diff --git a/internal/monitor/pusher.go b/internal/monitor/pusher.go
index f0103ee..ff59427 100644
--- a/internal/monitor/pusher.go
+++ b/internal/monitor/pusher.go
@@ -166,11 +166,26 @@ func (p *Pusher) Stats() PushStats {
 
 func (p *Pusher) recordOK(status int) {
 	p.mu.Lock()
-	defer p.mu.Unlock()
+	wasFirst := p.successHits == 0
 	p.lastSentAt = time.Now().UTC()
 	p.lastStatus = status
 	p.lastErr = ""
 	p.successHits++
+	count := p.successHits
+	p.mu.Unlock()
+
+	// First success is an operator signal that the push loop is live;
+	// log it loud so the journal carries proof. Subsequent successes
+	// log on a slow heartbeat (every 60 cycles) so the journal stays
+	// quiet but still proves the loop hasn't drifted into "0 successes
+	// but no errors either" territory.
+	if wasFirst {
+		p.log("info", "monitor push started", map[string]any{"status": status})
+	} else if count%60 == 0 {
+		p.log("info", "monitor push heartbeat", map[string]any{
+			"successes": count, "status": status,
+		})
+	}
 }
 
 func (p *Pusher) recordErr(msg string) {