diff --git a/src/internal/operations/backup.go b/src/internal/operations/backup.go
index e6b8c767a..ec47bae1c 100644
--- a/src/internal/operations/backup.go
+++ b/src/internal/operations/backup.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package operations
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"fmt"
 	"runtime/debug"
 	"time"
 
@@ -110,7 +111,21 @@ type detailsWriter interface {
 func (op *BackupOperation) Run(ctx context.Context) (err error) {
 	defer func() {
 		if r := recover(); r != nil {
-			err = clues.Wrap(r.(error), "panic recovery").WithClues(ctx).With("stacktrace", debug.Stack())
+			var rerr error
+			if re, ok := r.(error); ok {
+				rerr = re
+			} else if re, ok := r.(string); ok {
+				rerr = clues.New(re)
+			} else {
+				rerr = clues.New(fmt.Sprintf("%v", r))
+			}
+
+			err = clues.Wrap(rerr, "panic recovery").
+				WithClues(ctx).
+				With("stacktrace", string(debug.Stack()))
+			logger.Ctx(ctx).
+				With("err", err).
+				Errorw("backup panic", clues.InErr(err).Slice()...)
 		}
 	}()
 
@@ -121,6 +136,18 @@ func (op *BackupOperation) Run(ctx context.Context) (err error) {
 		observe.Complete()
 	}()
 
+	// -----
+	// Setup
+	// -----
+
+	var (
+		opStats      backupStats
+		startTime    = time.Now()
+		detailsStore = streamstore.New(op.kopia, op.account.ID(), op.Selectors.PathService())
+	)
+
+	op.Results.BackupID = model.StableID(uuid.NewString())
+
 	ctx = clues.AddAll(
 		ctx,
 		"tenant_id", op.account.ID(), // TODO: pii
@@ -129,32 +156,6 @@ func (op *BackupOperation) Run(ctx context.Context) (err error) {
 		"service", op.Selectors.Service,
 		"incremental", op.incremental)
 
-	if err := op.do(ctx); err != nil {
-		logger.Ctx(ctx).
-			With("err", err).
-			Errorw("backup operation", clues.InErr(err).Slice()...)
-
-		return err
-	}
-
-	logger.Ctx(ctx).Infow("completed backup", "results", op.Results)
-
-	return nil
-}
-
-func (op *BackupOperation) do(ctx context.Context) (err error) {
-	var (
-		opStats       backupStats
-		backupDetails *details.Builder
-		toMerge       map[string]path.Path
-		tenantID      = op.account.ID()
-		startTime     = time.Now()
-		detailsStore  = streamstore.New(op.kopia, tenantID, op.Selectors.PathService())
-		reasons       = selectorToReasons(op.Selectors)
-	)
-
-	op.Results.BackupID = model.StableID(uuid.NewString())
-
 	op.bus.Event(
 		ctx,
 		events.BackupStart,
@@ -162,122 +163,128 @@ func (op *BackupOperation) do(ctx context.Context) (err error) {
 			events.StartTime: startTime,
 			events.Service:   op.Selectors.Service.String(),
 			events.BackupID:  op.Results.BackupID,
-		},
-	)
+		})
 
-	// persist operation results to the model store on exit
-	defer func() {
-		// panic recovery here prevents additional errors in op.persistResults()
-		if r := recover(); r != nil {
-			err = clues.Wrap(r.(error), "panic recovery").WithClues(ctx).With("stacktrace", debug.Stack())
-			return
-		}
+	// -----
+	// Execution
+	// -----
 
-		err = op.persistResults(startTime, &opStats)
-		if err != nil {
-			op.Errors.Fail(errors.Wrap(err, "persisting backup results"))
-			return
-		}
+	deets, err := op.do(
+		ctx,
+		&opStats,
+		detailsStore,
+		op.Results.BackupID)
+	if err != nil {
+		// No return here!  We continue down to persistResults, even in case of failure.
+		logger.Ctx(ctx).
+			With("err", err).
+			Errorw("doing backup", clues.InErr(err).Slice()...)
+		op.Errors.Fail(errors.Wrap(err, "doing backup"))
+		opStats.readErr = op.Errors.Err()
+	}
 
-		err = op.createBackupModels(
-			ctx,
-			detailsStore,
-			opStats.k.SnapshotID,
-			backupDetails.Details())
-		if err != nil {
-			op.Errors.Fail(errors.Wrap(err, "persisting backup"))
-			opStats.writeErr = op.Errors.Err()
-		}
-	}()
+	// -----
+	// Persistence
+	// -----
+
+	err = op.persistResults(startTime, &opStats)
+	if err != nil {
+		op.Errors.Fail(errors.Wrap(err, "persisting backup results"))
+		opStats.writeErr = op.Errors.Err()
+
+		return op.Errors.Err()
+	}
+
+	err = op.createBackupModels(
+		ctx,
+		detailsStore,
+		opStats.k.SnapshotID,
+		op.Results.BackupID,
+		deets.Details())
+	if err != nil {
+		op.Errors.Fail(errors.Wrap(err, "persisting backup"))
+		opStats.writeErr = op.Errors.Err()
+
+		return op.Errors.Err()
+	}
+
+	logger.Ctx(ctx).Infow("completed backup", "results", op.Results)
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+// do is purely the action of running a backup.  All pre/post behavior
+// is found in Run().
+func (op *BackupOperation) do(
+	ctx context.Context,
+	opStats *backupStats,
+	detailsStore detailsReader,
+	backupID model.StableID,
+) (*details.Builder, error) {
+	reasons := selectorToReasons(op.Selectors)
+
+	// should always be 1, since backups are 1:1 with resourceOwners.
+	opStats.resourceCount = 1
 
 	mans, mdColls, canUseMetaData, err := produceManifestsAndMetadata(
 		ctx,
 		op.kopia,
 		op.store,
 		reasons,
-		tenantID,
+		op.account.ID(),
 		op.incremental,
 		op.Errors)
 	if err != nil {
-		op.Errors.Fail(errors.Wrap(err, "collecting manifest heuristics"))
-		opStats.readErr = op.Errors.Err()
-
-		logger.Ctx(ctx).With("err", err).Errorw("producing manifests and metadata", clues.InErr(err).Slice()...)
-
-		return opStats.readErr
+		return nil, errors.Wrap(err, "producing manifests and metadata")
 	}
 
 	gc, err := connectToM365(ctx, op.Selectors, op.account)
 	if err != nil {
-		op.Errors.Fail(errors.Wrap(err, "connecting to m365"))
-		opStats.readErr = op.Errors.Err()
-
-		logger.Ctx(ctx).With("err", err).Errorw("connectng to m365", clues.InErr(err).Slice()...)
-
-		return opStats.readErr
+		return nil, errors.Wrap(err, "connectng to m365")
 	}
 
 	cs, err := produceBackupDataCollections(ctx, gc, op.Selectors, mdColls, op.Options)
 	if err != nil {
-		op.Errors.Fail(errors.Wrap(err, "retrieving data to backup"))
-		opStats.readErr = op.Errors.Err()
-
-		logger.Ctx(ctx).With("err", err).Errorw("producing backup data collections", clues.InErr(err).Slice()...)
-
-		return opStats.readErr
+		return nil, errors.Wrap(err, "producing backup data collections")
 	}
 
 	ctx = clues.Add(ctx, "coll_count", len(cs))
 
-	opStats.k, backupDetails, toMerge, err = consumeBackupDataCollections(
+	writeStats, deets, toMerge, err := consumeBackupDataCollections(
 		ctx,
 		op.kopia,
-		tenantID,
+		op.account.ID(),
 		reasons,
 		mans,
 		cs,
-		op.Results.BackupID,
+		backupID,
 		op.incremental && canUseMetaData)
 	if err != nil {
-		op.Errors.Fail(errors.Wrap(err, "backing up service data"))
-		opStats.writeErr = op.Errors.Err()
-
-		logger.Ctx(ctx).With("err", err).Errorw("persisting collection backups", clues.InErr(err).Slice()...)
-
-		return opStats.writeErr
+		return nil, errors.Wrap(err, "persisting collection backups")
 	}
 
-	if err = mergeDetails(
+	opStats.k = writeStats
+
+	err = mergeDetails(
 		ctx,
 		op.store,
 		detailsStore,
 		mans,
 		toMerge,
-		backupDetails,
-	); err != nil {
-		op.Errors.Fail(errors.Wrap(err, "merging backup details"))
-		opStats.writeErr = op.Errors.Err()
-
-		logger.Ctx(ctx).With("err", err).Errorw("merging details", clues.InErr(err).Slice()...)
-
-		return opStats.writeErr
+		deets)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, errors.Wrap(err, "merging details")
 	}
 
 	opStats.gc = gc.AwaitStatus()
-
 	// TODO(keepers): remove when fault.Errors handles all iterable error aggregation.
 	if opStats.gc.ErrorCount > 0 {
-		merr := multierror.Append(opStats.readErr, errors.Wrap(opStats.gc.Err, "retrieving data"))
-		opStats.readErr = merr.ErrorOrNil()
-
-		// Need to exit before we set started to true else we'll report no errors.
-		return opStats.readErr
+		return nil, opStats.gc.Err
 	}
 
-	// should always be 1, since backups are 1:1 with resourceOwners.
-	opStats.resourceCount = 1
+	logger.Ctx(ctx).Debug(gc.PrintableStatus())
 
-	return err
+	return deets, nil
 }
 
 // checker to see if conditions are correct for incremental backup behavior such as
@@ -520,8 +527,7 @@ func mergeDetails(
 			ctx,
 			model.StableID(bID),
 			ms,
-			detailsStore,
-		)
+			detailsStore)
 		if err != nil {
 			return clues.New("fetching base details for backup").WithClues(mctx)
 		}
@@ -566,8 +572,7 @@ func mergeDetails(
 				newPath.ShortRef(),
 				newPath.ToBuilder().Dir().ShortRef(),
 				itemUpdated,
-				item,
-			)
+				item)
 
 			folders := details.FolderEntriesForPath(newPath.ToBuilder().Dir())
 			deets.AddFoldersForItem(folders, item, itemUpdated)
@@ -617,10 +622,10 @@ func (op *BackupOperation) persistResults(
 
 	if opStats.gc == nil {
 		op.Status = Failed
-		return errors.New("data population never completed")
+		return errors.New("backup population never completed")
 	}
 
-	if opStats.readErr == nil && opStats.writeErr == nil && opStats.gc.Successful == 0 {
+	if opStats.gc.Successful == 0 {
 		op.Status = NoData
 	}
 
@@ -634,6 +639,7 @@ func (op *BackupOperation) createBackupModels(
 	ctx context.Context,
 	detailsStore detailsWriter,
 	snapID string,
+	backupID model.StableID,
 	backupDetails *details.Details,
 ) error {
 	ctx = clues.Add(ctx, "snapshot_id", snapID)
@@ -650,7 +656,7 @@ func (op *BackupOperation) createBackupModels(
 	ctx = clues.Add(ctx, "details_id", detailsID)
 	b := backup.New(
 		snapID, detailsID, op.Status.String(),
-		op.Results.BackupID,
+		backupID,
 		op.Selectors,
 		op.Results.ReadWrites,
 		op.Results.StartAndEndTime,
diff --git a/src/internal/operations/restore.go b/src/internal/operations/restore.go
index f90e3c3c8..dafb8670e 100644
--- a/src/internal/operations/restore.go
+++ b/src/internal/operations/restore.go
@@ -110,10 +110,37 @@ type restorer interface {
 func (op *RestoreOperation) Run(ctx context.Context) (restoreDetails *details.Details, err error) {
 	defer func() {
 		if r := recover(); r != nil {
-			err = clues.Wrap(r.(error), "panic recovery").WithClues(ctx).With("stacktrace", debug.Stack())
+			var rerr error
+			if re, ok := r.(error); ok {
+				rerr = re
+			} else if re, ok := r.(string); ok {
+				rerr = clues.New(re)
+			} else {
+				rerr = clues.New(fmt.Sprintf("%v", r))
+			}
+
+			err = clues.Wrap(rerr, "panic recovery").
+				WithClues(ctx).
+				With("stacktrace", string(debug.Stack()))
+			logger.Ctx(ctx).
+				With("err", err).
+				Errorw("backup panic", clues.InErr(err).Slice()...)
 		}
 	}()
 
+	var (
+		opStats = restoreStats{
+			bytesRead: &stats.ByteCounter{},
+			restoreID: uuid.NewString(),
+		}
+		start        = time.Now()
+		detailsStore = streamstore.New(op.kopia, op.account.ID(), op.Selectors.PathService())
+	)
+
+	// -----
+	// Setup
+	// -----
+
 	ctx, end := D.Span(ctx, "operations:restore:run")
 	defer func() {
 		end()
@@ -127,13 +154,30 @@ func (op *RestoreOperation) Run(ctx context.Context) (restoreDetails *details.De
 		"backup_id", op.BackupID,
 		"service", op.Selectors.Service)
 
-	deets, err := op.do(ctx)
+	// -----
+	// Execution
+	// -----
+
+	deets, err := op.do(ctx, &opStats, detailsStore, start)
 	if err != nil {
+		// No return here!  We continue down to persistResults, even in case of failure.
 		logger.Ctx(ctx).
 			With("err", err).
-			Errorw("restore operation", clues.InErr(err).Slice()...)
+			Errorw("doing restore", clues.InErr(err).Slice()...)
+		op.Errors.Fail(errors.Wrap(err, "doing restore"))
+		opStats.readErr = op.Errors.Err()
+	}
 
-		return nil, err
+	// -----
+	// Persistence
+	// -----
+
+	err = op.persistResults(ctx, start, &opStats)
+	if err != nil {
+		op.Errors.Fail(errors.Wrap(err, "persisting restore results"))
+		opStats.writeErr = op.Errors.Err()
+
+		return nil, op.Errors.Err()
 	}
 
 	logger.Ctx(ctx).Infow("completed restore", "results", op.Results)
@@ -141,30 +185,12 @@ func (op *RestoreOperation) Run(ctx context.Context) (restoreDetails *details.De
 	return deets, nil
 }
 
-func (op *RestoreOperation) do(ctx context.Context) (restoreDetails *details.Details, err error) {
-	var (
-		opStats = restoreStats{
-			bytesRead: &stats.ByteCounter{},
-			restoreID: uuid.NewString(),
-		}
-		startTime = time.Now()
-	)
-
-	defer func() {
-		// panic recovery here prevents additional errors in op.persistResults()
-		if r := recover(); r != nil {
-			err = clues.Wrap(r.(error), "panic recovery").WithClues(ctx).With("stacktrace", debug.Stack())
-			return
-		}
-
-		err = op.persistResults(ctx, startTime, &opStats)
-		if err != nil {
-			return
-		}
-	}()
-
-	detailsStore := streamstore.New(op.kopia, op.account.ID(), op.Selectors.PathService())
-
+func (op *RestoreOperation) do(
+	ctx context.Context,
+	opStats *restoreStats,
+	detailsStore detailsReader,
+	start time.Time,
+) (*details.Details, error) {
 	bup, deets, err := getBackupAndDetailsFromID(
 		ctx,
 		op.BackupID,
@@ -172,30 +198,29 @@ func (op *RestoreOperation) do(ctx context.Context) (restoreDetails *details.Det
 		detailsStore,
 	)
 	if err != nil {
-		opStats.readErr = errors.Wrap(err, "restore")
-		return nil, opStats.readErr
+		return nil, errors.Wrap(err, "getting backup and details")
 	}
 
-	ctx = clues.Add(ctx, "resource_owner", bup.Selector.DiscreteOwner)
+	paths, err := formatDetailsForRestoration(ctx, op.Selectors, deets)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, errors.Wrap(err, "formatting paths from details")
+	}
+
+	ctx = clues.AddAll(
+		ctx,
+		"resource_owner", bup.Selector.DiscreteOwner,
+		"details_paths", len(paths))
 
 	op.bus.Event(
 		ctx,
 		events.RestoreStart,
 		map[string]any{
-			events.StartTime:        startTime,
+			events.StartTime:        start,
 			events.BackupID:         op.BackupID,
 			events.BackupCreateTime: bup.CreationTime,
 			events.RestoreID:        opStats.restoreID,
-		},
-	)
+		})
 
-	paths, err := formatDetailsForRestoration(ctx, op.Selectors, deets)
-	if err != nil {
-		opStats.readErr = err
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
-	ctx = clues.Add(ctx, "details_paths", len(paths))
 	observe.Message(ctx, observe.Safe(fmt.Sprintf("Discovered %d items in backup %s to restore", len(paths), op.BackupID)))
 
 	kopiaComplete, closer := observe.MessageWithCompletion(ctx, observe.Safe("Enumerating items in repository"))
@@ -204,41 +229,45 @@ func (op *RestoreOperation) do(ctx context.Context) (restoreDetails *details.Det
 
 	dcs, err := op.kopia.RestoreMultipleItems(ctx, bup.SnapshotID, paths, opStats.bytesRead)
 	if err != nil {
-		opStats.readErr = errors.Wrap(err, "retrieving service data")
-		return nil, opStats.readErr
+		return nil, errors.Wrap(err, "retrieving collections from repository")
 	}
+
 	kopiaComplete <- struct{}{}
 
 	ctx = clues.Add(ctx, "coll_count", len(dcs))
+
+	// should always be 1, since backups are 1:1 with resourceOwners.
+	opStats.resourceCount = 1
 	opStats.cs = dcs
-	opStats.resourceCount = len(data.ResourceOwnerSet(dcs))
 
 	gc, err := connectToM365(ctx, op.Selectors, op.account)
 	if err != nil {
-		opStats.readErr = errors.Wrap(err, "connecting to M365")
-		return nil, opStats.readErr
+		return nil, errors.Wrap(err, "connecting to M365")
 	}
 
 	restoreComplete, closer := observe.MessageWithCompletion(ctx, observe.Safe("Restoring data"))
 	defer closer()
 	defer close(restoreComplete)
 
-	restoreDetails, err = gc.RestoreDataCollections(
+	restoreDetails, err := gc.RestoreDataCollections(
 		ctx,
 		bup.Version,
 		op.account,
 		op.Selectors,
 		op.Destination,
 		op.Options,
-		dcs,
-	)
+		dcs)
 	if err != nil {
-		opStats.writeErr = errors.Wrap(err, "restoring service data")
-		return nil, opStats.writeErr
+		return nil, errors.Wrap(err, "restoring collections")
 	}
+
 	restoreComplete <- struct{}{}
 
 	opStats.gc = gc.AwaitStatus()
+	// TODO(keepers): remove when fault.Errors handles all iterable error aggregation.
+	if opStats.gc.ErrorCount > 0 {
+		return nil, opStats.gc.Err
+	}
 
 	logger.Ctx(ctx).Debug(gc.PrintableStatus())
 
@@ -273,10 +302,10 @@ func (op *RestoreOperation) persistResults(
 
 	if opStats.gc == nil {
 		op.Status = Failed
-		return errors.New("data restoration never completed")
+		return errors.New("restoration never completed")
 	}
 
-	if opStats.readErr == nil && opStats.writeErr == nil && opStats.gc.Successful == 0 {
+	if opStats.gc.Successful == 0 {
 		op.Status = NoData
 	}