diff --git a/src/main/java/net/tfminecraft/geigercounters/handlers/SourceHandler.java b/src/main/java/net/tfminecraft/geigercounters/handlers/SourceHandler.java
index a556dcc..58600b6 100644
--- a/src/main/java/net/tfminecraft/geigercounters/handlers/SourceHandler.java
+++ b/src/main/java/net/tfminecraft/geigercounters/handlers/SourceHandler.java
@@ -305,13 +305,23 @@ private void collectSource(Player player, UUID hunter, Location collected, Equip
         dropLimits.recordCollection(player);
         UsageStats.getInstance().recordSourceCollected();
         Bukkit.getPluginManager().callEvent(new GeigerSourceCollectEvent(player, collected));
-        notifyPlayerOfCollection(player);
         replaceGeigerWithDeadVersion(player, geigerSlot);
+        notifyPlayerOfCollection(player);
         giveReward(player);
     }
 
+    // One line: the find, then the spent counter. A blank half is left out.
     private void notifyPlayerOfCollection(Player player) {
-        player.sendMessage(config.getMessages().get("player.found-source"));
+        String found = config.getMessages().get("player.found-source");
+        String spent = config.getMessages().get("player.dead-geiger");
+        if (found.isBlank() || spent.isBlank()) {
+            String only = found.isBlank() ? spent : found;
+            if (!only.isBlank()) {
+                player.sendMessage(only);
+            }
+            return;
+        }
+        player.sendMessage(found + " " + spent);
     }
 
     private void replaceGeigerWithDeadVersion(Player player, EquipmentSlot geigerSlot) {
@@ -336,7 +346,6 @@ private void replaceGeigerWithDeadVersion(Player player, EquipmentSlot geigerSlo
             deadGeiger.setAmount(1);
             giveItemOrDropLeftovers(player, deadGeiger);
             player.playSound(player.getLocation(), Sound.ENTITY_ITEM_BREAK, 1f, 1f);
-            player.sendMessage(config.getMessages().get("player.dead-geiger"));
         } catch (Exception e) {
             plugin.getLogger().warning("Failed to give dead Geiger Counter to " + player.getName() + ": " + e.getMessage());
         }
diff --git a/src/main/resources/messages.yml b/src/main/resources/messages.yml
index 54cfb5a..cacb050 100644
--- a/src/main/resources/messages.yml
+++ b/src/main/resources/messages.yml
@@ -12,14 +12,15 @@
 # PLAYER - seen by anyone hunting a source
 # ====================================
 player:
-  # Shown when a player finds their radioactive source
-  found-source: "&#AA00FFYou have found the source of Arcane Radiation!"
+  # Shown when a player finds their radioactive source, followed on the same
+  # line by dead-geiger. Leave either blank to drop that half.
+  found-source: "&#AA00FFYou found the arcane source!"
 
   # Title of the signal bar shown while holding a detector
   signal-bar: "&#AA00FFArcane signal"
 
-  # Shown when the Geiger Counter burns out after finding the source
-  dead-geiger: "&7Your Arcane Trace Detector has run out of fuel."
+  # Second half of the found-source line: the counter burns out
+  dead-geiger: "&7Your detector is spent."
 
   # Shown when a player has used up their drops for the current window
   # %max%    = drops allowed per window
diff --git a/src/test/java/net/tfminecraft/geigercounters/handlers/SourceHandlerTest.java b/src/test/java/net/tfminecraft/geigercounters/handlers/SourceHandlerTest.java
index 99e0173..4723105 100644
--- a/src/test/java/net/tfminecraft/geigercounters/handlers/SourceHandlerTest.java
+++ b/src/test/java/net/tfminecraft/geigercounters/handlers/SourceHandlerTest.java
@@ -361,6 +361,29 @@ void collectionConsumesCounterRecordsLimitAndPublishesOriginalLocation() {
     assertFalse(handler.isPlacing(hunter));
   }
 
+  @Test
+  void collectionSendsTheFindAndTheSpentCounterAsOneLine() {
+    when(messages.get("player.found-source")).thenReturn("Found!");
+    when(messages.get("player.dead-geiger")).thenReturn("Spent.");
+    place();
+    collect(EquipmentSlot.HAND);
+    verify(player).sendMessage("Found! Spent.");
+    verify(player, times(1)).sendMessage(anyString());
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  void aBlankHalfOfTheCollectionLineIsLeftOut() {
+    when(messages.get("player.found-source")).thenReturn("Found!", " ", "");
+    when(messages.get("player.dead-geiger")).thenReturn("", "Spent.", "");
+    for (int run = 0; run < 3; run++) {
+      place();
+      collect(EquipmentSlot.HAND);
+    }
+    verify(player).sendMessage("Found!");
+    verify(player).sendMessage("Spent.");
+    verify(player, times(2)).sendMessage(anyString());
+  }
+
   @Test
   void offhandCollectionAlsoGrantsClonedRewardWithConfiguredAmount() {
     TierReward tier = new TierReward("rare", 1);