diff --git a/nodejs/src/cdp/cdp-api.serial.test.ts b/nodejs/src/cdp/cdp-api.serial.test.ts
index 64baeb284314..b9f24aa082ea 100644
--- a/nodejs/src/cdp/cdp-api.serial.test.ts
+++ b/nodejs/src/cdp/cdp-api.serial.test.ts
@@ -2788,9 +2788,9 @@ describe('CDP API', () => {
         })
 
         it.each([
-            { status: 'accepted' },
-            { status: 'skipped', reason: 'The recipient has no reachable mail servers.' },
-        ])('returns the inline email outcome %j without routing to the email queue', async (emailSendResult) => {
+            [{ status: 'accepted' }, 'success'],
+            [{ status: 'skipped', reason: 'The recipient has no reachable mail servers.' }, 'skipped'],
+        ])('returns inline email outcome %j as %s, not via the email queue', async (emailSendResult, testStatus) => {
             emailSpy.mockImplementation((invocation: any) =>
                 Promise.resolve({
                     invocation,
@@ -2811,7 +2811,7 @@ describe('CDP API', () => {
             })
 
             expect(res.status).toBe(200)
-            expect(res.body.status).toBe('success')
+            expect(res.body.status).toBe(testStatus)
             expect(res.body.emailSendResult).toEqual(emailSendResult)
             expect(res.body.errors).toEqual([])
             // EmailService was called inline — proving the test endpoint forced inline delivery
diff --git a/nodejs/src/cdp/cdp-api.ts b/nodejs/src/cdp/cdp-api.ts
index 649511b14f71..543a37137dfa 100644
--- a/nodejs/src/cdp/cdp-api.ts
+++ b/nodejs/src/cdp/cdp-api.ts
@@ -934,10 +934,11 @@ export class CdpApi {
             )
             options.isTest = true
             const result = await this.hogFlowExecutor.executeCurrentAction(invocation, { hogExecutorOptions: options })
+            const emailWasSkipped = result.emailSendResult?.status === 'skipped'
 
             res.json({
                 nextActionId: result.skipped ? null : result.invocation.state.currentAction?.id,
-                status: result.error ? 'error' : result.skipped ? 'skipped' : 'success',
+                status: result.error ? 'error' : result.skipped || emailWasSkipped ? 'skipped' : 'success',
                 errors: result.error ? [result.error] : [],
                 logs: [...result.logs, ...logs],
                 variables: result.invocation.state.variables ?? {},
diff --git a/nodejs/src/cdp/services/messaging/email.service.test.ts b/nodejs/src/cdp/services/messaging/email.service.test.ts
index 7c3cd05338a0..456ffcc500cb 100644
--- a/nodejs/src/cdp/services/messaging/email.service.test.ts
+++ b/nodejs/src/cdp/services/messaging/email.service.test.ts
@@ -1140,6 +1140,10 @@ describe('EmailService', () => {
             expect(result.error).toBeUndefined()
             expect(result.metrics.map((m) => m.metric_name)).toEqual(['email_missing_recipient'])
             expect(result.skipped).toBe(true)
+            expect(result.emailSendResult).toEqual({
+                status: 'skipped',
+                reason: expect.stringContaining('the recipient has no email address'),
+            })
             expect(invocation.state.vmState?.stack).toEqual([{ success: false }])
         })
 
diff --git a/nodejs/src/cdp/services/messaging/email.service.ts b/nodejs/src/cdp/services/messaging/email.service.ts
index ff83d8746de4..0f6f513a0572 100644
--- a/nodejs/src/cdp/services/messaging/email.service.ts
+++ b/nodejs/src/cdp/services/messaging/email.service.ts
@@ -492,10 +492,10 @@ export class EmailService {
             // so record a skip with its own metric instead of an `email_failed`. Otherwise one project
             // with bad data inflates the platform send failure rate.
             if (!params.to?.email?.trim()) {
-                addLog(
-                    'warn',
+                const skipReason =
                     'Skipping send: the recipient has no email address. Add a filter so only people with an email address reach this step.'
-                )
+                addLog('warn', skipReason)
+                result.emailSendResult = { status: 'skipped', reason: skipReason }
                 if (!isTest) {
                     result.metrics.push({
                         team_id: invocation.teamId,
diff --git a/products/workflows/frontend/TemplateLibrary/SendTestEmailModal.tsx b/products/workflows/frontend/TemplateLibrary/SendTestEmailModal.tsx
index 22671911dbed..3bacf279c627 100644
--- a/products/workflows/frontend/TemplateLibrary/SendTestEmailModal.tsx
+++ b/products/workflows/frontend/TemplateLibrary/SendTestEmailModal.tsx
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ export function SendTestEmailModal(props: MessageTemplateLogicProps & { isOpen:
         sendDisabledReason,
         testSendResult,
         testSendResultLoading,
+        testSendSkipMessage,
     } = useValues(logic)
     const { setModalOpen, setRecipientEmail, setSenderIntegrationId, sendTestEmail } = useActions(logic)
 
@@ -86,11 +87,8 @@ export function SendTestEmailModal(props: MessageTemplateLogicProps & { isOpen:
                         </div>
                     )}
                 </div>
-                {testSendResult && testSendResult.status === 'skipped' ? (
-                    <LemonBanner type="warning">
-                        {testSendResult.logs?.map((log) => log.message).join(' ') ||
-                            'The send was skipped for this recipient.'}
-                    </LemonBanner>
+                {testSendSkipMessage ? (
+                    <LemonBanner type="warning">{testSendSkipMessage}</LemonBanner>
                 ) : testSendResult && testSendResult.status === 'error' ? (
                     <LemonBanner type="error">
                         {testSendResult.errors?.join(', ') || 'Failed to send test email'}
diff --git a/products/workflows/frontend/TemplateLibrary/messageTemplateTestSendLogic.test.ts b/products/workflows/frontend/TemplateLibrary/messageTemplateTestSendLogic.test.ts
index 81a4245849aa..5fa5263083d5 100644
--- a/products/workflows/frontend/TemplateLibrary/messageTemplateTestSendLogic.test.ts
+++ b/products/workflows/frontend/TemplateLibrary/messageTemplateTestSendLogic.test.ts
@@ -129,7 +129,21 @@ describe('messageTemplateTestSendLogic', () => {
             post: {
                 '/api/environments/:team_id/hog_flows/:id/invocations/': () => [
                     200,
-                    { status: 'skipped', logs: [{ message: 'Recipient has opted out.' }] },
+                    {
+                        status: 'skipped',
+                        nextActionId: 'exit',
+                        emailSendResult: {
+                            status: 'skipped',
+                            reason: 'Skipping send: recipient(s) on the suppression list — recipient@example.com',
+                        },
+                        logs: [
+                            { message: '[Action:send_test_email] Executing action' },
+                            {
+                                message:
+                                    '[Action:send_test_email] Skipping send: recipient(s) on the suppression list — recipient@example.com',
+                            },
+                        ],
+                    },
                 ],
             },
         })
@@ -144,7 +158,9 @@ describe('messageTemplateTestSendLogic', () => {
         expect(mockToast.warning).toHaveBeenCalledWith('Test email skipped, see details below')
         expect(mockToast.error).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
         expect(logic.values.isModalOpen).toBe(true)
-        expect(logic.values.testSendResult?.status).toBe('skipped')
+        expect(logic.values.testSendSkipMessage).toBe(
+            'Skipping send: recipient(s) on the suppression list — recipient@example.com'
+        )
     })
 
     it('keeps the modal open and surfaces the error when the send fails', async () => {
diff --git a/products/workflows/frontend/TemplateLibrary/messageTemplateTestSendLogic.ts b/products/workflows/frontend/TemplateLibrary/messageTemplateTestSendLogic.ts
index dc1d9315665d..0f2086413008 100644
--- a/products/workflows/frontend/TemplateLibrary/messageTemplateTestSendLogic.ts
+++ b/products/workflows/frontend/TemplateLibrary/messageTemplateTestSendLogic.ts
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import {
     senderFrom,
     senderIntegrationFor,
 } from '../../../../frontend/src/scenes/hog-functions/email-templater/emailSenderFields'
+import { emailSkipReason } from '../Workflows/hogflows/panel/testing/getHogFlowTestResultMessage'
 import { HogflowTestResult } from '../Workflows/hogflows/steps/types'
 import { createExampleEvent } from '../Workflows/hogflows/testEventFactory'
 import type { HogFlow, HogFlowAction, HogFlowEdge } from '../Workflows/hogflows/types'
@@ -40,6 +41,7 @@ export interface messageTemplateTestSendLogicValues {
     senderIntegrationIdOverride: number | null
     testSendResult: HogflowTestResult | null
     testSendResultLoading: boolean
+    testSendSkipMessage: string | undefined
 }
 
 // Generated by kea-typegen. Update if you're an agent, ignore if you're human.
@@ -106,6 +108,7 @@ export interface messageTemplateTestSendLogicMeta {
             recipientEmail: string,
             senderIntegrationId: number | null
         ) => string | undefined
+        testSendSkipMessage: (testSendResult: HogflowTestResult | null) => string | undefined
     }
 }
 
@@ -248,6 +251,13 @@ export const messageTemplateTestSendLogic = kea<messageTemplateTestSendLogicType
                 return undefined
             },
         ],
+        testSendSkipMessage: [
+            (s) => [s.testSendResult],
+            (testSendResult: HogflowTestResult | null): string | undefined =>
+                testSendResult?.status === 'skipped'
+                    ? (emailSkipReason(testSendResult) ?? 'The send was skipped for this recipient.')
+                    : undefined,
+        ],
     }),
     listeners(({ actions, values }) => ({
         setModalOpen: ({ open }) => {
diff --git a/products/workflows/frontend/Workflows/hogflows/panel/testing/HogFlowEditorNotificationPanelTest.tsx b/products/workflows/frontend/Workflows/hogflows/panel/testing/HogFlowEditorNotificationPanelTest.tsx
index 6c5c34ceda8e..c9c13dca1109 100644
--- a/products/workflows/frontend/Workflows/hogflows/panel/testing/HogFlowEditorNotificationPanelTest.tsx
+++ b/products/workflows/frontend/Workflows/hogflows/panel/testing/HogFlowEditorNotificationPanelTest.tsx
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ import { asDisplay } from 'products/persons/frontend/person-utils'
 import { renderWorkflowLogMessage } from '../../../logs/log-utils'
 import { TRIGGER_NODE_ID, workflowLogic } from '../../../workflowLogic'
 import { hogFlowEditorLogic } from '../../hogFlowEditorLogic'
+import { getHogFlowTestResultMessage } from './getHogFlowTestResultMessage'
 import { hogFlowEditorNotificationTestLogic } from './hogFlowEditorNotificationTestLogic'
 import { reorderGlobalsForEmailAction } from './hogFlowEditorNotificationTestLogic'
 
@@ -368,11 +369,7 @@ export function EmailActionTestContent(): JSX.Element | null {
                                           : 'error'
                                 }
                             >
-                                {testResult.status === 'success'
-                                    ? 'Success'
-                                    : testResult.status === 'skipped'
-                                      ? 'Workflow was skipped because the event did not match the filter criteria'
-                                      : 'Error: ' + testResult.errors?.join(', ')}
+                                {getHogFlowTestResultMessage(testResult)}
                             </LemonBanner>
 
                             <div className="flex flex-col gap-2">
diff --git a/products/workflows/frontend/Workflows/hogflows/panel/testing/HogFlowEditorPanelTest.tsx b/products/workflows/frontend/Workflows/hogflows/panel/testing/HogFlowEditorPanelTest.tsx
index 923aeaf0cd93..f53bedb1dd5b 100644
--- a/products/workflows/frontend/Workflows/hogflows/panel/testing/HogFlowEditorPanelTest.tsx
+++ b/products/workflows/frontend/Workflows/hogflows/panel/testing/HogFlowEditorPanelTest.tsx
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import { LogsViewerTable } from 'scenes/hog-functions/logs/LogsViewer'
 import { renderWorkflowLogMessage } from '../../../logs/log-utils'
 import { TRIGGER_NODE_ID, workflowLogic } from '../../../workflowLogic'
 import { hogFlowEditorLogic } from '../../hogFlowEditorLogic'
+import { getHogFlowTestResultMessage } from './getHogFlowTestResultMessage'
 import { HogFlowEditorTestEvent } from './HogFlowEditorTestEvent'
 import { hogFlowEditorTestLogic } from './hogFlowEditorTestLogic'
 
@@ -157,11 +158,7 @@ export function HogFlowEditorPanelTest(): JSX.Element | null {
                                           : 'error'
                                 }
                             >
-                                {testResult.status === 'success'
-                                    ? 'Success'
-                                    : testResult.status === 'skipped'
-                                      ? 'Workflow was skipped because the event did not match the filter criteria'
-                                      : 'Error: ' + testResult.errors?.join(', ')}
+                                {getHogFlowTestResultMessage(testResult)}
                             </LemonBanner>
 
                             <div className="flex flex-col gap-2">
diff --git a/products/workflows/frontend/Workflows/hogflows/panel/testing/getHogFlowTestResultMessage.test.ts b/products/workflows/frontend/Workflows/hogflows/panel/testing/getHogFlowTestResultMessage.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..4af34636ed1d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/products/workflows/frontend/Workflows/hogflows/panel/testing/getHogFlowTestResultMessage.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+import { HogflowTestResult } from '../../steps/types'
+import { getHogFlowTestResultMessage } from './getHogFlowTestResultMessage'
+
+describe('getHogFlowTestResultMessage', () => {
+    it.each<[string, HogflowTestResult, string]>([
+        ['a success', { status: 'success', nextActionId: 'exit' }, 'Success'],
+        ['an error', { status: 'error', nextActionId: null, errors: ['Invalid input'] }, 'Error: Invalid input'],
+        [
+            'an email the worker declined to send',
+            {
+                status: 'skipped',
+                nextActionId: 'exit',
+                emailSendResult: {
+                    status: 'skipped',
+                    reason: 'Skipping send: recipient(s) on the suppression list — person@example.com',
+                },
+            },
+            'Skipping send: recipient(s) on the suppression list — person@example.com',
+        ],
+        [
+            'a skipped step without a reason',
+            { status: 'skipped', nextActionId: 'exit' },
+            'This step was skipped. See the logs for details.',
+        ],
+        [
+            'an event that did not match the trigger',
+            { status: 'skipped', nextActionId: null },
+            'Workflow was skipped because the event did not match the filter criteria',
+        ],
+    ])('describes %s', (_label, result, expected) => {
+        expect(getHogFlowTestResultMessage(result)).toBe(expected)
+    })
+})
diff --git a/products/workflows/frontend/Workflows/hogflows/panel/testing/getHogFlowTestResultMessage.ts b/products/workflows/frontend/Workflows/hogflows/panel/testing/getHogFlowTestResultMessage.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..a278f33ccb13
--- /dev/null
+++ b/products/workflows/frontend/Workflows/hogflows/panel/testing/getHogFlowTestResultMessage.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+import { HogflowTestResult } from '../../steps/types'
+
+export function emailSkipReason(result: HogflowTestResult | null): string | undefined {
+    return result?.emailSendResult?.status === 'skipped' ? result.emailSendResult.reason : undefined
+}
+
+export function getHogFlowTestResultMessage(result: HogflowTestResult): string {
+    if (result.status === 'success') {
+        return 'Success'
+    }
+    if (result.status === 'error') {
+        return 'Error: ' + result.errors?.join(', ')
+    }
+    return (
+        emailSkipReason(result) ??
+        (result.nextActionId
+            ? 'This step was skipped. See the logs for details.'
+            : 'Workflow was skipped because the event did not match the filter criteria')
+    )
+}