string{"issue", "list", "-R", "alice/nope"}, "repository alice/nope not found on " + server.URL + " (or you don't have access)"},
-		{"disabled issues", []string{"issue", "list", "-R", "bob/project"}, "issues are disabled for bob/project"},
-		{"issue as pull request", []string{"pr", "view", "1", "-R", "alice/project"}, "#1 in alice/project is an issue, not a pull request; view it with: tea issue view 1"},
 		{"missing pull request", []string{"pr", "view", "999", "-R", "alice/project"}, "pull request #999 not found in alice/project"},
-		{"empty repository", []string{"pr", "list", "-R", "alice/empty"}, "alice/empty is empty; it has no pull requests"},
 		{"archived repository", []string{"issue", "create", "-R", "alice/old", "--title", "x", "--body", "y"}, "alice/old is archived (read-only); unarchive it with: tea repo unarchive alice/old"},
-		{"existing pull request", []string{"pr", "create", "-R", "alice/project", "--head", "feat", "--base", "main", "--title", "x", "--body", "y"}, "pull request for feat into main already exists in alice/project; see https://example.org/alice/project/pulls/3"},
+		{"existing pull request", []string{"pr", "create", "-R", "alice/project", "--head", "feat", "--base", "main", "--title", "x", "--body", "y"}, "pull request for feat into main already exists in alice/project"},
 		{"context added by the command", []string{"pr", "merge", "3", "-R", "alice/project", "--yes"}, "pull request #3 has conflicting files or is otherwise not mergeable: Gitea API returned HTTP 405 for POST /api/v1/repos/alice/project/pulls/3/merge: Please try again later"},
 		{"raw api response", []string{"api", "users/nobody"}, "not found (HTTP 404 GET /api/v1/users/nobody)"},
 	} {
@@ -79,23 +72,24 @@ func TestExplainNamesResourcesAndTellsWhyRepositoriesFail(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestExplainAddsTheNextStepToRefusals(t *testing.T) {
 	for _, tc := range []struct {
-		method, endpoint, message string
-		status                    int
-		want                      string
+		method, kind, key, message string
+		status                     int
+		want                       string
 	}{
-		{"PATCH", "/api/v1/repos/alice/x/pulls/3", "cannot change state of this pull request, it was already merged", 412, "pull request #3 is already merged; its state can no longer change"},
-		{"POST", "/api/v1/repos/alice/x/pulls/3/merge", "The PR is already merged", 405, "pull request #3 is already merged"},
-		{"POST", "/api/v1/repos/alice/x/pulls/5/merge", "Work in progress PRs cannot be merged", 405, "pull request #5 is a draft; mark it ready with: tea pr ready 5"},
-		{"POST", "/api/v1/repos/alice/x/pulls/1/reviews", "approve your own pull is not allowed", 422, "you can't approve or request changes on your own pull request; leave a comment instead"},
-		{"POST", "/api/v1/repos/alice/x/pulls", "Invalid PullRequest: There are no changes between the head and the base", 422, "no commits between the base and head branches; check out your feature branch or pass --head"},
-		{"POST", "/api/v1/repos/alice/x/actions/workflows/nightly.yaml/dispatches", "workflow is disabled", 403, "workflow nightly.yaml is disabled; enable it with: tea workflow enable nightly.yaml"},
-		{"DELETE", "/api/v1/repos/alice/x/actions/runs/37", "this workflow run is not done", 400, "run 37 has not finished; cancel it first: tea run cancel 37"},
-		{"POST", "/api/v1/repos/alice/x/wiki/new", "wiki page already exists [title: Home.md]", 400, `wiki page "Home" already exists in alice/x; edit it with: tea wiki edit "Home"`},
-		{"DELETE", "/api/v1/admin/users/uxadm1", "user still has ownership of repositories [uid: 7]", 422, `user "uxadm1" still owns repositories; transfer or delete them first`},
-		{"POST", "/api/v1/user/keys", "Key content has been used as non-deploy key", 422, "this SSH key is already registered"},
+		{"PATCH", "pull request", "#3", "cannot change state of this pull request, it was already merged", 412, "pull request #3 is already merged; its state can no longer change"},
+		{"POST", "pull request", "#3", "The PR is already merged", 405, "pull request #3 is already merged"},
+		{"POST", "pull request", "#5", "Work in progress PRs cannot be merged", 405, "pull request #5 is a draft; mark it ready with: tea pr ready 5"},
+		{"POST", "pull request", "#1", "approve your own pull is not allowed", 422, "you can't approve or request changes on your own pull request; leave a comment instead"},
+		{"POST", "pull request", "", "Invalid PullRequest: There are no changes between the head and the base", 422, "no commits between the base and head branches; check out your feature branch or pass --head"},
+		{"POST", "workflow", "nightly.yaml", "workflow is disabled", 403, "workflow nightly.yaml is disabled; enable it with: tea workflow enable nightly.yaml"},
+		{"DELETE", "run", "37", "this workflow run is not done", 400, "run 37 has not finished; cancel it first: tea run cancel 37"},
+		{"POST", "wiki page", `"Home"`, "wiki page already exists [title: Home.md]", 400, `wiki page "Home" already exists in alice/x; edit it with: tea wiki edit "Home"`},
+		{"POST", "issue", "", "repo is archived", 423, "alice/x is archived (read-only); unarchive it with: tea repo unarchive alice/x"},
+		{"DELETE", "user", `"uxadm1"`, "user still has ownership of repositories [uid: 7]", 422, `user "uxadm1" still owns repositories; transfer or delete them first`},
+		{"POST", "SSH key", "", "Key content has been used as non-deploy key", 422, "this SSH key is already registered"},
 	} {
-		apiErr := &transport.APIError{Status: tc.status, Method: tc.method, Endpoint: tc.endpoint, Message: tc.message, Instance: "http://localhost:3001"}
-		require.EqualError(t, Explain(context.Background(), Dependencies{}, apiErr), tc.want, tc.endpoint)
+		apiErr := &transport.APIError{Status: tc.status, Method: tc.method, Endpoint: "/api/v1/repos/alice/x/endpoint", Message: tc.message, Instance: "http://localhost:3001"}
+		require.EqualError(t, Explain(context.Background(), Dependencies{}, services.Classify(apiErr, tc.kind, tc.key, "alice/x")), tc.want, tc.message)
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/internal/app/issues.go b/internal/app/issues.go
index 7f6722bf..e22fdc20 100644
--- a/internal/app/issues.go
+++ b/internal/app/issues.go
@@ -512,7 +512,7 @@ func itemError(err error, scope string) error {
 	if apiErr, ok := errors.AsType[*transport.APIError](err); ok && apiErr.Status == http.StatusNotFound {
 		return explain(err, "not found in %s", scope)
 	}
-	return services.ClassifyRequest(err)
+	return err
 }
 
 // nameFilter splits a comma-separated filter of kind, trimming entries and rejecting blanks.
diff --git a/internal/app/ssh_keys.go b/internal/app/ssh_keys.go
index 04299cb0..e87d01df 100644
--- a/internal/app/ssh_keys.go
+++ b/internal/app/ssh_keys.go
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ $ cat key.pub | tea ssh-key add`,
 			service := services.SSHKeys{Client: target.client}
 			created, err := service.Create(cmd.Context(), title, strings.TrimSpace(string(data)))
 			if err != nil {
-				return a.registeredKey(cmd.Context(), service, key, services.ClassifyRequest(err))
+				return a.registeredKey(cmd.Context(), service, key, err)
 			}
 			a.done(cmd, "Added %s", sshKeyLabel(created))
 			return a.jsonResult(cmd, created)
diff --git a/internal/services/branches.go b/internal/services/branches.go
index 6961c31b..4b53a5f6 100644
--- a/internal/services/branches.go
+++ b/internal/services/branches.go
@@ -64,9 +64,10 @@ func (s Branches) ListPage(ctx context.Context, repo string, limit, page int) (P
 
 // View retrieves a remote branch.
 func (s Branches) View(ctx context.Context, repo, branch string) (Branch, error) {
-	return repoConvert(ctx, s.Client, repo, branchFrom, func(ctx context.Context, c *gitea.Client, owner, name string) (*gitea.Branch, *gitea.Response, error) {
+	item, err := repoConvert(ctx, s.Client, repo, branchFrom, func(ctx context.Context, c *gitea.Client, owner, name string) (*gitea.Branch, *gitea.Response, error) {
 		return c.Repositories.GetRepoBranch(ctx, owner, name, branch)
 	})
+	return item, Classify(err, "branch", branch, repo)
 }
 
 // Create creates a branch from source, a branch, tag or commit, or from the default branch.
@@ -98,10 +99,11 @@ func (s Branches) Rename(ctx context.Context, repo, oldName, newName string) err
 
 // Delete removes a remote branch.
 func (s Branches) Delete(ctx context.Context, repo, branch string) error {
-	return repoDo(ctx, s.Client, repo, func(ctx context.Context, c *gitea.Client, owner, name string) (*gitea.Response, error) {
+	err := repoDo(ctx, s.Client, repo, func(ctx context.Context, c *gitea.Client, owner, name string) (*gitea.Response, error) {
 		_, resp, err := c.Repositories.DeleteRepoBranch(ctx, owner, name, branch)
 		return resp, err
 	})
+	return Classify(err, "branch", branch, repo)
 }
 
 // Protection is a branch protection rule.
diff --git a/internal/services/comments.go b/internal/services/comments.go
index 6351c23e..b165bdf8 100644
--- a/internal/services/comments.go
+++ b/internal/services/comments.go
@@ -71,28 +71,32 @@ func (s Comments) Page(ctx context.Context, n int64, limit, page int) ([]Comment
 
 // View retrieves a comment by its repository-scoped ID.
 func (s Comments) View(ctx context.Context, id int64) (Comment, error) {
-	return repoConvert(ctx, s.Client, s.Repository, commentFrom, func(ctx context.Context, c *gitea.Client, owner, repo string) (*gitea.Comment, *gitea.Response, error) {
+	item, err := repoConvert(ctx, s.Client, s.Repository, commentFrom, func(ctx context.Context, c *gitea.Client, owner, repo string) (*gitea.Comment, *gitea.Response, error) {
 		return c.Issues.GetIssueComment(ctx, owner, repo, id)
 	})
+	return item, Classify(err, "comment", strconv.FormatInt(id, 10), s.Repository)
 }
 
 // Create adds a comment to an issue or pull request.
 func (s Comments) Create(ctx context.Context, n int64, body string) (Comment, error) {
-	return repoConvert(ctx, s.Client, s.Repository, commentFrom, func(ctx context.Context, c *gitea.Client, owner, repo string) (*gitea.Comment, *gitea.Response, error) {
+	item, err := repoConvert(ctx, s.Client, s.Repository, commentFrom, func(ctx context.Context, c *gitea.Client, owner, repo string) (*gitea.Comment, *gitea.Response, error) {
 		return c.Issues.CreateIssueComment(ctx, owner, repo, n, gitea.CreateIssueCommentOption{Body: body})
 	})
+	return item, Classify(err, "issue", "#"+strconv.FormatInt(n, 10), s.Repository)
 }
 
 // Edit replaces the body of a repository comment.
 func (s Comments) Edit(ctx context.Context, id int64, body string) (Comment, error) {
-	return repoConvert(ctx, s.Client, s.Repository, commentFrom, func(ctx context.Context, c *gitea.Client, owner, repo string) (*gitea.Comment, *gitea.Response, error) {
+	item, err := repoConvert(ctx, s.Client, s.Repository, commentFrom, func(ctx context.Context, c *gitea.Client, owner, repo string) (*gitea.Comment, *gitea.Response, error) {
 		return c.Issues.EditIssueComment(ctx, owner, repo, id, gitea.EditIssueCommentOption{Body: body})
 	})
+	return item, Classify(err, "comment", strconv.FormatInt(id, 10), s.Repository)
 }
 
 // Delete removes a repository comment.
 func (s Comments) Delete(ctx context.Context, id int64) error {
-	return repoDo(ctx, s.Client, s.Repository, func(ctx context.Context, c *gitea.Client, owner, repo string) (*gitea.Response, error) {
+	err := repoDo(ctx, s.Client, s.Repository, func(ctx context.Context, c *gitea.Client, owner, repo string) (*gitea.Response, error) {
 		return c.Issues.DeleteIssueComment(ctx, owner, repo, id)
 	})
+	return Classify(err, "comment", strconv.FormatInt(id, 10), s.Repository)
 }
diff --git a/internal/services/errors.go b/internal/services/errors.go
index b3778bd4..413775bd 100644
--- a/internal/services/errors.go
+++ b/internal/services/errors.go
@@ -212,170 +212,3 @@ func refusal(apiErr *transport.APIError) string {
 	}
 	return ""
 }
-
-// ClassifyRequest is Classify for a failure no service classified: it infers the resource from
-// the failed request's endpoint, so a 404 for GET /api/v1/repos/alice/x/issues/9 reports
-// "issue #9 not found in alice/x".
-func ClassifyRequest(err error) error {
-	apiErr, ok := errors.AsType[*transport.APIError](err)
-	if !ok {
-		return err
-	}
-	resource := RequestResource(apiErr.Endpoint)
-	kind, key := resource.Kind, resource.Key
-	// A refused POST to a collection concerns the resource it would have created.
-	if apiErr.Status != http.StatusNotFound && resource.Collection != "" {
-		kind, key = resource.Collection, ""
-	}
-	return Classify(err, kind, key, resource.Scope)
-}
-
-// Resource is what a Gitea API endpoint addresses.
-type Resource struct {
-	// Kind and Key name one resource, such as "issue" and "#9"; both are empty for collections.
-	Kind, Key string
-	// Collection names the kind of resource a collection endpoint holds, such as "branch" for
-	// POST /repos/{owner}/{repo}/branches.
-	Collection string
-	// Scope is the repository or organization the resource belongs to.
-	Scope string
-	// Repository is the owner/name of a repository endpoint, else empty.
-	Repository string
-	// Section is the first path segment below the repository, such as "issues" or "pulls".
-	Section string
-}
-
-// RequestResource reports what endpoint, an API path such as /api/v1/repos/alice/x/issues/9,
-// addresses.
-func RequestResource(endpoint string) Resource {
-	_, rest, ok := strings.Cut(endpoint, "/api/v1/")
-	if !ok {
-		return Resource{}
-	}
-	parts := strings.Split(strings.Trim(rest, "/"), "/")
-	if len(parts) < 3 || parts[0] != "repos" {
-		return instanceResource(parts)
-	}
-	repo := parts[1] + "/" + parts[2]
-	if len(parts) == 3 {
-		return Resource{Kind: "repository", Key: repo, Repository: repo}
-	}
-	resource := repositoryResource(parts[3:])
-	resource.Repository, resource.Scope, resource.Section = repo, repo, parts[3]
-	return resource
-}
-
-// collections names the resources that POST to a repository collection creates.
-var collections = map[string]string{
-	"branches": "branch", "tags": "tag", "releases": "release", "labels": "label", "milestones": "milestone",
-	"pulls": "pull request", "issues": "issue", "hooks": "webhook", "keys": "deploy key", "wiki": "wiki page",
-}
-
-// repositoryResource matches the path below /repos/{owner}/{repo}.
-func repositoryResource(parts []string) Resource {
-	at := func(i int) string {
-		if i < len(parts) {
-			return parts[i]
-		}
-		return ""
-	}
-	rest := func(i int) string { return strings.Join(parts[min(i, len(parts)):], "/") }
-	switch {
-	case at(0) == "issues" && at(1) == "comments" && at(2) != "":
-		return Resource{Kind: "comment", Key: at(2)}
-	case (at(0) == "issues" || at(0) == "pulls") && isNumber(at(1)):
-		kind := "issue"
-		if at(0) == "pulls" {
-			kind = "pull request"
-		}
-		return Resource{Kind: kind, Key: "#" + at(1)}
-	case at(0) == "releases" && at(1) == "tags" && at(2) != "":
-		return Resource{Kind: "release", Key: rest(2)}
-	case at(0) == "releases" && at(2) == "assets" && at(3) != "":
-		return Resource{Kind: "release asset", Key: at(3)}
-	case at(0) == "releases" && isNumber(at(1)):
-		return Resource{Kind: "release", Key: at(1)}
-	case at(0) == "labels" && at(1) != "":
-		return Resource{Kind: "label", Key: at(1)}
-	case at(0) == "milestones" && at(1) != "":
-		return Resource{Kind: "milestone", Key: nameKey(at(1))}
-	case at(0) == "branches" && at(1) != "":
-		return Resource{Kind: "branch", Key: rest(1)}
-	case at(0) == "branch_protections" && at(1) != "":
-		return Resource{Kind: "branch protection", Key: rest(1)}
-	case at(0) == "tags" && at(1) != "":
-		return Resource{Kind: "tag", Key: rest(1)}
-	case at(0) == "wiki" && (at(1) == "page" || at(1) == "revisions") && at(2) != "":
-		return Resource{Kind: "wiki page", Key: strconv.Quote(at(2))}
-	case at(0) == "hooks" && isNumber(at(1)):
-		return Resource{Kind: "webhook", Key: at(1)}
-	case at(0) == "collaborators" && at(1) != "":
-		return Resource{Kind: "collaborator", Key: strconv.Quote(at(1))}
-	case at(0) == "contents" && at(1) != "":
-		return Resource{Kind: "file", Key: rest(1)}
-	case at(0) == "actions":
-		return actionsResource(at(1), at(2))
-	}
-	return Resource{Collection: collections[at(0)]}
-}
-
-func actionsResource(collection, key string) Resource {
-	kinds := map[string]string{"runs": "run", "jobs": "job", "artifacts": "artifact", "workflows": "workflow", "secrets": "secret", "variables": "variable"}
-	kind := kinds[collection]
-	if key == "" {
-		return Resource{Collection: kind}
-	}
-	return Resource{Kind: kind, Key: key}
-}
-
-// instanceResource matches endpoints outside a repository, such as /users/{name}.
-func instanceResource(parts []string) Resource {
-	at := func(i int) string {
-		if i < len(parts) {
-			return parts[i]
-		}
-		return ""
-	}
-	switch {
-	case at(0) == "orgs" && at(1) != "" && (at(2) == "members" || at(2) == "public_members") && at(3) != "":
-		return Resource{Kind: "member", Key: strconv.Quote(at(3)), Scope: at(1)}
-	case at(0) == "orgs" && at(1) != "" && at(2) == "repos":
-		return Resource{Kind: "organization", Key: strconv.Quote(at(1)), Collection: "repository"}
-	case at(0) == "orgs" && at(1) != "" && at(2) == "teams":
-		return Resource{Kind: "organization", Key: strconv.Quote(at(1)), Collection: "team"}
-	case at(0) == "orgs" && at(1) != "":
-		return Resource{Kind: "organization", Key: strconv.Quote(at(1))}
-	case at(0) == "orgs":
-		return Resource{Collection: "organization"}
-	case at(0) == "users" && at(1) != "":
-		return Resource{Kind: "user", Key: strconv.Quote(at(1))}
-	case at(0) == "admin" && at(1) == "users" && at(2) != "":
-		return Resource{Kind: "user", Key: strconv.Quote(at(2))}
-	case at(0) == "admin" && at(1) == "users":
-		return Resource{Collection: "user"}
-	case at(0) == "teams" && isNumber(at(1)):
-		return Resource{Kind: "team", Key: at(1)}
-	case at(0) == "user" && at(1) == "keys" && at(2) != "":
-		return Resource{Kind: "SSH key", Key: at(2)}
-	case at(0) == "user" && at(1) == "keys":
-		return Resource{Collection: "SSH key"}
-	case at(0) == "user" && at(1) == "repos":
-		return Resource{Collection: "repository"}
-	case at(0) == "notifications" && at(1) == "threads" && at(2) != "":
-		return Resource{Kind: "notification", Key: at(2)}
-	}
-	return Resource{}
-}
-
-// nameKey quotes a name, but not a numeric ID.
-func nameKey(value string) string {
-	if isNumber(value) {
-		return value
-	}
-	return strconv.Quote(value)
-}
-
-func isNumber(value string) bool {
-	n, err := strconv.ParseInt(value, 10, 64)
-	return err == nil && n > 0
-}
diff --git a/internal/services/errors_test.go b/internal/services/errors_test.go
index 97138934..e52293e1 100644
--- a/internal/services/errors_test.go
+++ b/internal/services/errors_test.go
@@ -13,60 +13,35 @@ import (
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 )
 
-func TestClassifyRequestNamesTheResource(t *testing.T) {
+func TestClassifyWordsRefusals(t *testing.T) {
 	for _, tc := range []struct {
-		name, method, endpoint, message string
-		status                          int
-		want                            string
+		name, message, kind, key string
+		status                   int
+		want                     string
 	}{
-		{"issue", "GET", "/api/v1/repos/alice/project/issues/999", "not found", 404, "issue #999 not found in alice/project"},
-		{"issue comments", "GET", "/api/v1/repos/alice/project/issues/9/comments", "not found", 404, "issue #9 not found in alice/project"},
-		{"comment", "DELETE", "/api/v1/repos/alice/project/issues/comments/81", "comment does not exist [id: 81, issue_id: 0]", 404, "comment 81 not found in alice/project"},
-		{"pull request", "GET", "/api/v1/repos/alice/project/pulls/7/reviews", "not found", 404, "pull request #7 not found in alice/project"},
-		{"release tag", "GET", "/api/v1/repos/alice/project/releases/tags/v9", "not found", 404, "release v9 not found in alice/project"},
-		{"branch with slashes", "GET", "/api/v1/repos/alice/project/branches/docs/guide", "not found", 404, "branch docs/guide not found in alice/project"},
-		{"milestone title", "GET", "/api/v1/repos/alice/project/milestones/v2.0", "not found", 404, `milestone "v2.0" not found in alice/project`},
-		{"milestone id", "GET", "/api/v1/repos/alice/project/milestones/3", "not found", 404, "milestone 3 not found in alice/project"},
-		{"wiki page", "GET", "/api/v1/repos/alice/project/wiki/page/Nope", "not found", 404, `wiki page "Nope" not found in alice/project`},
-		{"run", "GET", "/api/v1/repos/alice/project/actions/runs/9999/jobs", "run with id 9999: resource does not exist", 404, "run 9999 not found in alice/project"},
-		{"secret", "DELETE", "/api/v1/repos/alice/project/actions/secrets/NOPE", "secret was not found [name: ]", 404, "secret NOPE not found in alice/project"},
-		{"repository", "GET", "/api/v1/repos/nobody/none", "not found", 404, "repository nobody/none not found"},
-		{"user", "GET", "/api/v1/users/nobody/repos", "user redirect does not exist [name: nobody]", 404, `user "nobody" not found`},
-		{"organization", "GET", "/api/v1/orgs/nope-org", "not found", 404, `organization "nope-org" not found`},
-		{"org member", "DELETE", "/api/v1/orgs/acme/members/carol", "not found", 404, `member "carol" not found in acme`},
-		{"team", "GET", "/api/v1/teams/99", "not found", 404, "team 99 not found"},
-		{"ssh key", "DELETE", "/api/v1/user/keys/5", "not found", 404, "SSH key 5 not found"},
-		{"archived 423", "POST", "/api/v1/repos/alice/old-stuff/issues", "repo is archived", 423, "alice/old-stuff is archived (read-only)"},
-		{"archived 500", "POST", "/api/v1/repos/alice/old-stuff/releases", "<Repository 5:alice/old-stuff> is archived", 500, "alice/old-stuff is archived (read-only)"},
-		{"archived repository edit", "PATCH", "/api/v1/repos/alice/old-stuff", "repo is archived", 423, "alice/old-stuff is archived (read-only)"},
-		{"pull request exists", "POST", "/api/v1/repos/alice/x/pulls", "pull request already exists for these targets [id: 16, issue_id: 1, head_repo_id: 44, base_repo_id: 44, head_branch: feat, base_branch: main]", 409, "pull request for feat into main already exists in alice/x"},
-		{"no changes", "POST", "/api/v1/repos/alice/x/pulls", "Invalid PullRequest: There are no changes between the head and the base", 422, "no commits between the base and head branches"},
-		{"merged", "PATCH", "/api/v1/repos/alice/x/pulls/3", "cannot change state of this pull request, it was already merged", 412, "pull request #3 is already merged"},
-		{"merge merged", "POST", "/api/v1/repos/alice/x/pulls/3/merge", "The PR is already merged", 405, "pull request #3 is already merged"},
-		{"draft merge", "POST", "/api/v1/repos/alice/x/pulls/5/merge", "Work in progress PRs cannot be merged", 405, "pull request #5 is a draft"},
-		{"own approval", "POST", "/api/v1/repos/alice/x/pulls/1/reviews", "approve your own pull is not allowed", 422, "you can't approve or request changes on your own pull request"},
-		{"own rejection", "POST", "/api/v1/repos/alice/x/pulls/1/reviews", "reject your own pull is not allowed", 422, "you can't approve or request changes on your own pull request"},
-		{"branch exists", "POST", "/api/v1/repos/alice/x/branches", "The branch already exists.", 409, "branch already exists in alice/x"},
-		{"release exists", "POST", "/api/v1/repos/alice/x/releases", "Release is has no Tag", 409, "release already exists in alice/x"},
-		{"wiki page exists", "POST", "/api/v1/repos/alice/x/wiki/new", "wiki page already exists [title: Home.md]", 400, `wiki page "Home" already exists in alice/x`},
-		{"repository exists", "POST", "/api/v1/user/repos", "The repository with the same name already exists.", 409, "repository already exists"},
-		{"org repository exists", "POST", "/api/v1/orgs/acme/repos", "The repository with the same name already exists.", 409, "repository already exists"},
-		{"team exists", "POST", "/api/v1/orgs/acme/teams", "team already exists [org_id: 3, name: devs]", 422, "team already exists"},
-		{"user exists", "POST", "/api/v1/admin/users", "user already exists [name: bob]", 422, "user already exists"},
-		{"organization exists", "POST", "/api/v1/orgs", "user already exists [name: acme]", 422, "organization already exists"},
-		{"archived label is no repository", "POST", "/api/v1/repos/alice/x/issues/1/labels", "label is archived", 422, "Gitea API returned HTTP 422 for POST /api/v1/repos/alice/x/issues/1/labels: label is archived"},
-		{"run completed", "POST", "/api/v1/repos/alice/x/actions/runs/35/cancel", "run is already completed", 409, "run 35 is already completed"},
-		{"run not done", "DELETE", "/api/v1/repos/alice/x/actions/runs/37", "this workflow run is not done", 400, "run 37 has not finished"},
-		{"workflow disabled", "POST", "/api/v1/repos/alice/x/actions/workflows/nightly.yaml/dispatches", "workflow is disabled", 403, "workflow nightly.yaml is disabled"},
-		{"key in use", "POST", "/api/v1/user/keys", "Key content has been used as non-deploy key", 422, "this SSH key is already registered"},
-		{"unknown assignee", "POST", "/api/v1/repos/alice/x/issues", "Assignee does not exist: [name: user does not exist [uid: 0, name: nobody123]]", 422, `user "nobody123" not found`},
-		{"unknown poster filter", "GET", "/api/v1/repos/alice/x/pulls", "user does not exist [uid: 0, name: nobody]", 400, `user "nobody" not found`},
-		{"unrecognized endpoint", "GET", "/api/v1/repos/alice/x/issues", "not found", 404, "not found (HTTP 404 GET /api/v1/repos/alice/x/issues)"},
-		{"server error", "GET", "/api/v1/repos/alice/x/issues/1", "boom", 500, "Gitea API returned HTTP 500 for GET /api/v1/repos/alice/x/issues/1: boom"},
+		{"missing issue", "not found", "issue", "#999", 404, "issue #999 not found in alice/x"},
+		{"archived 423", "repo is archived", "issue", "", 423, "alice/x is archived (read-only)"},
+		{"archived 500", "<Repository 5:alice/x> is archived", "release", "", 500, "alice/x is archived (read-only)"},
+		{"pull request exists", "pull request already exists for these targets [id: 16, issue_id: 1, head_repo_id: 44, base_repo_id: 44, head_branch: feat, base_branch: main]", "pull request", "", 409, "pull request for feat into main already exists in alice/x"},
+		{"no changes", "Invalid PullRequest: There are no changes between the head and the base", "pull request", "", 422, "no commits between the base and head branches"},
+		{"merged", "cannot change state of this pull request, it was already merged", "pull request", "#3", 412, "pull request #3 is already merged"},
+		{"draft merge", "Work in progress PRs cannot be merged", "pull request", "#5", 405, "pull request #5 is a draft"},
+		{"own approval", "approve your own pull is not allowed", "pull request", "#1", 422, "you can't approve or request changes on your own pull request"},
+		{"own rejection", "reject your own pull is not allowed", "pull request", "#1", 422, "you can't approve or request changes on your own pull request"},
+		{"branch exists", "The branch already exists.", "branch", "", 409, "branch already exists in alice/x"},
+		{"release exists", "Release is has no Tag", "release", "", 409, "release already exists in alice/x"},
+		{"wiki page exists", "wiki page already exists [title: Home.md]", "wiki page", `"Home"`, 400, `wiki page "Home" already exists in alice/x`},
+		{"archived label is no repository", "label is archived", "issue", "#1", 422, "Gitea API returned HTTP 422 for POST /api/v1/repos/alice/x/endpoint: label is archived"},
+		{"run completed", "run is already completed", "run", "35", 409, "run 35 is already completed"},
+		{"run not done", "this workflow run is not done", "run", "37", 400, "run 37 has not finished"},
+		{"workflow disabled", "workflow is disabled", "workflow", "nightly.yaml", 403, "workflow nightly.yaml is disabled"},
+		{"key in use", "Key content has been used as non-deploy key", "SSH key", "", 422, "this SSH key is already registered"},
+		{"unknown assignee", "Assignee does not exist: [name: user does not exist [uid: 0, name: nobody123]]", "issue", "", 422, `user "nobody123" not found`},
+		{"server error", "boom", "issue", "#1", 500, "Gitea API returned HTTP 500 for POST /api/v1/repos/alice/x/endpoint: boom"},
 	} {
 		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			apiErr := &transport.APIError{Status: tc.status, Method: tc.method, Endpoint: tc.endpoint, Message: tc.message}
-			err := ClassifyRequest(apiErr)
+			apiErr := &transport.APIError{Status: tc.status, Method: "POST", Endpoint: "/api/v1/repos/alice/x/endpoint", Message: tc.message}
+			err := Classify(apiErr, tc.kind, tc.key, "alice/x")
 			require.EqualError(t, err, tc.want)
 			require.ErrorIs(t, err, apiErr, "the API error stays reachable for exit codes and --debug")
 		})
diff --git a/internal/services/issues.go b/internal/services/issues.go
index b4e5e39e..5f1e8d23 100644
--- a/internal/services/issues.go
+++ b/internal/services/issues.go
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ package services
 import (
 	"context"
 	"net/http"
+	"strconv"
 	"strings"
 	"time"
 
@@ -144,19 +145,21 @@ func filterValues(value string) []string {
 
 // View retrieves one issue.
 func (s Issues) View(ctx context.Context, number int64) (Issue, error) {
-	return repoConvert(ctx, s.Client, s.Repository, discussionFrom, func(ctx context.Context, c *gitea.Client, owner, repo string) (*gitea.Issue, *gitea.Response, error) {
+	item, err := repoConvert(ctx, s.Client, s.Repository, discussionFrom, func(ctx context.Context, c *gitea.Client, owner, repo string) (*gitea.Issue, *gitea.Response, error) {
 		return c.Issues.GetIssue(ctx, owner, repo, number)
 	})
+	return item, Classify(err, "issue", "#"+strconv.FormatInt(number, 10), s.Repository)
 }
 
 // Create opens an issue.
 func (s Issues) Create(ctx context.Context, options IssueOptions) (Issue, error) {
-	return repoConvert(ctx, s.Client, s.Repository, discussionFrom, func(ctx context.Context, c *gitea.Client, owner, repo string) (*gitea.Issue, *gitea.Response, error) {
+	item, err := repoConvert(ctx, s.Client, s.Repository, discussionFrom, func(ctx context.Context, c *gitea.Client, owner, repo string) (*gitea.Issue, *gitea.Response, error) {
 		return c.Issues.CreateIssue(ctx, owner, repo, gitea.CreateIssueOption{
 			Title: options.Title, Body: options.Body, Ref: options.Ref, Assignees: options.Assignees,
 			Deadline: options.Deadline, Milestone: options.Milestone, Labels: options.Labels,
 		})
 	})
+	return item, Classify(err, "issue", "", s.Repository)
 }
 
 // SetState updates only the selected issue state.
@@ -166,7 +169,8 @@ func (s Issues) SetState(ctx context.Context, number int64, state string) (Issue
 }
 
 func (s Issues) edit(ctx context.Context, number int64, opts gitea.EditIssueOption) (Issue, error) {
-	return repoConvert(ctx, s.Client, s.Repository, discussionFrom, func(ctx context.Context, c *gitea.Client, owner, repo string) (*gitea.Issue, *gitea.Response, error) {
+	item, err := repoConvert(ctx, s.Client, s.Repository, discussionFrom, func(ctx context.Context, c *gitea.Client, owner, repo string) (*gitea.Issue, *gitea.Response, error) {
 		return c.Issues.EditIssue(ctx, owner, repo, number, opts)
 	})
+	return item, Classify(err, "issue", "#"+strconv.FormatInt(number, 10), s.Repository)
 }
diff --git a/internal/services/lookups.go b/internal/services/lookups.go
deleted file mode 100644
index 81145ce4..00000000
--- a/internal/services/lookups.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,81 +0,0 @@
-// Copyright 2026 The Gitea Authors. All rights reserved.
-// SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
-
-package services
-
-import (
-	"context"
-	"net/http"
-
-	gitea "gitea.dev/sdk"
-	"gitea.dev/tea/internal/transport"
-)
-
-// lookup repeats a read on the instance of the failed request apiErr, with its credential, to
-// explain the failure. It returns the response status, or 0 when apiErr was not recorded from a
-// request, the read got no response, or a successful response did not decode.
-func lookup[T any](ctx context.Context, apiErr *transport.APIError, repository string, op repoOperation[T]) (T, int) {
-	var zero T
-	httpClient := apiErr.LookupClient()
-	if httpClient == nil {
-		return zero, 0
-	}
-	owner, repo, err := splitRepository(repository)
-	if err != nil {
-		return zero, 0
-	}
-	sdk, err := gitea.NewClient(apiErr.Instance, gitea.SetHTTPClient(httpClient), gitea.SetGiteaVersion(""))
-	if err != nil {
-		return zero, 0
-	}
-	result, resp, err := op(ctx, sdk, owner, repo)
-	switch {
-	case resp == nil || resp.Response == nil:
-		return zero, 0
-	case err == nil:
-		return result, resp.StatusCode
-	case resp.StatusCode >= 200 && resp.StatusCode < 300:
-		return zero, 0
-	}
-	return zero, resp.StatusCode
-}
-
-// RepositoryState holds the repository facts that explain a failed request on it.
-type RepositoryState struct {
-	Empty, Issues, PullRequests, Wiki, Releases, Actions, Projects bool
-}
-
-// LookupRepository reads the state of repo for the failed request apiErr; see lookup for the status.
-func LookupRepository(ctx context.Context, apiErr *transport.APIError, repo string) (RepositoryState, int) {
-	item, status := lookup(ctx, apiErr, repo, func(ctx context.Context, c *gitea.Client, owner, name string) (*gitea.Repository, *gitea.Response, error) {
-		return c.Repositories.GetRepo(ctx, owner, name)
-	})
-	if item == nil {
-		return RepositoryState{}, status
-	}
-	return RepositoryState{
-		Empty: item.Empty, Issues: item.HasIssues, PullRequests: item.HasPullRequests, Wiki: item.HasWiki,
-		Releases: item.HasReleases, Actions: item.HasActions, Projects: item.HasProjects,
-	}, status
-}
-
-// LookupIsIssue reports whether number names an issue rather than a pull request in repo, for the
-// failed request apiErr.
-func LookupIsIssue(ctx context.Context, apiErr *transport.APIError, repo string, number int64) bool {
-	item, status := lookup(ctx, apiErr, repo, func(ctx context.Context, c *gitea.Client, owner, name string) (*gitea.Issue, *gitea.Response, error) {
-		return c.Issues.GetIssue(ctx, owner, name, number)
-	})
-	return status == http.StatusOK && item != nil && item.PullRequest == nil
-}
-
-// LookupPullURL returns the web URL of the pull request from head into base in repo, for the failed
-// request apiErr, or "".
-func LookupPullURL(ctx context.Context, apiErr *transport.APIError, repo, base, head string) string {
-	item, status := lookup(ctx, apiErr, repo, func(ctx context.Context, c *gitea.Client, owner, name string) (*gitea.PullRequest, *gitea.Response, error) {
-		return c.PullRequests.GetPullRequestByBaseHead(ctx, owner, name, base, head)
-	})
-	if status != http.StatusOK || item == nil {
-		return ""
-	}
-	return item.HTMLURL
-}
diff --git a/internal/services/organizations.go b/internal/services/organizations.go
index a01bc65e..7432ced6 100644
--- a/internal/services/organizations.go
+++ b/internal/services/organizations.go
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"net/http"
 	"net/url"
+	"strconv"
 	"sync"
 
 	gitea "gitea.dev/sdk"
@@ -94,7 +95,7 @@ func (s Organizations) View(ctx context.Context, name string) (Organization, err
 		return c.Organizations.GetOrg(ctx, name)
 	})
 	if err != nil {
-		return Organization{}, err
+		return Organization{}, Classify(err, "organization", strconv.Quote(name), "")
 	}
 	return organizationFrom(org), nil
 }
@@ -159,7 +160,7 @@ func (s Organizations) Create(ctx context.Context, opts OrganizationOptions) (Or
 		})
 	})
 	if err != nil {
-		return Organization{}, err
+		return Organization{}, Classify(err, "organization", "", "")
 	}
 	return organizationFrom(org), nil
 }
@@ -176,9 +177,10 @@ func (s Organizations) Edit(ctx context.Context, name string, opts OrganizationO
 
 // Delete deletes the named organization.
 func (s Organizations) Delete(ctx context.Context, name string) error {
-	return do(ctx, s.Client, func(ctx context.Context, c *gitea.Client) (*gitea.Response, error) {
+	err := do(ctx, s.Client, func(ctx context.Context, c *gitea.Client) (*gitea.Response, error) {
 		return c.Organizations.DeleteOrg(ctx, name)
 	})
+	return Classify(err, "organization", strconv.Quote(name), "")
 }
 
 // OrganizationMember identifies a member without exposing private profile fields.
diff --git a/internal/services/pulls.go b/internal/services/pulls.go
index bbfac283..5c676c32 100644
--- a/internal/services/pulls.go
+++ b/internal/services/pulls.go
@@ -237,9 +237,10 @@ func (s Pulls) View(ctx context.Context, n int64) (Pull, error) {
 }
 
 func (s Pulls) get(ctx context.Context, n int64) (*gitea.PullRequest, error) {
-	return repoCall(ctx, s.Client, s.Repository, func(ctx context.Context, c *gitea.Client, owner, name string) (*gitea.PullRequest, *gitea.Response, error) {
+	item, err := repoCall(ctx, s.Client, s.Repository, func(ctx context.Context, c *gitea.Client, owner, name string) (*gitea.PullRequest, *gitea.Response, error) {
 		return c.PullRequests.GetPullRequest(ctx, owner, name, n)
 	})
+	return item, Classify(err, "pull request", "#"+strconv.FormatInt(n, 10), s.Repository)
 }
 
 // ListOpen returns every open pull request in the repository.
@@ -255,7 +256,7 @@ func (s Pulls) Create(ctx context.Context, opts PullOptions) (Pull, error) {
 	// TODO(sdk): CreatePullRequestOption lacks allow_maintainer_edit.
 	var pull gitea.PullRequest
 	if err := sendJSON(ctx, s.Client, http.MethodPost, "repos/"+s.Repository+"/pulls", opts, &pull); err != nil {
-		return Pull{}, err
+		return Pull{}, Classify(err, "pull request", "", s.Repository)
 	}
 	return pullFrom(&pull), nil
 }
@@ -308,9 +309,10 @@ func (s Pulls) Edit(ctx context.Context, n int64, opts PullEdit) (Pull, error) {
 		}
 		return result, nil
 	}
-	return repoConvert(ctx, s.Client, s.Repository, pullFrom, func(ctx context.Context, c *gitea.Client, owner, name string) (*gitea.PullRequest, *gitea.Response, error) {
+	item, err := repoConvert(ctx, s.Client, s.Repository, pullFrom, func(ctx context.Context, c *gitea.Client, owner, name string) (*gitea.PullRequest, *gitea.Response, error) {
 		return c.PullRequests.EditPullRequest(ctx, owner, name, n, editPullOption(opts))
 	})
+	return item, Classify(err, "pull request", "#"+strconv.FormatInt(n, 10), s.Repository)
 }
 
 func editPullOption(opts PullEdit) gitea.EditPullRequestOption {
@@ -438,8 +440,9 @@ func (s Pulls) Merge(ctx context.Context, n int64, opts MergeOptions) error {
 		_, resp, err := c.PullRequests.MergePullRequest(ctx, owner, name, n, option)
 		return resp, err
 	})
+	key := "#" + strconv.FormatInt(n, 10)
 	if refused, ok := errors.AsType[*transport.APIError](err); !ok || refused.Status != http.StatusMethodNotAllowed {
-		return err
+		return Classify(err, "pull request", key, s.Repository)
 	}
 	var reason string
 	switch {
@@ -452,7 +455,7 @@ func (s Pulls) Merge(ctx context.Context, n int64, opts MergeOptions) error {
 	case !pull.Mergeable:
 		reason = "has conflicting files or is otherwise not mergeable"
 	default:
-		return err
+		return Classify(err, "pull request", key, s.Repository)
 	}
 	return fmt.Errorf("pull request #%d %s: %w", n, reason, err)
 }
diff --git a/internal/services/releases.go b/internal/services/releases.go
index 78dda95e..f4dc892c 100644
--- a/internal/services/releases.go
+++ b/internal/services/releases.go
@@ -80,9 +80,10 @@ func (s Releases) ListPage(ctx context.Context, limit, page int) (Page[Release],
 
 // View retrieves a release by its tag, including numeric tags.
 func (s Releases) View(ctx context.Context, tag string) (Release, error) {
-	return repoConvert(ctx, s.Client, s.Repository, releaseFrom, func(ctx context.Context, c *gitea.Client, owner, repo string) (*gitea.Release, *gitea.Response, error) {
+	item, err := repoConvert(ctx, s.Client, s.Repository, releaseFrom, func(ctx context.Context, c *gitea.Client, owner, repo string) (*gitea.Release, *gitea.Response, error) {
 		return c.Releases.GetReleaseByTag(ctx, owner, repo, tag)
 	})
+	return item, Classify(err, "release", tag, s.Repository)
 }
 
 // Latest retrieves the most recent release that is neither a draft nor a prerelease.
@@ -102,12 +103,13 @@ func (s Releases) Archive(ctx context.Context, ref, format string) (io.ReadClose
 
 // Create creates a release and lets Gitea create a missing tag at the supplied target.
 func (s Releases) Create(ctx context.Context, opts ReleaseOptions) (Release, error) {
-	return repoConvert(ctx, s.Client, s.Repository, releaseFrom, func(ctx context.Context, c *gitea.Client, owner, repo string) (*gitea.Release, *gitea.Response, error) {
+	item, err := repoConvert(ctx, s.Client, s.Repository, releaseFrom, func(ctx context.Context, c *gitea.Client, owner, repo string) (*gitea.Release, *gitea.Response, error) {
 		return c.Releases.CreateRelease(ctx, owner, repo, gitea.CreateReleaseOption{
 			TagName: deref(opts.Tag), Target: deref(opts.Target), Title: deref(opts.Title), Note: deref(opts.Body),
 			IsDraft: deref(opts.Draft), IsPrerelease: deref(opts.Prerelease),
 		})
 	})
+	return item, Classify(err, "release", deref(opts.Tag), s.Repository)
 }
 
 // Edit changes only supplied release fields; Gitea ignores empty text fields.
diff --git a/internal/services/repositories.go b/internal/services/repositories.go
index e033d57f..6302a9e8 100644
--- a/internal/services/repositories.go
+++ b/internal/services/repositories.go
@@ -93,9 +93,10 @@ func (s Repositories) View(ctx context.Context, repo string) (Repository, error)
 }
 
 func (s Repositories) get(ctx context.Context, repo string) (*gitea.Repository, error) {
-	return repoCall(ctx, s.Client, repo, func(ctx context.Context, c *gitea.Client, owner, name string) (*gitea.Repository, *gitea.Response, error) {
+	item, err := repoCall(ctx, s.Client, repo, func(ctx context.Context, c *gitea.Client, owner, name string) (*gitea.Repository, *gitea.Response, error) {
 		return c.Repositories.GetRepo(ctx, owner, name)
 	})
+	return item, Classify(err, "repository", repo, "")
 }
 
 // readmeNames are the README file names that Gitea shows, in order of preference.
@@ -195,7 +196,7 @@ func (s Repositories) Create(ctx context.Context, org string, opts RepositoryOpt
 		return c.Repositories.CreateRepo(ctx, options)
 	})
 	if err != nil {
-		return Repository{}, err
+		return Repository{}, Classify(err, "repository", "", "")
 	}
 	return repositoryFrom(item), nil
 }
@@ -207,7 +208,7 @@ func (s Repositories) Edit(ctx context.Context, repo string, opts RepositoryEdit
 		style := gitea.MergeStyle(*opts.MergeStyle)
 		mergeStyle = &style
 	}
-	return repoConvert(ctx, s.Client, repo, repositoryFrom, func(ctx context.Context, c *gitea.Client, owner, name string) (*gitea.Repository, *gitea.Response, error) {
+	item, err := repoConvert(ctx, s.Client, repo, repositoryFrom, func(ctx context.Context, c *gitea.Client, owner, name string) (*gitea.Repository, *gitea.Response, error) {
 		return c.Repositories.EditRepo(ctx, owner, name, gitea.EditRepoOption{
 			HasActions: opts.ActionsEnabled, Name: opts.Name, Website: opts.Website, DefaultBranch: opts.DefaultBranch,
 			Description: opts.Description, Private: opts.Private, Archived: opts.Archived, Template: opts.Template,
@@ -216,6 +217,7 @@ func (s Repositories) Edit(ctx context.Context, repo string, opts RepositoryEdit
 			DefaultDeleteBranchAfterMerge: opts.DeleteBranch,
 		})
 	})
+	return item, Classify(err, "repository", repo, "")
 }
 
 // AddTopic adds a topic to the repository.
@@ -234,9 +236,10 @@ func (s Repositories) RemoveTopic(ctx context.Context, repo, topic string) error
 
 // Delete removes the selected repository.
 func (s Repositories) Delete(ctx context.Context, repo string) error {
-	return repoDo(ctx, s.Client, repo, func(ctx context.Context, c *gitea.Client, owner, name string) (*gitea.Response, error) {
+	err := repoDo(ctx, s.Client, repo, func(ctx context.Context, c *gitea.Client, owner, name string) (*gitea.Response, error) {
 		return c.Repositories.DeleteRepo(ctx, owner, name)
 	})
+	return Classify(err, "repository", repo, "")
 }
 
 // ForkOptions places a fork: under Organization instead of the account, and named Name instead
diff --git a/internal/services/reviews.go b/internal/services/reviews.go
index 89dbf751..8b505de0 100644
--- a/internal/services/reviews.go
+++ b/internal/services/reviews.go
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import (
 	"net/http"
 	"slices"
 	"sort"
+	"strconv"
 	"strings"
 
 	gitea "gitea.dev/sdk"
@@ -135,9 +136,10 @@ func (s Reviews) Create(ctx context.Context, n int64, opts ReviewOptions) (Revie
 			Path: comment.Path, Body: comment.Body, OldLineNum: comment.OldLine, NewLineNum: comment.NewLine,
 		})
 	}
-	return repoConvert(ctx, s.Client, s.Repository, reviewFrom, func(ctx context.Context, c *gitea.Client, owner, name string) (*gitea.PullReview, *gitea.Response, error) {
+	item, err := repoConvert(ctx, s.Client, s.Repository, reviewFrom, func(ctx context.Context, c *gitea.Client, owner, name string) (*gitea.PullReview, *gitea.Response, error) {
 		return c.PullRequests.CreatePullReview(ctx, owner, name, n, option)
 	})
+	return item, Classify(err, "pull request", "#"+strconv.FormatInt(n, 10), s.Repository)
 }
 
 // Submit publishes an existing pending review with explicitly collected input.
diff --git a/internal/services/ssh_keys.go b/internal/services/ssh_keys.go
index eb7052c9..c268d988 100644
--- a/internal/services/ssh_keys.go
+++ b/internal/services/ssh_keys.go
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ package services
 import (
 	"context"
 	"net/http"
+	"strconv"
 
 	gitea "gitea.dev/sdk"
 	"gitea.dev/tea/internal/transport"
@@ -45,7 +46,7 @@ func (s SSHKeys) View(ctx context.Context, id int64) (SSHKey, error) {
 		return c.Users.GetPublicKey(ctx, id)
 	})
 	if err != nil {
-		return SSHKey{}, err
+		return SSHKey{}, Classify(err, "SSH key", strconv.FormatInt(id, 10), "")
 	}
 	return sshKeyFrom(key), nil
 }
@@ -56,14 +57,15 @@ func (s SSHKeys) Create(ctx context.Context, title, key string) (SSHKey, error)
 		return c.Users.CreatePublicKey(ctx, gitea.CreateKeyOption{Title: title, Key: key})
 	})
 	if err != nil {
-		return SSHKey{}, err
+		return SSHKey{}, Classify(err, "SSH key", "", "")
 	}
 	return sshKeyFrom(created), nil
 }
 
 // Delete removes only the selected public key.
 func (s SSHKeys) Delete(ctx context.Context, id int64) error {
-	return do(ctx, s.Client, func(ctx context.Context, c *gitea.Client) (*gitea.Response, error) {
+	err := do(ctx, s.Client, func(ctx context.Context, c *gitea.Client) (*gitea.Response, error) {
 		return c.Users.DeletePublicKey(ctx, id)
 	})
+	return Classify(err, "SSH key", strconv.FormatInt(id, 10), "")
 }
diff --git a/internal/services/wiki.go b/internal/services/wiki.go
index 302d2d52..d63c59ec 100644
--- a/internal/services/wiki.go
+++ b/internal/services/wiki.go
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import (
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"net/http"
+	"strconv"
 
 	gitea "gitea.dev/sdk"
 	"gitea.dev/tea/internal/transport"
@@ -121,9 +122,10 @@ func (s Wiki) ListPage(ctx context.Context, limit, page int) (Page[WikiPage], er
 
 // View retrieves and decodes a wiki page.
 func (s Wiki) View(ctx context.Context, name string) (WikiPage, error) {
-	return s.page(ctx, func(ctx context.Context, c *gitea.Client, owner, repo string) (*gitea.WikiPage, *gitea.Response, error) {
+	item, err := s.page(ctx, func(ctx context.Context, c *gitea.Client, owner, repo string) (*gitea.WikiPage, *gitea.Response, error) {
 		return c.Wiki.GetPage(ctx, owner, repo, name)
 	})
+	return item, Classify(err, "wiki page", strconv.Quote(name), s.Repository)
 }
 
 func wikiOptions(opts WikiOptions) gitea.CreateWikiPageOptions {
@@ -132,9 +134,10 @@ func wikiOptions(opts WikiOptions) gitea.CreateWikiPageOptions {
 
 // Create creates one wiki page, initializing the wiki if necessary.
 func (s Wiki) Create(ctx context.Context, opts WikiOptions) (WikiPage, error) {
-	return s.page(ctx, func(ctx context.Context, c *gitea.Client, owner, repo string) (*gitea.WikiPage, *gitea.Response, error) {
+	item, err := s.page(ctx, func(ctx context.Context, c *gitea.Client, owner, repo string) (*gitea.WikiPage, *gitea.Response, error) {
 		return c.Wiki.CreatePage(ctx, owner, repo, wikiOptions(opts))
 	})
+	return item, Classify(err, "wiki page", strconv.Quote(opts.Title), s.Repository)
 }
 
 // Edit replaces page content and optionally changes its title.
@@ -146,16 +149,18 @@ func (s Wiki) Edit(ctx context.Context, name string, opts WikiOptions) (WikiPage
 		}
 		opts.Title = current.Title
 	}
-	return s.page(ctx, func(ctx context.Context, c *gitea.Client, owner, repo string) (*gitea.WikiPage, *gitea.Response, error) {
+	item, err := s.page(ctx, func(ctx context.Context, c *gitea.Client, owner, repo string) (*gitea.WikiPage, *gitea.Response, error) {
 		return c.Wiki.EditPage(ctx, owner, repo, name, wikiOptions(opts))
 	})
+	return item, Classify(err, "wiki page", strconv.Quote(name), s.Repository)
 }
 
 // Delete removes a named wiki page.
 func (s Wiki) Delete(ctx context.Context, name string) error {
-	return repoDo(ctx, s.Client, s.Repository, func(ctx context.Context, c *gitea.Client, owner, repo string) (*gitea.Response, error) {
+	err := repoDo(ctx, s.Client, s.Repository, func(ctx context.Context, c *gitea.Client, owner, repo string) (*gitea.Response, error) {
 		return c.Wiki.DeletePage(ctx, owner, repo, name)
 	})
+	return Classify(err, "wiki page", strconv.Quote(name), s.Repository)
 }
 
 // Revisions returns one server-paginated page of wiki commits.
diff --git a/internal/transport/api.go b/internal/transport/api.go
index 248dd199..22911535 100644
--- a/internal/transport/api.go
+++ b/internal/transport/api.go
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ func (t captureTransport) RoundTrip(req *http.Request) (*http.Response, error) {
 	}
 	data, _ := io.ReadAll(io.LimitReader(resp.Body, maxErrorBody))
 	failure := newAPIError(resp.StatusCode, req.Method, req.URL.Path, t.token, data)
-	failure.bind(req.URL, t.base)
+	failure.bind(req.URL)
 	holder.Store(failure)
 	resp.Body = struct {
 		io.Reader
diff --git a/internal/transport/client.go b/internal/transport/client.go
index f5b687c5..4d902188 100644
--- a/internal/transport/client.go
+++ b/internal/transport/client.go
@@ -35,8 +35,6 @@ type APIError struct {
 	// Instance is the installation URL the failed request was sent to, when it was recorded
 	// from a request.
 	Instance string
-	// lookup repeats reads on the failed request's instance with its credential.
-	lookup http.RoundTripper
 }
 
 func (e *APIError) Error() string {
@@ -68,24 +66,11 @@ func (e *APIError) request() string {
 	return strings.TrimSpace(fmt.Sprintf("HTTP %d %s %s", e.Status, e.Method, e.Endpoint))
 }
 
-// bind records the instance of the request to u and the credentialed transport rt, so the
-// failure can later be explained with LookupClient.
-func (e *APIError) bind(u *url.URL, rt http.RoundTripper) {
-	prefix, _, ok := strings.Cut(u.Path, "/api/v1/")
-	if !ok {
-		return
+// bind records the instance of the request to u.
+func (e *APIError) bind(u *url.URL) {
+	if prefix, _, ok := strings.Cut(u.Path, "/api/v1/"); ok {
+		e.Instance = (&url.URL{Scheme: u.Scheme, Host: u.Host, Path: prefix}).String()
 	}
-	instance := url.URL{Scheme: u.Scheme, Host: u.Host, Path: prefix}
-	e.Instance, e.lookup = instance.String(), rt
-}
-
-// LookupClient returns an HTTP client that repeats reads on the instance of the failed request,
-// Instance, with its credential, or nil when the error was not recorded from a request.
-func (e *APIError) LookupClient() *http.Client {
-	if e.lookup == nil {
-		return nil
-	}
-	return &http.Client{Transport: e.lookup, CheckRedirect: func(*http.Request, []*http.Request) error { return http.ErrUseLastResponse }}
 }
 
 const (
diff --git a/internal/transport/client_test.go b/internal/transport/client_test.go
index cd198887..5212d219 100644
--- a/internal/transport/client_test.go
+++ b/internal/transport/client_test.go
@@ -213,30 +213,3 @@ func TestDebugRedactsOnlySensitiveQueryValues(t *testing.T) {
 		require.Equal(t, tc.redacted, sensitiveQuery(tc.path, tc.key), "%s %s", tc.path, tc.key)
 	}
 }
-
-func TestAPIErrorLookupRepeatsReadsWithTheFailedCredential(t *testing.T) {
-	server := httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
-		require.Equal(t, "token secret", r.Header.Get("Authorization"))
-		require.Equal(t, "bob", r.Header.Get("Sudo"))
-		if r.URL.Path == "/base/api/v1/repos/a/b" {
-			_, _ = w.Write([]byte(`{"full_name":"a/b","has_issues":false}`))
-			return
-		}
-		w.WriteHeader(http.StatusNotFound)
-		_, _ = w.Write([]byte(`{"message":"not found"}`))
-	}))
-	defer server.Close()
-	client := New(server.URL+"/base", "secret", false)
-	client.Sudo = "bob"
-	_, err := client.Do(context.Background(), http.MethodGet, "repos/a/b/issues/9", nil, nil)
-	var apiErr *APIError
-	require.ErrorAs(t, err, &apiErr)
-	require.Equal(t, server.URL+"/base", apiErr.Instance)
-	lookup := apiErr.LookupClient()
-	require.NotNil(t, lookup)
-	resp, err := lookup.Get(server.URL + "/base/api/v1/repos/a/b")
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	_ = resp.Body.Close()
-	require.Equal(t, http.StatusOK, resp.StatusCode)
-	require.Nil(t, (&APIError{Status: http.StatusNotFound}).LookupClient(), "errors built without a request cannot look up")
-}