diff --git a/owilix/core/tasks/remote.py b/owilix/core/tasks/remote.py
index 3ec3e62..1d16564 100644
--- a/owilix/core/tasks/remote.py
+++ b/owilix/core/tasks/remote.py
@@ -228,8 +228,24 @@ def remote_pull(
     
     spec = manager.parse_specifier(specifier)
     access, query = split_query_access(spec.get("query"))
+    # Source is the specifier's data center, never the push destination.
+    #
+    # This used to fall back to `push_to_remote` when the specifier carried no
+    # data center -- and then passed that same remote as `ignore_data_centers`.
+    # The two combined into "list from X while excluding X", which is empty by
+    # construction, so `--push-to` returned "0 datasets found" and exited 0.
+    #
+    # It hit every specifier that matters: `parse_specifier` leaves
+    # `data_center` None for `all`, and the `it4i`/`lrz` zone aliases
+    # *explicitly reset it to None* before setting a zone query. So the only
+    # scopes that worked were ones naming a repository directly (`lexis:...`).
+    # `remote_ls` never had this because it passes `spec.get("data_center")`
+    # alone -- which is what a pull should do too.
+    #
+    # Keeping `ignore_data_centers` is right: when pushing to a remote, do not
+    # also treat that remote as a source to pull from.
     datasets = manager.remote_data.list(
-        spec.get("data_center") or (push_to_remote if push_to_remote else None),
+        spec.get("data_center"),
         access,
         day=spec.get("day"),
         duration=spec.get("duration") or 0,
@@ -648,7 +664,7 @@ def remote_doctor(
             else:
                 results["token_error"] = str(e)
 
-    return CommandResult(success=True, object=None)
+    return CommandResult(success=True, object=results if as_json else None)
 
 
 def remote_push(
diff --git a/tests/owilix/core/tasks/test_remote.py b/tests/owilix/core/tasks/test_remote.py
index 983a955..14f824f 100644
--- a/tests/owilix/core/tasks/test_remote.py
+++ b/tests/owilix/core/tasks/test_remote.py
@@ -691,6 +691,60 @@ class TestRemoteDoctor:
 # remote_pull
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 class TestRemotePull:
+    def test_push_to_does_not_become_the_source(self):
+        """`--push-to` must not select what to pull FROM.
+
+        Regression for a self-cancelling query: the source argument fell back to
+        `push_to_remote` when the specifier carried no data center, while
+        `ignore_data_centers` excluded that same remote -- "list from X
+        excluding X", which is empty by construction. `remote pull --push-to`
+        therefore reported "0 datasets found" and exited 0 for every specifier
+        whose data center is None, which is `all` and (because the zone aliases
+        reset it) every `it4i:`/`lrz:` scope as well. Observed on both OWI
+        clusters: the mirror could never be filled, and each attempt recorded a
+        successful run that moved nothing.
+        """
+        manager = _make_mock_manager(datasets=[])
+        manager.parse_specifier.return_value = {
+            "data_center": None,
+            "query": {"access": "public"},
+            "day": None,
+            "duration": 0,
+        }
+
+        remote_pull(
+            manager,
+            specifier="all",
+            push_to_remote="owi-up",
+            auto_yes=True,
+            console=MagicMock(),
+        )
+
+        args, kwargs = manager.remote_data.list.call_args
+        assert args[0] is None, "source must stay the specifier's data center, not the destination"
+        # Still right to skip the destination as a source; only the fallback was wrong.
+        assert kwargs["ignore_data_centers"] == ["owi-up"]
+
+    def test_an_explicit_data_center_is_still_passed_through(self):
+        manager = _make_mock_manager(datasets=[])
+        manager.parse_specifier.return_value = {
+            "data_center": "lexis",
+            "query": {"access": "public"},
+            "day": None,
+            "duration": 0,
+        }
+
+        remote_pull(
+            manager,
+            specifier="lexis:latest",
+            push_to_remote="owi-up",
+            auto_yes=True,
+            console=MagicMock(),
+        )
+
+        args, _ = manager.remote_data.list.call_args
+        assert args[0] == "lexis"
+
     def test_no_datasets_found(self):
         manager = _make_mock_manager(datasets=[])
         result = remote_pull(manager, specifier="dc1/public", auto_yes=True, console=MagicMock())