diff --git a/changes/r3d-fault-loud.md b/changes/r3d-fault-loud.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9d13a0ff
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changes/r3d-fault-loud.md
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+bump: minor
+type: fix
+**A renderer that cannot draw says so and stops.** A `LUDIC_HOME` handed over with its `~` unexpanded
+(`env LUDIC_HOME=~/x`) left render3d without its shaders: "vulkan cannot start" was printed, and the run
+went on, logging "no SPIR-V variant" for every program - a world with no terrain, shadows or impostors.
+Now `r3d_home` puts a leading `~` under `$HOME`; the SPIR-V manifest ends with `E <count>` (written by
+`ludic-dev shaders`) and one without it, or miscounted, is refused; and every such failure is a fault
+(`gpu_fault.ludic`): `r3d_open` and each `r3d_load_step` return false on one, a program with no variant is
+listed, and a game asks `r3d_fault()` and ends with `r3d_fault_exit(code)`, which prints the reason and
+every missing program. `tests/manifest_test.ludic` holds the parse, the refusals, `r3d_tilde` and that
+every program in variants.list resolves in the shipped manifest.
diff --git a/packages/ludic.render3d/env.ludic b/packages/ludic.render3d/env.ludic
index e924d5c2..bf8c28a8 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.render3d/env.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.render3d/env.ludic
@@ -120,6 +120,8 @@ export state Render3dState {
   gpu_kind: int = 0                 # the backend running; 0 until gpu_select
   gpu_wanted: int = 0               # what was asked for (setting or R3D_GFX)
   gpu_fallback_reason: string = null # why the wanted backend is not the one running
+  r3d_fault: string = ""             # why the renderer cannot draw what it was asked to (gpu_fault.ludic)
+  gvk_missing: []string = null      # the programs asked for with no SPIR-V variant
   gpu_s_depth_test: int = -1
   gpu_s_depth_func: int = -1
   gpu_s_depth_write: int = -1
diff --git a/packages/ludic.render3d/gpu.ludic b/packages/ludic.render3d/gpu.ludic
index c37a508b..e1d6e307 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.render3d/gpu.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.render3d/gpu.ludic
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ function gpu_select(render3d_st: mut Render3dState) -> int {
   else if not gvk_init(render3d_st) { render3d_st.gpu_fallback_reason = render3d_st.gvk_why }
   else if not gvk_manifest(render3d_st) { render3d_st.gpu_fallback_reason = "the renderer's SPIR-V manifest is missing" }
   else { render3d_st.gpu_kind = GPU_VK }
-  if render3d_st.gpu_kind != GPU_VK { print(`r3d: vulkan cannot start: {render3d_st.gpu_fallback_reason}`) }
+  if render3d_st.gpu_kind != GPU_VK { gpu_fault_set(render3d_st, `vulkan cannot start: {render3d_st.gpu_fallback_reason}`) }
   return render3d_st.gpu_kind
 }
 function gpu_backend(render3d_st: Render3dState) -> string { return "vulkan" }
diff --git a/packages/ludic.render3d/gpu_fault.ludic b/packages/ludic.render3d/gpu_fault.ludic
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f5a7106b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/ludic.render3d/gpu_fault.ludic
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+# gpu_fault.ludic - the renderer at fault: its files not found, its manifest missing or cut short, a
+# program the game asked for with no SPIR-V variant. A fault is never a quiet start on nothing - a
+# world with no terrain, shadows or impostors that only logged it. The game asks r3d_fault() and
+# stops: r3d_fault_exit in a headless or dev build, its own failure screen in a player's.
+
+# the first fault's reason, printed once; later ones only add to the list of missing programs
+@alloc_ok("once a run: a fault ends the run")
+function gpu_fault_set(render3d_st: mut Render3dState, why: string) -> void {
+  if len(render3d_st.r3d_fault) > 0 { return }
+  render3d_st.r3d_fault = why
+  print(`r3d: FAULT: {why}`)
+}
+# a program asked for that the manifest has no variant of
+@alloc_ok("once a run: a fault ends the run")
+function gpu_variant_missing(render3d_st: mut Render3dState, key: string) -> void {
+  if render3d_st.gvk_missing == null { render3d_st.gvk_missing = new []string }
+  push(render3d_st.gvk_missing, key)
+  print(`r3d: vulkan: no SPIR-V variant for {key}`)
+  gpu_fault_set(render3d_st, "a program the game asked for has no SPIR-V variant (ludic-dev shaders, and its variants.list)")
+}
+
+# why the renderer cannot draw what it was asked to, or "" when it can
+export function r3d_fault(render3d_st: Render3dState) -> string { return render3d_st.r3d_fault }
+# how many programs had no variant
+export function r3d_fault_missing(render3d_st: Render3dState) -> int {
+  if render3d_st.gvk_missing == null { return 0 }
+  return len(render3d_st.gvk_missing)
+}
+# the i-th of them, as `vertex|fragment|defines`
+export function r3d_fault_missing_at(render3d_st: Render3dState, i: int) -> string { return render3d_st.gvk_missing[i] }
+
+# the fault and every missing program printed, then the run ends with `code` (never 0)
+export function r3d_fault_exit(render3d_st: Render3dState, code: int) -> void {
+  print(`r3d: the renderer cannot run: {render3d_st.r3d_fault}`)
+  for i in 0 .. r3d_fault_missing(render3d_st) { print(`r3d:   missing {r3d_fault_missing_at(render3d_st, i)}`) }
+  var c = code
+  if c == 0 { c = 1 }
+  Os.exit(c)
+}
diff --git a/packages/ludic.render3d/gpu_manifest.ludic b/packages/ludic.render3d/gpu_manifest.ludic
index 034f410c..4f403b9e 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.render3d/gpu_manifest.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.render3d/gpu_manifest.ludic
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 #   U <id> <stage> <name> <offset> <type> <count> <stride>
 #   T <id> <name> <binding>                     a sampler, one binding across both stages
 #   I <id> <name> <location> <type>             a vertex input
+#   E <count>                                   the end: how many P lines came before it
 # This reads it, and answers the questions a backend asks while drawing: which variant a
 # program is, where a uniform lives in its stage's block, which binding a sampler has.
 # ============================================================================
@@ -46,47 +47,74 @@ function gpu_variant_new(id: string, vs: string, fs: string, defs: string) -> Gp
   return v
 }
 
-# Read a manifest; returns how many programs it holds (0: none, or no file).
+# Read a manifest; returns how many programs it holds (0: none, no file, or refused - and then
+# the renderer is at fault, so nothing starts on a partial list)
 @alloc_ok("start-up: the device, its tables, the programs, the passes and the world's first textures are made once, before play")
 function gpu_manifest_load(render3d_st: mut Render3dState, path: string) -> int {
   render3d_st.gpu_variants = new []GpuVariant
   let text = Fs.read_text(path)
-  if text == null { return 0 }
+  if text == null { gpu_fault_set(render3d_st, `no SPIR-V manifest at {path}`);  return 0 }
+  let vs = gpu_manifest_parse(text)
+  if vs == null { gpu_fault_set(render3d_st, `the SPIR-V manifest at {path} is cut short or not a manifest (no E line, or its count is not the programs')`);  return 0 }
+  render3d_st.gpu_variants = vs
+  return len(vs)
+}
+
+# A manifest's programs, or null when it is refused: `ludic-dev shaders` ends one with `E <count>`,
+# so a file cut off anywhere (a torn copy, a short read) is told apart from one with fewer programs.
+@alloc_ok("start-up: the device, its tables, the programs, the passes and the world's first textures are made once, before play")
+function gpu_manifest_parse(text: string) -> []GpuVariant {
+  let out = new []GpuVariant
   let lines = Text.split(text, "\n")
   var cur: GpuVariant = null
+  var ended = -1
   for li in 0 .. len(lines) {
     let ln = lines[li]
     let lp: pointer = ln
     if len(lp) < 2 or lp[0] == '#' { continue }
+    if ended >= 0 { return null }                  # nothing may follow the end line
     let f = Text.split(ln, " ")
-    if lp[0] == 'P' and len(f) >= 4 {
-      # the defines are the rest of the line, spaces and all
-      var defs = ""
-      var k = 4
-      while k < len(f) {
-        if k > 4 { defs = defs + " " }
-        defs = defs + f[k]
-        k += 1
-      }
-      cur = gpu_variant_new(f[1], f[2], f[3], defs)
-      push(render3d_st.gpu_variants, cur)
+    if lp[0] == 'E' and len(f) == 2 {
+      ended = Text.to_int(f[1])
       continue
     }
-    if cur == null { continue }
-    if lp[0] == 'B' and len(f) >= 5 {
-      if f[2] == "vert" { cur.vblock = Text.to_int(f[4]) } else { cur.fblock = Text.to_int(f[4]) }
-    } else if lp[0] == 'U' and len(f) >= 8 {
-      var stage = 1
-      if f[2] == "vert" { stage = 0 }
-      push(cur.u_stage, stage);  push(cur.u_name, f[3]);  push(cur.u_off, Text.to_int(f[4]))
-      push(cur.u_type, f[5]);  push(cur.u_count, Text.to_int(f[6]));  push(cur.u_stride, Text.to_int(f[7]))
-    } else if lp[0] == 'T' and len(f) >= 4 {
-      push(cur.t_name, f[2]);  push(cur.t_bind, Text.to_int(f[3]))
-    } else if lp[0] == 'I' and len(f) >= 5 {
-      push(cur.i_name, f[2]);  push(cur.i_loc, Text.to_int(f[3]));  push(cur.i_type, f[4])
+    if lp[0] == 'P' and len(f) >= 4 {
+      cur = gpu_variant_new(f[1], f[2], f[3], gpu_manifest_defs(f))
+      push(out, cur)
+      continue
     }
+    if cur != null { gpu_manifest_row(cur, lp[0], f) }
+  }
+  if ended < 0 or ended != len(out) { return null }
+  return out
+}
+# a P line's defines: the rest of the line, spaces and all
+@alloc_ok("start-up: the device, its tables, the programs, the passes and the world's first textures are made once, before play")
+function gpu_manifest_defs(f: []string) -> string {
+  var defs = ""
+  var k = 4
+  while k < len(f) {
+    if k > 4 { defs = defs + " " }
+    defs = defs + f[k]
+    k += 1
+  }
+  return defs
+}
+# one B / U / T / I line into the variant it follows
+@alloc_ok("start-up: the device, its tables, the programs, the passes and the world's first textures are made once, before play")
+function gpu_manifest_row(cur: GpuVariant, kind: int, f: []string) -> void {
+  if kind == 'B' and len(f) >= 5 {
+    if f[2] == "vert" { cur.vblock = Text.to_int(f[4]) } else { cur.fblock = Text.to_int(f[4]) }
+  } else if kind == 'U' and len(f) >= 8 {
+    var stage = 1
+    if f[2] == "vert" { stage = 0 }
+    push(cur.u_stage, stage);  push(cur.u_name, f[3]);  push(cur.u_off, Text.to_int(f[4]))
+    push(cur.u_type, f[5]);  push(cur.u_count, Text.to_int(f[6]));  push(cur.u_stride, Text.to_int(f[7]))
+  } else if kind == 'T' and len(f) >= 4 {
+    push(cur.t_name, f[2]);  push(cur.t_bind, Text.to_int(f[3]))
+  } else if kind == 'I' and len(f) >= 5 {
+    push(cur.i_name, f[2]);  push(cur.i_loc, Text.to_int(f[3]));  push(cur.i_type, f[4])
   }
-  return len(render3d_st.gpu_variants)
 }
 
 # the variant for a program as r3d_program names it (defines with real newlines)
@@ -95,9 +123,13 @@ function gpu_variant_find(render3d_st: Render3dState, vs: string, fs: string, de
 }
 # ... or as variants.list writes it (';' for newlines)
 function gpu_variant_find_key(render3d_st: Render3dState, vs: string, fs: string, defs: string) -> GpuVariant {
-  if render3d_st.gpu_variants == null { return null }
-  for i in 0 .. len(render3d_st.gpu_variants) {
-    let v = render3d_st.gpu_variants[i]
+  return gpu_variant_in(render3d_st.gpu_variants, vs, fs, defs)
+}
+# ... in a list of variants (a parsed manifest), or null
+function gpu_variant_in(vars: []GpuVariant, vs: string, fs: string, defs: string) -> GpuVariant {
+  if vars == null { return null }
+  for i in 0 .. len(vars) {
+    let v = vars[i]
     if v.vs == vs and v.fs == fs and v.defs == defs { return v }
   }
   return null
diff --git a/packages/ludic.render3d/gpu_vk_draw.ludic b/packages/ludic.render3d/gpu_vk_draw.ludic
index 1625907b..76fb1ae6 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.render3d/gpu_vk_draw.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.render3d/gpu_vk_draw.ludic
@@ -66,8 +66,10 @@ function gvk_program(render3d_st: mut Render3dState, p: int, key: string, spv_di
   let parts = Text.split(key, "|")
   var defs = ""
   if len(parts) > 2 { defs = parts[2] }
+  # no manifest at all is one fault already said, not a line for every program
+  if render3d_st.gpu_variants == null or len(render3d_st.gpu_variants) == 0 { return false }
   let v = gpu_variant_find_key(render3d_st, parts[0], parts[1], defs)
-  if v == null { print(`r3d: vulkan: no SPIR-V variant for {key}`);  return false }
+  if v == null { gpu_variant_missing(render3d_st, key);  return false }
   for q in 0 .. len(parts) { free(parts[q]) }
   free(parts)
   let vpath = `{spv_dir}/{v.id}.vert.spv`
diff --git a/packages/ludic.render3d/programs.ludic b/packages/ludic.render3d/programs.ludic
index f4db2a03..f236ca1e 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.render3d/programs.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.render3d/programs.ludic
@@ -14,28 +14,6 @@
 
 function r3d_set_paths(render3d_st: mut Render3dState, root: string, assets: string) -> void { render3d_st.r3d_root = root;  render3d_st.r3d_assets = assets }
 
-# The install root, as the compiler computes it: $LUDIC_HOME, else the directory of the
-# `ludic` on PATH. A game running from its own tree finds this package there.
-@alloc_ok("once a run: the install root, asked only when the shaders are not beside the program")
-function r3d_home() -> string {
-  let env = Os.env("LUDIC_HOME")
-  if env != null and env != "" { return env }
-  return `{Os.env("HOME")}/.ludic`
-}
-
-# Settle r3d_root on first use: the package as checked out beside the project, else the
-# copy that ships with the toolchain.
-@alloc_ok("start-up: the device, its tables, the programs, the passes and the world's first textures are made once, before play")
-function r3d_find_root(render3d_st: mut Render3dState) -> void {
-  if render3d_st.r3d_root_found { return }
-  render3d_st.r3d_root_found = true
-  if Fs.exists(`{render3d_st.r3d_root}/shaders/lighting.glsl`) { return }
-  let home = r3d_home()
-  let alt = `{home}/packages/ludic.render3d`
-  if Fs.exists(`{alt}/shaders/lighting.glsl`) { render3d_st.r3d_root = alt;  return }
-  print(`r3d: cannot find the renderer's shaders (looked in {render3d_st.r3d_root}/shaders and {alt}/shaders)`)
-}
-
 # Build a program from a vertex + fragment file pair (defines apply to both).
 # R3D_PROGRAMS_LOG=<file>: append every program built (vertex, fragment, defines) - the list a
 # backend that cannot compile shaders at run time (Vulkan: SPIR-V is built ahead) must cover
diff --git a/packages/ludic.render3d/r3d.ludic b/packages/ludic.render3d/r3d.ludic
index f4e52a9a..b0aac9aa 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.render3d/r3d.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.render3d/r3d.ludic
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import "env.ludic"
 import "hooks.ludic"
 import "fmath.ludic"
 import "gpu.ludic"
+import "gpu_fault.ludic"
 import "gpu_manifest.ludic"
 import "gpu_vk.ludic"
 import "vkmem_report.ludic"
@@ -18,6 +19,7 @@ import "gpu_vk_readback.ludic"
 import "texture_dds.ludic"
 import "prof.ludic"
 import "drawstats.ludic"
+import "r3d_root.ludic"
 import "programs.ludic"
 import "texture.ludic"
 import "baked_tex.ludic"
diff --git a/packages/ludic.render3d/r3d_root.ludic b/packages/ludic.render3d/r3d_root.ludic
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ee221f70
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/ludic.render3d/r3d_root.ludic
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+# r3d_root.ludic - where the renderer's own files are: the package checked out beside the project,
+# else the copy in the toolchain ($LUDIC_HOME, else ~/.ludic). Not finding them is a fault
+# (gpu_fault.ludic), never a quiet start on nothing.
+
+# The install root, as the compiler computes it: $LUDIC_HOME, else ~/.ludic. A leading "~" is
+# the home directory: `env LUDIC_HOME=~/x` hands one over unexpanded, and nothing was found there.
+@alloc_ok("once a run: the install root, asked only when the shaders are not beside the program")
+function r3d_home() -> string {
+  let env = Os.env("LUDIC_HOME")
+  if env != null and env != "" { return r3d_tilde(env, Os.env("HOME")) }
+  return `{Os.env("HOME")}/.ludic`
+}
+# a path with a leading "~" or "~/" put under `home`; any other path as it is
+@alloc_ok("once a run: the install root, asked only when the shaders are not beside the program")
+function r3d_tilde(path: string, home: string) -> string {
+  if home == null or len(path) == 0 or path[0] != '~' { return path }
+  if len(path) == 1 { return home }
+  if path[1] != '/' { return path }                # ~user is another user's, not ours to guess
+  return home + path[1 .. len(path)]
+}
+
+# Settle r3d_root on first use: the package as checked out beside the project, else the
+# copy that ships with the toolchain.
+@alloc_ok("start-up: the device, its tables, the programs, the passes and the world's first textures are made once, before play")
+function r3d_find_root(render3d_st: mut Render3dState) -> void {
+  if render3d_st.r3d_root_found { return }
+  render3d_st.r3d_root_found = true
+  if Fs.exists(`{render3d_st.r3d_root}/shaders/lighting.glsl`) { return }
+  let home = r3d_home()
+  let alt = `{home}/packages/ludic.render3d`
+  if Fs.exists(`{alt}/shaders/lighting.glsl`) { render3d_st.r3d_root = alt;  return }
+  gpu_fault_set(render3d_st, `cannot find the renderer's shaders (looked in {render3d_st.r3d_root}/shaders and {alt}/shaders)`)
+}
diff --git a/packages/ludic.render3d/render.ludic b/packages/ludic.render3d/render.ludic
index 942e7a9f..804c1445 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.render3d/render.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.render3d/render.ludic
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ function r3d_open(render3d_st: mut Render3dState, w: int, h: int, title: string)
   print(`r3d: {gl_width()}x{gl_height()} on {renderer}`)
   prof_init(render3d_st)
   cam_init(render3d_st, float(gl_width()) / float(gl_height()))
-  return true
+  return len(render3d_st.r3d_fault) == 0
 }
 
 # The load, as steps a loading screen can show between: 0 the sky and its image-based light,
@@ -128,6 +128,10 @@ function r3d_open(render3d_st: mut Render3dState, w: int, h: int, title: string)
 # grass and the sky pass. The order is r3d_init's.
 function r3d_load_count() -> int { return 4 + TERRAIN_INIT_STEPS }
 function r3d_load_step(render3d_st: mut Render3dState, i: int) -> bool {
+  if not r3d_load_step_run(render3d_st, i) { return false }
+  return len(render3d_st.r3d_fault) == 0           # a step that made a program with no variant fails
+}
+function r3d_load_step_run(render3d_st: mut Render3dState, i: int) -> bool {
   let t = i - 1
   if i == 0 {
     # the default sky's path is made only when no path was given, and goes once the sky is read
diff --git a/packages/ludic.render3d/shaders/spv/manifest.txt b/packages/ludic.render3d/shaders/spv/manifest.txt
index ac8d72d4..ce1f66b0 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.render3d/shaders/spv/manifest.txt
+++ b/packages/ludic.render3d/shaders/spv/manifest.txt
@@ -3995,3 +3995,4 @@ T b20fdcb5 u_shadow 9
 T b20fdcb5 u_tershadow 10
 T b20fdcb5 u_tershadow_aux 11
 T b20fdcb5 u_ts_height 12
+E 59
diff --git a/packages/ludic.render3d/tests/manifest_test.ludic b/packages/ludic.render3d/tests/manifest_test.ludic
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..3b602d0e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/ludic.render3d/tests/manifest_test.ludic
@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+# manifest_test.ludic - the SPIR-V manifest read as the renderer reads it, with no device: a whole one
+# parses, one cut short or miscounted is refused, every program variants.list names resolves in the
+# shipped manifest, and a LUDIC_HOME with a leading "~" is found (it once started a run on nothing)
+import "ludic.render3d/r3d.ludic"
+program ManifestTest {
+  # never called: naming Input links the engine's runtime, which render3d's textures stand on
+  function links_runtime() -> bool { return Input.key_pressed(0) }
+
+  function two() -> string {
+    var t = "# a manifest\nP aa fullscreen.vert sky.frag \nB aa frag 1 64\nU aa frag u_sun 0 vec3 1 0\n"
+    t = t + "P bb model.vert shadow.frag #define SHADOW_PASS;#define WIND;\nT bb u_tex 2\nI bb a_pos 0 vec3\n"
+    return t
+  }
+
+  test "a whole manifest parses, and a program is found by its key" {
+    let vs = gpu_manifest_parse(two() + "E 2\n")
+    expect(vs != null)
+    expect_eq(len(vs), 2)
+    expect(gpu_variant_in(vs, "fullscreen.vert", "sky.frag", "") != null)
+    let sh = gpu_variant_in(vs, "model.vert", "shadow.frag", "#define SHADOW_PASS;#define WIND;")
+    expect(sh != null)
+    expect_eq(gpu_variant_sampler(sh, "u_tex"), 2)
+    expect(gpu_variant_in(vs, "model.vert", "shadow.frag", "#define SHADOW_PASS;") == null)
+  }
+
+  test "a manifest cut short is refused" {
+    expect(gpu_manifest_parse(two()) == null)                       # no end line
+    let whole = two() + "E 2\n"
+    expect(gpu_manifest_parse(whole[0 .. len(whole) - 30]) == null) # cut mid-program
+    expect(gpu_manifest_parse("") == null)
+  }
+
+  test "an end line that miscounts, or anything after it, is refused" {
+    expect(gpu_manifest_parse(two() + "E 3\n") == null)
+    expect(gpu_manifest_parse(two() + "E 1\n") == null)
+    expect(gpu_manifest_parse(two() + "E 2\nP cc a.vert b.frag \n") == null)
+  }
+
+  test "every program variants.list names has a variant in the shipped manifest" {
+    let root = "packages/ludic.render3d/shaders"
+    let text = Fs.read_text(`{root}/spv/manifest.txt`)
+    expect(text != null)
+    let vs = gpu_manifest_parse(text)
+    expect(vs != null)
+    let list = Text.split(Fs.read_text(`{root}/variants.list`), "\n")
+    var asked = 0
+    for i in 0 .. len(list) {
+      let ln = Text.trim(list[i])
+      if len(ln) == 0 or ln[0] == '#' { continue }
+      let p = Text.split(ln, "|")
+      var defs = ""
+      if len(p) > 2 { defs = p[2] }
+      if gpu_variant_in(vs, p[0], p[1], defs) == null { print(`no variant for {ln}`) }
+      expect(gpu_variant_in(vs, p[0], p[1], defs) != null)
+      asked += 1
+    }
+    expect_eq(asked, len(vs))
+  }
+
+  test "a leading tilde is the home directory" {
+    expect_eq(r3d_tilde("~/workspace/gpp-lang", "/Users/me"), "/Users/me/workspace/gpp-lang")
+    expect_eq(r3d_tilde("~", "/Users/me"), "/Users/me")
+    expect_eq(r3d_tilde("/opt/ludic", "/Users/me"), "/opt/ludic")
+    expect_eq(r3d_tilde("~other/x", "/Users/me"), "~other/x")
+    expect_eq(r3d_tilde("~/x", null), "~/x")
+  }
+}
diff --git a/tools/ludic-cli/shaders.ludic b/tools/ludic-cli/shaders.ludic
index a27cf2ff..95cf8bd5 100644
--- a/tools/ludic-cli/shaders.ludic
+++ b/tools/ludic-cli/shaders.ludic
@@ -319,6 +319,8 @@ function cmd_shaders() -> int {
       made_c += 1
     }
   }
+  # the end line: the renderer refuses a manifest without it, or whose count is not its programs'
+  sb_puts(mf, `E {string(made)}\n`)
   if not write_file(`{outdir}/manifest.txt`, sb_str(mf)) { err("shaders: cannot write manifest.txt\n");  return 1 }
   if check {
     let real = "packages/ludic.render3d/shaders/spv"