diff --git a/guard_agent/_client_flush.py b/guard_agent/_client_flush.py
index e4651c8..e41eeb4 100644
--- a/guard_agent/_client_flush.py
+++ b/guard_agent/_client_flush.py
@@ -27,6 +27,21 @@ def _fire_error_hook(
     ) -> None:
         fire_error_hook(self.config.on_error, self.logger, stage, exc, context)
 
+    def _retention_description(self, kind: str) -> str:
+        """Describe where unsent items wait for retry, based on whether a Redis
+        handler is attached to the buffer. Without Redis the items live only in
+        the in-memory buffer, so claiming Redis retention would be misleading."""
+        has_redis = getattr(self.buffer, "redis_handler", None) is not None
+        memory_part = "requeued in memory"
+        redis_part = " and retained in Redis" if has_redis else ""
+        return f"{memory_part}{redis_part} ({kind})"
+
+    def _events_retention_description(self) -> str:
+        return self._retention_description("events")
+
+    def _metrics_retention_description(self) -> str:
+        return self._retention_description("metrics")
+
     async def flush_buffer(self) -> None:
         try:
             await self._flush_events()
@@ -74,7 +89,7 @@ async def _flush_events(self) -> None:
         if self._events_failure_streak == 1:
             self.logger.warning(
                 f"Failed to send {len(events)} events; "
-                f"requeued in memory and retained in Redis for retry; "
+                f"{self._events_retention_description()} for retry; "
                 f"backing off up to {delay:.0f}s between attempts"
             )
         if exc is not None:
@@ -122,7 +137,7 @@ async def _flush_metrics(self) -> None:
         if self._metrics_failure_streak == 1:
             self.logger.warning(
                 f"Failed to send {len(metrics)} metrics; "
-                f"requeued in memory and retained in Redis for retry; "
+                f"{self._metrics_retention_description()} for retry; "
                 f"backing off up to {delay:.0f}s between attempts"
             )
         if exc is not None:
diff --git a/tests/test_client.py b/tests/test_client.py
index 2bd1b4c..1be82bd 100644
--- a/tests/test_client.py
+++ b/tests/test_client.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import asyncio
 import json
+import logging
 from collections.abc import Generator
 from datetime import datetime, timezone
 from typing import Any, cast
@@ -1011,3 +1012,49 @@ def test_protocol_compliance(self, agent_config: AgentConfig) -> None:
         """Test that GuardAgentHandler satisfies AgentHandlerProtocol."""
         handler = GuardAgentHandler(agent_config)
         assert isinstance(handler, AgentHandlerProtocol)
+
+
+class TestRetentionLogMessage:
+    """The partial-failure warning must describe where unsent items actually
+    wait: memory only, or memory plus Redis when a Redis handler is attached."""
+
+    @pytest.mark.asyncio
+    async def test_events_warning_without_redis_says_memory_only(
+        self, agent_config: AgentConfig, caplog: pytest.LogCaptureFixture
+    ) -> None:
+        handler = GuardAgentHandler(agent_config)
+        handler.buffer = AsyncMock()
+        handler.buffer.redis_handler = None
+        handler.buffer.requeue_events_in_memory = AsyncMock(return_value=[])
+        handler.buffer.flush_events_with_keys = AsyncMock(
+            return_value=([MagicMock()], ["ek"])
+        )
+        handler.transport = AsyncMock()
+        handler.transport.send_events = AsyncMock(return_value=False)
+
+        with caplog.at_level(logging.WARNING, logger="guard_agent"):
+            await handler._flush_events()
+
+        assert "requeued in memory (events) for retry" in caplog.text
+        assert "retained in Redis" not in caplog.text
+
+    @pytest.mark.asyncio
+    async def test_events_warning_with_redis_mentions_redis(
+        self, agent_config: AgentConfig, caplog: pytest.LogCaptureFixture
+    ) -> None:
+        handler = GuardAgentHandler(agent_config)
+        handler.buffer = AsyncMock()
+        handler.buffer.redis_handler = AsyncMock()
+        handler.buffer.requeue_events_in_memory = AsyncMock(return_value=[])
+        handler.buffer.flush_events_with_keys = AsyncMock(
+            return_value=([MagicMock()], ["ek"])
+        )
+        handler.transport = AsyncMock()
+        handler.transport.send_events = AsyncMock(return_value=False)
+
+        with caplog.at_level(logging.WARNING, logger="guard_agent"):
+            await handler._flush_events()
+
+        assert (
+            "requeued in memory and retained in Redis (events) for retry" in caplog.text
+        )