diff --git a/core/src/lib.rs b/core/src/lib.rs
index 9877de3..c547f49 100644
--- a/core/src/lib.rs
+++ b/core/src/lib.rs
@@ -525,12 +525,12 @@ impl Engine {
                                 }
                                 continue;
                             }
-                            // Clipboard: decrypt (every transport carried ciphertext).
-                            if crypto.enabled() {
-                                match crypto.open_b64(&m.text) {
-                                    Some(plain) => m.text = plain,
-                                    None => continue, // not for us / wrong key
-                                }
+                            // Clipboard: undo the always-on base64 layer, then
+                            // decrypt if enabled (open_b64 passes through when not).
+                            // Symmetric with send's unconditional seal_b64.
+                            match crypto.open_b64(&m.text) {
+                                Some(plain) => m.text = plain,
+                                None => continue, // not for us / wrong key
                             }
                             if m.text.is_empty() {
                                 continue;