diff --git a/net_alerter/net_alerter.py b/net_alerter/net_alerter.py
index 82a923e..5566307 100644
--- a/net_alerter/net_alerter.py
+++ b/net_alerter/net_alerter.py
@@ -919,19 +919,18 @@ def fmt_duration(secs: float) -> str:
 
 
 def format_arrival(hostname: str, ip: str, vendor: str, mac: str) -> str:
-    """Format arrival alert message. Discovered hostname takes precedence; label is fallback."""
+    """Format arrival alert message. Label always wins when set; hostname is fallback."""
     label = device_labels.get(_normalize_mac(mac))
-    # Use discovered hostname if it's real (not just the IP); fall back to label
-    display = (hostname if hostname and hostname != ip else None) or label
+    display = label or (hostname if hostname and hostname != ip else None)
     if display:
         return f"[NET] ARRIVED: {display} ({ip})"
     return f"[NET] ARRIVED: {ip} [{vendor}] MAC:{mac}"
 
 
 def format_departure(hostname: str, ip: str, vendor: str, mac: str, duration: str) -> str:
-    """Format departure alert message. Discovered hostname takes precedence; label is fallback."""
+    """Format departure alert message. Label always wins when set; hostname is fallback."""
     label = device_labels.get(_normalize_mac(mac))
-    display = (hostname if hostname and hostname != ip else None) or label
+    display = label or (hostname if hostname and hostname != ip else None)
     if display:
         return f"[NET] DEPARTED: {display} ({ip}) — present {duration}"
     return f"[NET] DEPARTED: {ip} [{vendor}] MAC:{mac} — present {duration}"