diff --git a/routstr/nostr/analytics_runtime.py b/routstr/nostr/analytics_runtime.py
index 79f7e69f..154f7a76 100644
--- a/routstr/nostr/analytics_runtime.py
+++ b/routstr/nostr/analytics_runtime.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ from ..core.terminal_outcomes import (
 from ..core.vault import decrypt
 from .analytics_v2_delivery import (
     AnalyticsV2Delivery,
+    AnalyticsV2DeliveryError,
     AnalyticsV2Producer,
     DeliveryStateSnapshot,
     SharingDisabledError,
@@ -57,6 +58,7 @@ class AnalyticsCoordinator:
         self._relays: tuple[str, ...] = ()
         self._writer_started = False
         self._retry_at = 0.0
+        self._paused_reason: str | None = None
         self._closed = False
 
     async def prepare_startup(self) -> None:
@@ -120,10 +122,8 @@ class AnalyticsCoordinator:
         else:
             try:
                 provider_d = await resolve_provider_id_strict(pubkey, list(relays))
-            except Exception:
-                await self._stop_public(disable=state.sharing_enabled)
-                self._retry_at = time.monotonic() + 60
-                logger.exception("Stats need a stable provider identity before sharing")
+            except ValueError as error:
+                await self._pause(str(error), disable=state.sharing_enabled)
                 return
         identity = (private_key, pubkey, provider_d)
         if (
@@ -134,6 +134,13 @@ class AnalyticsCoordinator:
             and not self._task.done()
         ):
             return
+        try:
+            delivery = AnalyticsV2Delivery(create_session, operator_relays=list(relays))
+        except AnalyticsV2DeliveryError as error:
+            # Checked before activation, so a node that cannot deliver never
+            # opens and closes sharing on every retry.
+            await self._pause(str(error), disable=state.sharing_enabled)
+            return
 
         identity_changed = state.identity_pubkey is not None and (
             state.identity_pubkey != pubkey or state.provider_d != provider_d
@@ -165,15 +172,14 @@ class AnalyticsCoordinator:
                 public_key_hex=pubkey,
                 provider_d=provider_d,
             )
-            self._delivery = AnalyticsV2Delivery(
-                create_session, operator_relays=list(relays)
-            )
+            self._delivery = delivery
             self._identity = identity
             self._relays = relays
             self._task = asyncio.create_task(
-                run_analytics_v2_publisher(producer, self._delivery),
+                run_analytics_v2_publisher(producer, delivery),
                 name="analytics-v2-publisher",
             )
+            self._paused_reason = None
         except SharingDisabledError:
             return
         except Exception:
@@ -181,6 +187,14 @@ class AnalyticsCoordinator:
             self._retry_at = time.monotonic() + 60
             raise
 
+    async def _pause(self, reason: str, *, disable: bool) -> None:
+        await self._stop_public(disable=disable)
+        self._retry_at = time.monotonic() + 60
+        # Retried every minute; warn again only when the cause changes.
+        if reason != self._paused_reason:
+            self._paused_reason = reason
+            logger.warning("Stats sharing paused", extra={"reason": reason})
+
     async def _stop_task(self) -> None:
         task, self._task = self._task, None
         if task is not None:
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_analytics_runtime.py b/tests/unit/test_analytics_runtime.py
index 2ca9282e..7b8b1163 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_analytics_runtime.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_analytics_runtime.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ from __future__ import annotations
 import asyncio
 import importlib
 import json
+import logging
 import time
 from collections.abc import AsyncIterator
 from contextlib import asynccontextmanager
@@ -386,3 +387,48 @@ async def test_upgrade_preserves_existing_sharing_choice_across_restart(
             assert node.events == []
     finally:
         await restarted.close()
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_relays_without_a_public_target_never_activate_sharing(
+    node: Any, monkeypatch: Any
+) -> None:
+    monkeypatch.setattr(runtime.settings, "enable_analytics_sharing", True)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(runtime.settings, "relays", ["ws://umbrel.local:4848"])
+    await node.coordinator.prepare_startup()
+    for _ in range(2):
+        node.coordinator._retry_at = 0
+        await node.coordinator.sync_once()
+
+    state = await runtime.get_analytics_v2_delivery_state(node.sessions)
+    assert (state.sharing_enabled, state.generation) == (False, 0)
+    assert node.coordinator._task is None
+    assert node.writer.running
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_missing_provider_identity_warns_once(
+    node: Any, monkeypatch: Any, caplog: pytest.LogCaptureFixture
+) -> None:
+    async def unlisted(*args: object) -> str:
+        raise ValueError(
+            "Configure PROVIDER_ID to select one provider for public stats"
+        )
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(runtime.settings, "enable_analytics_sharing", True)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(runtime.settings, "provider_id", "")
+    monkeypatch.setattr(runtime, "resolve_provider_id_strict", unlisted)
+    runtime_logger = logging.getLogger(runtime.__name__)
+    runtime_logger.addHandler(caplog.handler)
+    try:
+        await node.coordinator.prepare_startup()
+        for _ in range(3):
+            node.coordinator._retry_at = 0
+            await node.coordinator.sync_once()
+    finally:
+        runtime_logger.removeHandler(caplog.handler)
+
+    records = [r for r in caplog.records if r.name == runtime.__name__]
+    assert [r.levelno for r in records] == [logging.WARNING]
+    assert "PROVIDER_ID" in records[0].__dict__["reason"]
+    assert node.coordinator._task is None