diff --git a/local/verify-repo-routing.R b/local/verify-repo-routing.R
index 4e984f6..c19494d 100644
--- a/local/verify-repo-routing.R
+++ b/local/verify-repo-routing.R
@@ -96,7 +96,10 @@ emit <- function(package, status, built = "", secs = NA_real_) {
       r_minor,
       package,
       status,
-      sprintf("%s|%.1fs", built, secs)
+      # `%.1f` renders NA as the literal "NAs", which reads as a unit rather
+      # than as a missing measurement. A package that was never in the index
+      # has no timing at all.
+      if (is.na(secs)) built else sprintf("%s|%.1fs", built, secs)
     )
   )
 }