diff --git a/download.sh b/download.sh
index 97112a9..709137e 100755
--- a/download.sh
+++ b/download.sh
@@ -317,11 +317,20 @@ done
 (( DEBUG )) && { log "Debug mode enabled"; set -x; }
 
 # Enforce mutual exclusivity between -c, -p, -f
-# (avoid set -e pitfalls by not looping over empty args)
+# Use explicit if-blocks (safe with 'set -e') and avoid short-circuit pitfalls
 count=0
-[[ -n $collection ]] && ((count++))
-[[ -n $post ]] && ((count++))
-[[ -n $file ]] && ((count++))
+if [[ -n $collection ]]; then
+  ((count++))
+  log "Count++ via collection"
+fi
+if [[ -n $post ]]; then
+  ((count++))
+  log "Count++ via post"
+fi
+if [[ -n $file ]]; then
+  ((count++))
+  log "Count++ via file"
+fi
 
 log "Arg summary: collection='${collection:-}' post='${post:-}' file='${file:-}' (count=$count)"
 if (( count != 1 )); then