diff --git a/docs/ux-guide.md b/docs/ux-guide.md
index d0c1ade..b5e193f 100644
--- a/docs/ux-guide.md
+++ b/docs/ux-guide.md
@@ -121,7 +121,9 @@ Changes   5 files · 2M 1A 1D 1R · +37 −12
 `path  branch ↑↓ · n submodules · <count> <issue>… · n pin staged · n loading · <fetch>`
 
 Issue counts are ordered by severity (unpushed, conflict, missing, off pin,
-changed), each in its level color. Zero counts are omitted. A detached
+changed), each in its level color. Zero counts are omitted. `n loading`
+counts only submodules whose status is still being loaded; ones whose load
+failed (shown as `error`) are not counted. A detached
 superproject shows `(detached)` as its branch.
 
 `<fetch>` on the right:
diff --git a/internal/submodule/git/provider.go b/internal/submodule/git/provider.go
index 3d59601..22bd70d 100644
--- a/internal/submodule/git/provider.go
+++ b/internal/submodule/git/provider.go
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ func status(ctx context.Context, in info) (*submodule.Status, error) {
 	}
 	pin := parseGitlink(out)
 	if pin == "" {
-		return nil, errors.New("no gitlink in the superproject index")
+		return nil, errors.New("listed in .gitmodules, but has no gitlink in the superproject index (stale entry?)")
 	}
 	out, _, err = try(ctx, in.superDir, "ls-tree", "HEAD", "--", in.relPath)
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/internal/tui/header/header.go b/internal/tui/header/header.go
index 21f5e58..671bbfa 100644
--- a/internal/tui/header/header.go
+++ b/internal/tui/header/header.go
@@ -42,7 +42,9 @@ func View(t theme.Theme, repo *submodule.Repo, fetch Fetch, spinner string, widt
 	submodule.Walk(repo.Submodules, func(s *submodule.Submodule) {
 		total++
 		if s.Status == nil {
-			loading++
+			if s.Err == nil {
+				loading++
+			}
 			return
 		}
 		if s.Status.PinStaged {