diff --git a/crates/relicario-cli/src/commands/backup.rs b/crates/relicario-cli/src/commands/backup.rs
index 73e91e4..5acace4 100644
--- a/crates/relicario-cli/src/commands/backup.rs
+++ b/crates/relicario-cli/src/commands/backup.rs
@@ -103,10 +103,14 @@ pub(super) fn cmd_backup_export(
 
     // Optional reference image.
     let image_bytes = if include_image {
-        let path = match image {
-            Some(p) => p,
-            None => crate::session::get_image_path()?,
-        };
+        let pf = crate::session::read_params(&root)?;
+        if pf.second_factor == relicario_core::SecondFactor::Keyfile {
+            anyhow::bail!(
+                "--include-image is not applicable to a key-file vault (it has no reference image); \
+                 back up your .relkey file directly"
+            );
+        }
+        let path = match image { Some(p) => p, None => crate::session::get_image_path()? };
         Some(fs::read(&path)
             .with_context(|| format!("failed to read reference image {}", path.display()))?)
     } else {
diff --git a/crates/relicario-cli/src/commands/recovery_qr.rs b/crates/relicario-cli/src/commands/recovery_qr.rs
index 7aaf08d..4525a56 100644
--- a/crates/relicario-cli/src/commands/recovery_qr.rs
+++ b/crates/relicario-cli/src/commands/recovery_qr.rs
@@ -12,21 +12,23 @@ pub fn cmd_recovery_qr(cmd: RecoveryQrCmd) -> Result<()> {
 }
 
 fn cmd_recovery_qr_generate() -> Result<()> {
-    use relicario_core::{generate_recovery_qr, imgsecret};
+    use relicario_core::generate_recovery_qr;
     use zeroize::Zeroizing;
 
-    let image_path = crate::session::get_image_path()?;
-    let image_bytes = std::fs::read(&image_path)
-        .with_context(|| format!("read reference image {}", image_path.display()))?;
-    let image_secret = imgsecret::extract(&image_bytes)
-        .context("extract image secret")?;
+    let root = crate::helpers::vault_dir()?;
+    let pf = crate::session::read_params(&root)?;
+    let secret = crate::session::resolve_second_factor_secret(&root, pf.second_factor)?;
 
-    let passphrase = Zeroizing::new(
-        rpassword::prompt_password("Enter vault passphrase: ")
-            .context("read passphrase")?
-    );
+    let passphrase = if let Some(p) = crate::test_passphrase_override() {
+        Zeroizing::new(p)
+    } else {
+        Zeroizing::new(
+            rpassword::prompt_password("Enter vault passphrase: ")
+                .context("read passphrase")?
+        )
+    };
 
-    let payload = generate_recovery_qr(passphrase.as_str(), &image_secret)
+    let payload = generate_recovery_qr(passphrase.as_str(), &secret)
         .map_err(|e| anyhow::anyhow!("{e}"))?;
 
     use qrcode::{EcLevel, QrCode, render::unicode};
@@ -64,6 +66,6 @@ fn cmd_recovery_qr_unwrap() -> Result<()> {
 
     let secret = unwrap_recovery_qr(&bytes, passphrase.as_str())
         .map_err(|e| anyhow::anyhow!("{e}"))?;
-    println!("image_secret: {}", hex::encode(secret.as_ref()));
+    println!("secret: {}", hex::encode(secret.as_ref()));
     Ok(())
 }
diff --git a/crates/relicario-cli/src/session.rs b/crates/relicario-cli/src/session.rs
index 6f5a3ce..63acf75 100644
--- a/crates/relicario-cli/src/session.rs
+++ b/crates/relicario-cli/src/session.rs
@@ -36,20 +36,7 @@ impl UnlockedVault {
         let pf = read_params(&root)?;
         let params = pf.to_kdf_params();
 
-        let secret: Zeroizing<[u8; 32]> = match pf.second_factor {
-            SecondFactor::Image => {
-                let image_path = get_image_path()?;
-                let image_bytes = fs::read(&image_path)
-                    .with_context(|| format!("failed to read reference image {}", image_path.display()))?;
-                Zeroizing::new(imgsecret::extract(&image_bytes)?)
-            }
-            SecondFactor::Keyfile => {
-                let kf_path = get_keyfile_path()?;
-                let kf_bytes = fs::read(&kf_path)
-                    .with_context(|| format!("failed to read key file {}", kf_path.display()))?;
-                relicario_core::keyfile::keyfile_decode(&kf_bytes).context("invalid key file")?
-            }
-        };
+        let secret = resolve_second_factor_secret(&root, pf.second_factor)?;
 
         let passphrase = if let Some(p) = crate::test_passphrase_override() {
             Zeroizing::new(p)
@@ -172,7 +159,7 @@ impl ParamsFile {
     }
 }
 
-fn read_params(root: &Path) -> Result<ParamsFile> {
+pub(crate) fn read_params(root: &Path) -> Result<ParamsFile> {
     let s = fs::read_to_string(root.join(".relicario").join("params.json"))
         .context("failed to read .relicario/params.json")?;
     serde_json::from_str(&s).context("failed to parse params.json")
@@ -220,6 +207,29 @@ pub fn get_keyfile_path() -> Result<PathBuf> {
     Ok(PathBuf::from(trimmed))
 }
 
+/// Resolve the vault's 32-byte second-factor secret per the params hint:
+/// extract it from the reference image, or decode it from the key file.
+pub(crate) fn resolve_second_factor_secret(
+    root: &Path,
+    second_factor: SecondFactor,
+) -> Result<Zeroizing<[u8; 32]>> {
+    let _ = root; // retained in the API for future vault-relative resolution
+    match second_factor {
+        SecondFactor::Image => {
+            let image_path = get_image_path()?;
+            let image_bytes = fs::read(&image_path)
+                .with_context(|| format!("failed to read reference image {}", image_path.display()))?;
+            Ok(Zeroizing::new(imgsecret::extract(&image_bytes)?))
+        }
+        SecondFactor::Keyfile => {
+            let kf_path = get_keyfile_path()?;
+            let kf_bytes = fs::read(&kf_path)
+                .with_context(|| format!("failed to read key file {}", kf_path.display()))?;
+            relicario_core::keyfile::keyfile_decode(&kf_bytes).context("invalid key file")
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 /// Atomic write: write to <path>.tmp, then rename over <path>. Keeps the
 /// vault file consistent if we crash mid-write.
 fn atomic_write(path: &Path, data: &[u8]) -> Result<()> {
diff --git a/crates/relicario-cli/tests/keyfile_flows.rs b/crates/relicario-cli/tests/keyfile_flows.rs
index 6608938..d771a47 100644
--- a/crates/relicario-cli/tests/keyfile_flows.rs
+++ b/crates/relicario-cli/tests/keyfile_flows.rs
@@ -121,6 +121,24 @@ fn init_without_a_factor_fails() {
         .stderr(predicates::str::contains("either --image"));
 }
 
+/// recovery-qr generate must work for a key-file vault (was broken: it hard-coded image extraction).
+#[test]
+fn recovery_qr_generate_works_for_keyfile_vault() {
+    let dir = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
+    relicario(&dir)
+        .args(["init", "--key-file", "vault.relkey"])
+        .env("RELICARIO_TEST_PASSPHRASE", "correct horse")
+        .assert()
+        .success();
+    relicario(&dir)
+        .args(["recovery-qr", "generate"])
+        .env("RELICARIO_TEST_PASSPHRASE", "correct horse")
+        .env("RELICARIO_KEYFILE", dir.path().join("vault.relkey"))
+        .assert()
+        .success()
+        .stdout(predicates::str::contains("Recovery QR generated"));
+}
+
 /// --image and --key-file are mutually exclusive (clap rejects before the handler).
 #[test]
 fn init_with_both_factors_fails() {
diff --git a/crates/relicario-wasm/src/lib.rs b/crates/relicario-wasm/src/lib.rs
index 21eb255..a314e2a 100644
--- a/crates/relicario-wasm/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/relicario-wasm/src/lib.rs
@@ -670,6 +670,16 @@ mod session_tests {
             extract(h_key.value()),
             "key-file path must derive the identical master key as the stego-image path"
         );
+
+        // Negative control: a DIFFERENT secret must derive a DIFFERENT master key
+        // (guards against a hypothetical constant/secret-insensitive KDF regression).
+        let h_other = unlock_with_secret("correct horse", &[4u8; 32], &salt, params)
+            .expect("unlock_with_secret other");
+        assert_ne!(
+            extract(h_img.value()),
+            extract(h_other.value()),
+            "a different secret must derive a different master key"
+        );
     }
 
     #[test]