diff --git a/minmo.el b/minmo.el
index 6cf64ce..87d9f92 100644
--- a/minmo.el
+++ b/minmo.el
@@ -279,10 +279,10 @@ Optional FORCE means ignore the minmo--git-directory-table."
 
 (defun minmo-disk-status ()
   (cond
-   ;; readonly:
-   (buffer-read-only
+   ;; no file, readonly, eg *Help*:
+   ((and (not buffer-file-name) buffer-read-only)
     (minmo--status 'ignored/readonly 'disk))
-   ;; no file but modified:
+   ;; no file, modified, eg *scratch*:
    ((and (not buffer-file-name) (buffer-modified-p))
     (minmo--status 'untracked/buffer 'disk))
    ;; has a path but was never visited or no longer exists.
@@ -293,7 +293,11 @@ Optional FORCE means ignore the minmo--git-directory-table."
    ;; normally modified:
    ((and buffer-file-name (buffer-modified-p))
     (minmo--status 'modified 'disk))
-   ;; unmodified (fallback):
+   ;; readonly fallback, eg file-visiting buffers in read-only-mode:
+   ;; NOTE: we allow modified status to obscure this.
+   (buffer-read-only
+    (minmo--status 'ignored/readonly 'disk))
+   ;; unmodified fallback:
    (t (minmo--status 'unmodified 'disk))
    ))