diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 081edd1..a38de2d 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -4,6 +4,18 @@ All notable changes to hihtml are documented in this file, which is (mostly) AI-
 
 The format is based on [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.0.0/), and the project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0.html).
 
+## [1.3.2] - 2026-05-18
+
+### Fixed
+
+* Fixed `--quiet` and `--report` hint, no longer suggesting `-r` when already in use
+* Fixed symlinked HTML files being silently skipped during directory traversal; symlinked files whose target resolves within the scanned root are now followed (symlinks pointing outside the root or to directories are skipped)
+* Fixed malformed config values (e.g., non-numeric `links.timeout`, non-boolean `links.warnOnPermanentRedirects`) now producing clear error messages instead of silent undefined behavior
+
+### Changed
+
+* Clarified in documentation that ObsoHTML warnings are informational (and exit `0`)
+
 ## [1.3.1-beta] - 2026-05-14
 
 ### Changed
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 0320fc3..a719154 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# hihtml, the HTML Processing Supertool (Beta)
+# hihtml, the HTML Processing Supertool
 
 [![npm version](https://img.shields.io/npm/v/hihtml.svg)](https://www.npmjs.com/package/hihtml) [![Build status](https://github.com/j9t/hihtml/workflows/Tests/badge.svg)](https://github.com/j9t/hihtml/actions) [![Socket](https://badge.socket.dev/npm/package/hihtml)](https://socket.dev/npm/package/hihtml) [![GitHub Sponsors](https://badgen.net/static/Support/Open%20Source/cyan)](https://github.com/j9t/hihtml?sponsor=1)
 
@@ -129,6 +129,8 @@ Recursively collects HTML files from `dir`. Returns `Promise<string[]>`.
 * `extensions`: `Set<string>` of file extensions without dots (default: `html`, `htm`, `shtml`, `shtm`)
 * `excludedDirs`: `Set<string>` of directory names to skip (default: `node_modules`, `.git`)
 
+Symlinked files whose target resolves within the scanned root are followed; symlinks pointing outside the root or to directories are skipped.
+
 #### `checkCode(filePaths, options?)`
 
 Validates HTML files and checks for deprecated markup. Returns `Promise<ResultCode>` with `validation` (HTML-validate result) and `deprecation` (ObsoHTML result) properties.
@@ -220,7 +222,7 @@ Create a .hihtml.json file in your project root, or add a `"hihtml"` key to pack
 
 | Code | Meaning |
 |---|---|
-| `0` | No issues found |
+| `0` | No issues found (ObsoHTML warnings on deprecated markup are informational) |
 | `1` | Validation errors, broken links, or minification errors found |
 | `2` | Tool or runtime error |
 
diff --git a/bin/hihtml.js b/bin/hihtml.js
index 8fe810a..f3224e9 100755
--- a/bin/hihtml.js
+++ b/bin/hihtml.js
@@ -144,7 +144,9 @@ function makeProgress(label, total, { leadingNewline = false } = {}) {
       });
     };
     const quietHint = () => {
-      if (opts.quiet && sections.length > 0) console.log('\n(Use `-r` for a full report, or run without `-q` for inline output)');
+      if (!opts.quiet || sections.length === 0) return;
+      const reportSuggestion = opts.report === undefined ? 'Use `-r` for a full report, or run' : 'Run';
+      console.log(`\n(${reportSuggestion} without \`-q\` for inline output)`);
     };
 
     /** @type {import('../src/adapters/check-code.js').CheckResult | undefined} */
diff --git a/bin/hihtml.test.js b/bin/hihtml.test.js
index 17b7d49..8365f98 100644
--- a/bin/hihtml.test.js
+++ b/bin/hihtml.test.js
@@ -1193,6 +1193,41 @@ describe('Collect files', () => {
 
     fs.rmSync(exclDir, { recursive: true, force: true });
   });
+
+  test('Follows symlinked HTML files whose target is within the scanned root', async () => {
+    const symlinkDir = path.join(tempDir, 'symlink_in_root');
+    fs.mkdirSync(symlinkDir, { recursive: true });
+    fs.writeFileSync(path.join(symlinkDir, 'real.html'), '<p>Real</p>');
+    try {
+      fs.symlinkSync(path.join(symlinkDir, 'real.html'), path.join(symlinkDir, 'link.html'));
+    } catch {
+      fs.rmSync(symlinkDir, { recursive: true, force: true });
+      return; // Symlinks not supported on this platform/environment
+    }
+    const files = await collect(symlinkDir);
+    assert.ok(files.some(f => f.endsWith('real.html')));
+    assert.ok(files.some(f => f.endsWith('link.html')));
+    fs.rmSync(symlinkDir, { recursive: true, force: true });
+  });
+
+  test('Does not follow symlinked HTML files whose target is outside the scanned root', async () => {
+    const outerDir = path.join(tempDir, 'symlink_outer');
+    const innerDir = path.join(tempDir, 'symlink_inner');
+    fs.mkdirSync(outerDir, { recursive: true });
+    fs.mkdirSync(innerDir, { recursive: true });
+    fs.writeFileSync(path.join(outerDir, 'outside.html'), '<p>Outside</p>');
+    try {
+      fs.symlinkSync(path.join(outerDir, 'outside.html'), path.join(innerDir, 'link.html'));
+    } catch {
+      fs.rmSync(outerDir, { recursive: true, force: true });
+      fs.rmSync(innerDir, { recursive: true, force: true });
+      return;
+    }
+    const files = await collect(innerDir);
+    assert.strictEqual(files.length, 0);
+    fs.rmSync(outerDir, { recursive: true, force: true });
+    fs.rmSync(innerDir, { recursive: true, force: true });
+  });
 });
 
 // Programmatic API: `loadConfig`
@@ -1280,4 +1315,36 @@ describe('Load config', () => {
     const missing = path.join(tempDir, 'nonexistent-settings.json');
     await assert.rejects(() => loadConfig(undefined, missing), /Error reading settings file/);
   });
+
+  test('Throws on invalid `links.timeout` type', async () => {
+    const configDir = path.join(tempDir, 'badtype-timeout');
+    fs.mkdirSync(configDir, { recursive: true });
+    fs.writeFileSync(path.join(configDir, '.hihtml.json'), JSON.stringify({ links: { timeout: 'ten seconds' } }));
+    await assert.rejects(() => loadConfig(configDir), /links\.timeout.*must be a positive number/);
+    fs.rmSync(configDir, { recursive: true, force: true });
+  });
+
+  test('Throws on non-integer `links.concurrency`', async () => {
+    const configDir = path.join(tempDir, 'badtype-concurrency');
+    fs.mkdirSync(configDir, { recursive: true });
+    fs.writeFileSync(path.join(configDir, '.hihtml.json'), JSON.stringify({ links: { concurrency: 0 } }));
+    await assert.rejects(() => loadConfig(configDir), /links\.concurrency.*must be a positive integer/);
+    fs.rmSync(configDir, { recursive: true, force: true });
+  });
+
+  test('Throws on invalid `extensions` type', async () => {
+    const configDir = path.join(tempDir, 'badtype-extensions');
+    fs.mkdirSync(configDir, { recursive: true });
+    fs.writeFileSync(path.join(configDir, '.hihtml.json'), JSON.stringify({ extensions: 'html' }));
+    await assert.rejects(() => loadConfig(configDir), /extensions.*must be an array of strings/);
+    fs.rmSync(configDir, { recursive: true, force: true });
+  });
+
+  test('Throws on invalid `validation.preset` type', async () => {
+    const configDir = path.join(tempDir, 'badtype-preset');
+    fs.mkdirSync(configDir, { recursive: true });
+    fs.writeFileSync(path.join(configDir, '.hihtml.json'), JSON.stringify({ validation: { preset: 42 } }));
+    await assert.rejects(() => loadConfig(configDir), /validation\.preset.*must be a string/);
+    fs.rmSync(configDir, { recursive: true, force: true });
+  });
 });
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index d4b1f2f..b50e45b 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 {
   "name": "hihtml",
-  "version": "1.3.1-beta",
+  "version": "1.3.2",
   "lockfileVersion": 3,
   "requires": true,
   "packages": {
     "": {
       "name": "hihtml",
-      "version": "1.3.1-beta",
+      "version": "1.3.2",
       "license": "MIT",
       "dependencies": {
         "commander": "^14.0.3",
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 218898a..71215ae 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -55,5 +55,5 @@
   },
   "type": "module",
   "types": "src/index.d.ts",
-  "version": "1.3.1-beta"
+  "version": "1.3.2"
 }
diff --git a/src/lib/config.js b/src/lib/config.js
index 32a02df..3dcbce5 100644
--- a/src/lib/config.js
+++ b/src/lib/config.js
@@ -3,6 +3,55 @@ import path from 'node:path';
 
 const CONFIG_FILE = '.hihtml.json';
 
+/**
+ * @param {unknown} config
+ * @param {string} source
+ * @returns {asserts config is import('./config.js').HihtmlConfig}
+ */
+function validateConfig(config, source) {
+  const c = /** @type {Record<string, unknown>} */ (config);
+  const isStringArray = (/** @type {unknown} */ v) => Array.isArray(v) && v.every(e => typeof e === 'string');
+
+  if (c.extensions !== undefined && !isStringArray(c.extensions))
+    throw new Error(`${source}: \`extensions\` must be an array of strings`);
+  if (c.ignore !== undefined && !isStringArray(c.ignore))
+    throw new Error(`${source}: \`ignore\` must be an array of strings`);
+
+  if (c.validation !== undefined) {
+    if (typeof c.validation !== 'object' || c.validation === null || Array.isArray(c.validation))
+      throw new Error(`${source}: \`validation\` must be an object`);
+    const v = /** @type {Record<string, unknown>} */ (c.validation);
+    if (v.preset !== undefined && typeof v.preset !== 'string')
+      throw new Error(`${source}: \`validation.preset\` must be a string`);
+    if (v.ignore !== undefined && !isStringArray(v.ignore))
+      throw new Error(`${source}: \`validation.ignore\` must be an array of strings`);
+  }
+
+  if (c.links !== undefined) {
+    if (typeof c.links !== 'object' || c.links === null || Array.isArray(c.links))
+      throw new Error(`${source}: \`links\` must be an object`);
+    const l = /** @type {Record<string, unknown>} */ (c.links);
+    if (l.timeout !== undefined && (typeof l.timeout !== 'number' || l.timeout <= 0 || !Number.isFinite(l.timeout)))
+      throw new Error(`${source}: \`links.timeout\` must be a positive number`);
+    if (l.concurrency !== undefined && (!Number.isInteger(l.concurrency) || /** @type {number} */ (l.concurrency) < 1))
+      throw new Error(`${source}: \`links.concurrency\` must be a positive integer`);
+    if (l.warnOnPermanentRedirects !== undefined && typeof l.warnOnPermanentRedirects !== 'boolean')
+      throw new Error(`${source}: \`links.warnOnPermanentRedirects\` must be a boolean`);
+    if (l.ignore !== undefined && !isStringArray(l.ignore))
+      throw new Error(`${source}: \`links.ignore\` must be an array of strings`);
+  }
+
+  if (c.minification !== undefined) {
+    if (typeof c.minification !== 'object' || c.minification === null || Array.isArray(c.minification))
+      throw new Error(`${source}: \`minification\` must be an object`);
+    const m = /** @type {Record<string, unknown>} */ (c.minification);
+    if (m.preset !== undefined && typeof m.preset !== 'string')
+      throw new Error(`${source}: \`minification.preset\` must be a string`);
+    if (m.options !== undefined && (typeof m.options !== 'object' || m.options === null || Array.isArray(m.options)))
+      throw new Error(`${source}: \`minification.options\` must be an object`);
+  }
+}
+
 /**
  * @typedef {Object} HihtmlConfig
  * @property {string[]} [extensions]
@@ -37,8 +86,10 @@ export async function loadConfig(cwd = process.cwd(), filePath = undefined) {
       if (typeof parsed.hihtml !== 'object' || parsed.hihtml === null || Array.isArray(parsed.hihtml)) {
         throw new Error(`\`hihtml\` key in ${resolved} must be a JSON object`);
       }
+      validateConfig(parsed.hihtml, resolved);
       return parsed.hihtml;
     }
+    validateConfig(parsed, resolved);
     return parsed;
   }
 
@@ -55,6 +106,7 @@ export async function loadConfig(cwd = process.cwd(), filePath = undefined) {
     if (parsed === null || typeof parsed !== 'object' || Array.isArray(parsed)) {
       throw new Error(`${CONFIG_FILE} must contain a JSON object`);
     }
+    validateConfig(parsed, CONFIG_FILE);
     return parsed;
   }
 
@@ -71,6 +123,7 @@ export async function loadConfig(cwd = process.cwd(), filePath = undefined) {
     if (typeof pkg.hihtml !== 'object' || pkg.hihtml === null || Array.isArray(pkg.hihtml)) {
       throw new Error('`hihtml` in package.json must be a JSON object');
     }
+    validateConfig(pkg.hihtml, 'package.json');
     return pkg.hihtml;
   }
 
diff --git a/src/lib/files.js b/src/lib/files.js
index 257ad62..a1f6a73 100644
--- a/src/lib/files.js
+++ b/src/lib/files.js
@@ -27,7 +27,13 @@ export async function collect(dir, extensions = HTML_EXTENSIONS, excludedDirs =
   }
   /** @type {string[]} */
   const results = [];
-  await walk(resolved, extensions, excludedDirs, results);
+  let rootCanonical;
+  try {
+    rootCanonical = await fs.promises.realpath(resolved);
+  } catch {
+    rootCanonical = resolved;
+  }
+  await walk(resolved, extensions, excludedDirs, results, rootCanonical);
   return results;
 }
 
@@ -58,8 +64,9 @@ export async function read(filePaths, { concurrency = DEFAULT_CONCURRENCY, onPro
  * @param {Set<string>} extensions
  * @param {Set<string>} excludedDirs
  * @param {string[]} results
+ * @param {string} [dirRoot]
  */
-async function walk(dir, extensions, excludedDirs, results) {
+async function walk(dir, extensions, excludedDirs, results, dirRoot = dir) {
   let entries;
   try {
     entries = await fs.promises.readdir(dir, { withFileTypes: true });
@@ -72,11 +79,30 @@ async function walk(dir, extensions, excludedDirs, results) {
   const subdirs = [];
   for (const entry of entries) {
     const fullPath = path.join(dir, entry.name);
-    if (entry.isSymbolicLink()) continue;
+
+    if (entry.isSymbolicLink()) {
+      try {
+        const real = await fs.promises.realpath(fullPath);
+        const rel = path.relative(dirRoot, real);
+        const inRoot = rel !== '' && !rel.startsWith('..') && !path.isAbsolute(rel);
+        if (inRoot) {
+          const st = await fs.promises.stat(real);
+          if (st.isFile()) {
+            const ext = path.extname(entry.name).slice(1).toLowerCase();
+            if (extensions.has(ext)) results.push(fullPath);
+          }
+          // Symlinked directories are skipped even when in root, to prevent cycles
+        }
+      } catch (err) {
+        const code = /** @type {NodeJS.ErrnoException} */ (err).code;
+        if (code !== 'ENOENT' && code !== 'ELOOP' && code !== 'EACCES' && code !== 'EPERM') throw err;
+      }
+      continue;
+    }
 
     if (entry.isDirectory()) {
       if (!excludedDirs.has(entry.name)) {
-        subdirs.push(walk(fullPath, extensions, excludedDirs, results));
+        subdirs.push(walk(fullPath, extensions, excludedDirs, results, dirRoot));
       }
     } else if (entry.isFile()) {
       const ext = path.extname(entry.name).slice(1).toLowerCase();