diff --git a/changes/bug30780 b/changes/bug30780
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..5731d201a2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changes/bug30780
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+  o Minor bugfixes (directory authorities):
+    - Return a distinct status when formatting annotations fails.
+      Fixes bug 30780; bugfix on 0.2.0.8-alpha.
diff --git a/scripts/maint/practracker/exceptions.txt b/scripts/maint/practracker/exceptions.txt
index db9bf34e25..282071f0d9 100644
--- a/scripts/maint/practracker/exceptions.txt
+++ b/scripts/maint/practracker/exceptions.txt
@@ -216,7 +216,7 @@ problem function-size /src/feature/nodelist/node_select.c:router_pick_directory_
 problem function-size /src/feature/nodelist/node_select.c:compute_weighted_bandwidths() 206
 problem function-size /src/feature/nodelist/node_select.c:router_pick_trusteddirserver_impl() 114
 problem function-size /src/feature/nodelist/nodelist.c:compute_frac_paths_available() 193
-problem file-size /src/feature/nodelist/routerlist.c 3238
+problem file-size /src/feature/nodelist/routerlist.c 3239
 problem function-size /src/feature/nodelist/routerlist.c:router_rebuild_store() 148
 problem function-size /src/feature/nodelist/routerlist.c:router_add_to_routerlist() 169
 problem function-size /src/feature/nodelist/routerlist.c:routerlist_remove_old_routers() 121
diff --git a/src/feature/dirauth/process_descs.c b/src/feature/dirauth/process_descs.c
index 656922233e..a68d155651 100644
--- a/src/feature/dirauth/process_descs.c
+++ b/src/feature/dirauth/process_descs.c
@@ -216,9 +216,14 @@ dirserv_load_fingerprint_file(void)
 
 #define DISABLE_DISABLING_ED25519
 
-/** Check whether <b>router</b> has a nickname/identity key combination that
- * we recognize from the fingerprint list, or an IP we automatically act on
- * according to our configuration.  Return the appropriate router status.
+/** Check whether <b>router</b> has:
+ * - a nickname/identity key combination that we recognize from the fingerprint
+ *   list,
+ * - an IP we automatically act on according to our configuration,
+ * - an appropriate version, and
+ * - matching pinned keys.
+ *
+ * Return the appropriate router status.
  *
  * If the status is 'FP_REJECT' and <b>msg</b> is provided, set
  * *<b>msg</b> to an explanation of why. */
@@ -236,7 +241,7 @@ dirserv_router_get_status(const routerinfo_t *router, const char **msg,
     return FP_REJECT;
   }
 
-  /* Check for the more usual versions to reject a router first. */
+  /* Check for the more common reasons to reject a router first. */
   const uint32_t r = dirserv_get_status_impl(d, router->nickname,
                                              router->addr, router->or_port,
                                              router->platform, msg, severity);
@@ -535,7 +540,7 @@ dirserv_add_multiple_descriptors(const char *desc, size_t desclen,
   int general = purpose == ROUTER_PURPOSE_GENERAL;
   tor_assert(msg);
 
-  r=ROUTER_ADDED_SUCCESSFULLY; /*Least severe return value. */
+  r=ROUTER_ADDED_SUCCESSFULLY; /* Least severe return value. */
 
   if (!string_is_utf8_no_bom(desc, desclen)) {
     *msg = "descriptor(s) or extrainfo(s) not valid UTF-8 or had BOM.";
@@ -551,9 +556,7 @@ dirserv_add_multiple_descriptors(const char *desc, size_t desclen,
                    !general ? router_purpose_to_string(purpose) : "",
                    !general ? "\n" : "")<0) {
     *msg = "Couldn't format annotations";
-    /* XXX Not cool: we return -1 below, but (was_router_added_t)-1 is
-     * ROUTER_BAD_EI, which isn't what's gone wrong here. :( */
-    return -1;
+    return ROUTER_AUTHDIR_BUG_ANNOTATIONS;
   }
 
   s = desc;
diff --git a/src/feature/nodelist/routerlist.c b/src/feature/nodelist/routerlist.c
index 5788347a0e..5948445c96 100644
--- a/src/feature/nodelist/routerlist.c
+++ b/src/feature/nodelist/routerlist.c
@@ -1459,12 +1459,13 @@ router_descriptor_is_older_than,(const routerinfo_t *router, int seconds))
 }
 
 /** Add <b>router</b> to the routerlist, if we don't already have it.  Replace
- * older entries (if any) with the same key.  Note: Callers should not hold
- * their pointers to <b>router</b> if this function fails; <b>router</b>
- * will either be inserted into the routerlist or freed. Similarly, even
- * if this call succeeds, they should not hold their pointers to
- * <b>router</b> after subsequent calls with other routerinfo's -- they
- * might cause the original routerinfo to get freed.
+ * older entries (if any) with the same key.
+ *
+ * Note: Callers should not hold their pointers to <b>router</b> if this
+ * function fails; <b>router</b> will either be inserted into the routerlist or
+ * freed. Similarly, even if this call succeeds, they should not hold their
+ * pointers to <b>router</b> after subsequent calls with other routerinfo's --
+ * they might cause the original routerinfo to get freed.
  *
  * Returns the status for the operation. Might set *<b>msg</b> if it wants
  * the poster of the router to know something.
diff --git a/src/feature/nodelist/routerlist.h b/src/feature/nodelist/routerlist.h
index 5771ebb1ab..dc9203e015 100644
--- a/src/feature/nodelist/routerlist.h
+++ b/src/feature/nodelist/routerlist.h
@@ -37,9 +37,12 @@ typedef enum was_router_added_t {
   ROUTER_WAS_NOT_WANTED = -6,
   /* Router descriptor was rejected because it was older than
    * OLD_ROUTER_DESC_MAX_AGE. */
-  ROUTER_WAS_TOO_OLD = -7, /* note contrast with 'NOT_NEW' */
-  /* DOCDOC */
-  ROUTER_CERTS_EXPIRED = -8
+  ROUTER_WAS_TOO_OLD = -7, /* note contrast with 'ROUTER_IS_ALREADY_KNOWN' */
+  /* Some certs on this router are expired. */
+  ROUTER_CERTS_EXPIRED = -8,
+  /* We couldn't format the annotations for this router. This is a directory
+   * authority bug. */
+  ROUTER_AUTHDIR_BUG_ANNOTATIONS = -10
 } was_router_added_t;
 
 /** How long do we avoid using a directory server after it's given us a 503? */