diff --git a/autoload/nuwiki/commands.vim b/autoload/nuwiki/commands.vim
index ad9e529..265c5c6 100644
--- a/autoload/nuwiki/commands.vim
+++ b/autoload/nuwiki/commands.vim
@@ -1153,7 +1153,7 @@ endfunction
 " Mirrors `lua/nuwiki/commands.lua`'s `align_table_at` so plain Vim
 " buffers get the same "tighten columns as cells grow" behaviour the
 " Neovim path enjoys, without needing a vim-lsp roundtrip. Algorithm
-" matches `nuwiki-lsp/src/commands.rs::ops::render_aligned_table` (nuwiki-rs repo).
+" matches the table-alignment logic in the nuwiki-rs server.
 
 function! s:is_table_row(line) abort
   return nuwiki#util#is_table_row(a:line)
diff --git a/lua/nuwiki/commands.lua b/lua/nuwiki/commands.lua
index db05b00..e4bb585 100644
--- a/lua/nuwiki/commands.lua
+++ b/lua/nuwiki/commands.lua
@@ -24,13 +24,10 @@ local function find_client()
 end
 
 local function position_params(client)
-  -- Neovim 0.12+ requires `position_encoding` explicitly; older
-  -- versions accept the no-arg form.
+  -- Neovim 0.11+ requires the position encoding explicitly (the no-arg form is
+  -- deprecated); pass the current window + the client's negotiated encoding.
   local encoding = client and client.offset_encoding or 'utf-16'
-  local ok, params = pcall(vim.lsp.util.make_position_params, 0, encoding)
-  if ok then return params end
-  -- Fallback for Neovim < 0.10 where the second arg wasn't a thing.
-  return vim.lsp.util.make_position_params()
+  return vim.lsp.util.make_position_params(0, encoding)
 end
 
 local function exec(command, arguments, on_result)
@@ -51,21 +48,13 @@ local function exec(command, arguments, on_result)
   end
   local bufnr = vim.api.nvim_get_current_buf()
   local payload = { command = command, arguments = arguments or {} }
-  -- Neovim 0.12 deprecates `client.request(...)` in favour of the
-  -- method form `client:request(...)`. Prefer the method, fall back
-  -- on older Neovim where it isn't defined yet.
-  local req = client.request
-  if type(req) ~= 'function' then
+  -- The method form `client:request(...)` is the correct, non-deprecated call
+  -- on every supported Neovim (0.11+); the old `client.request(...)` function
+  -- form was deprecated in its favour.
+  if type(client.request) ~= 'function' then
     return
   end
-  if rawget(getmetatable(client) or {}, '__index') and client.request ~= nil then
-    -- Method-style works for both colon and dot calls on Neovim's
-    -- Client metatable, but pass `self` explicitly for the older
-    -- function-style signature compatibility.
-    client:request('workspace/executeCommand', payload, handler, bufnr)
-  else
-    client.request('workspace/executeCommand', payload, handler, bufnr)
-  end
+  client:request('workspace/executeCommand', payload, handler, bufnr)
 end
 
 local function open_uri(uri, tab)
@@ -128,38 +117,42 @@ local function cursor_inside_wikilink()
   return open_at ~= nil
 end
 
-local function wrap_cword_as_wikilink()
-  local cword = vim.fn.expand('<cword>')
-  if cword == '' then return false end
-  -- Replace just this `<cword>` occurrence using `*` (the start of
-  -- the last cursor match) — `ciw[[<C-r>"]]` style, but we do it
-  -- via the API so we don't depend on register state.
-  local row, col = unpack(vim.api.nvim_win_get_cursor(0))
-  local line = vim.api.nvim_get_current_line()
-  -- Locate the word boundaries around cursor (0-based col).
+-- Find the word around 0-based cursor `col` in `line`. Returns `left` (0-based
+-- index of the char before the word start) and `right` (1-based index one past
+-- the word's last char), so `word = line:sub(left + 1, right - 1)`. A "word" is
+-- a run of `[%w_-]`.
+local function word_boundaries(line, col)
   local left = col
   while left > 0 and line:sub(left, left):match('[%w_-]') do
     left = left - 1
   end
-  -- `left` now sits one before the word start (or at -1 / col=0 if at start).
-  local start_col = left
-  if line:sub(left + 1, left + 1):match('[%w_-]') then
-    start_col = left
-  else
-    start_col = left + 1
+  -- `left` sits one before the word start; nudge forward if it's not on a
+  -- word char (cursor was already at the very start).
+  if not line:sub(left + 1, left + 1):match('[%w_-]') then
+    left = left + 1
   end
-  local right = start_col + 1
+  local right = left + 1
   while right <= #line and line:sub(right, right):match('[%w_-]') do
     right = right + 1
   end
-  local stop_col = right - 1
-  local word = line:sub(start_col + 1, stop_col)
+  return left, right
+end
+
+local function wrap_cword_as_wikilink()
+  local cword = vim.fn.expand('<cword>')
+  if cword == '' then return false end
+  -- Replace just this `<cword>` occurrence via the API so we don't depend on
+  -- register state.
+  local row, col = unpack(vim.api.nvim_win_get_cursor(0))
+  local line = vim.api.nvim_get_current_line()
+  local left, right = word_boundaries(line, col)
+  local word = line:sub(left + 1, right - 1)
   if word == '' then return false end
-  local new_line = line:sub(1, start_col) .. '[[' .. word .. ']]' .. line:sub(stop_col + 1)
+  local new_line = line:sub(1, left) .. '[[' .. word .. ']]' .. line:sub(right)
   vim.api.nvim_set_current_line(new_line)
   -- Put cursor inside the new `[[…]]` so the LSP definition request
   -- lands on the wikilink.
-  vim.api.nvim_win_set_cursor(0, { row, start_col + 2 })
+  vim.api.nvim_win_set_cursor(0, { row, left + 2 })
   return true
 end
 
@@ -349,9 +342,16 @@ function M.search(args)
   end
   if not ext:match('^%.') then ext = '.' .. ext end
   local glob = root == '' and '**' or (vim.fn.fnameescape(root) .. '**/*' .. ext)
-  local ok = pcall(vim.cmd, 'lvimgrep /' .. vim.fn.escape(pat, '/') .. '/j ' .. glob)
+  local ok, err = pcall(vim.cmd, 'lvimgrep /' .. vim.fn.escape(pat, '/') .. '/j ' .. glob)
   if not ok then
-    vim.notify('nuwiki: no match for ' .. pat, vim.log.levels.WARN)
+    -- E480 = no match: a normal "nothing found", not an error. Anything else
+    -- (bad pattern, unreadable dir) is surfaced verbatim. Mirrors the VimL
+    -- twin's `catch /E480/`.
+    if type(err) == 'string' and err:match('E480') then
+      vim.notify('nuwiki: no match for ' .. pat, vim.log.levels.WARN)
+    else
+      vim.notify('nuwiki: ' .. tostring(err), vim.log.levels.ERROR)
+    end
     return
   end
   vim.cmd('lopen')
@@ -979,6 +979,27 @@ function M._table_insert_row_below(row)
   vim.api.nvim_win_set_cursor(0, { row + 1, #indent + 1 })
 end
 
+-- Parse a list-item line into indent / marker / trailing text. Handles
+-- `-`/`*`/`#` bullets and numbered `N.`/`N)` markers (the marker includes the
+-- number). `marker` is nil when `line` isn't a list item.
+local function parse_list_marker(line)
+  local indent, marker, after = line:match('^(%s*)([%-%*%#])%s(.*)$')
+  if not marker then
+    local n
+    indent, n, marker, after = line:match('^(%s*)(%d+)([%.%)])%s(.*)$')
+    if marker then marker = n .. marker end
+  end
+  return indent, marker, after
+end
+
+-- True when any auto-indent mechanism is active. nvim then re-inserts the
+-- previous line's indent after a returned `<CR>`, so we must not also add our
+-- own copy (which would push the continuation one level too deep).
+local function has_auto_indent()
+  return vim.bo.autoindent or vim.bo.smartindent or vim.bo.cindent
+      or (vim.bo.indentexpr ~= nil and vim.bo.indentexpr ~= '')
+end
+
 --- Smart `<CR>` for insert mode — vimwiki parity for `:VimwikiReturn`.
 --- Used as an `<expr>` keymap so the function is side-effect-free on
 --- the buffer (textlock is active). The table-row branch hands off to
@@ -1002,12 +1023,7 @@ function M.smart_return()
   end
 
   -- List item with marker?
-  local indent, marker, after = line:match('^(%s*)([%-%*%#])%s(.*)$')
-  if not marker then
-    local n
-    indent, n, marker, after = line:match('^(%s*)(%d+)([%.%)])%s(.*)$')
-    if marker then marker = n .. marker end
-  end
+  local indent, marker, after = parse_list_marker(line)
   if marker then
     local cb = after:match('^%[[%sxXoO%.%-]%]%s*(.*)$')
     local body = cb or after
@@ -1017,14 +1033,8 @@ function M.smart_return()
       -- "break out of the list" behaviour on an empty bullet).
       return esc .. '0DA' .. cr
     end
-    -- nvim defaults `autoindent=on`, which inserts the previous line's
-    -- indent right after the `<CR>` we return. If we then add our own
-    -- `indent`, the new bullet is pushed one level deeper than the one
-    -- the user is continuing. Skip our copy whenever any auto-indent
-    -- mechanism is active and let Vim/Nvim insert the indent for us.
-    local auto = vim.bo.autoindent or vim.bo.smartindent or vim.bo.cindent
-        or (vim.bo.indentexpr ~= nil and vim.bo.indentexpr ~= '')
-    local effective_indent = auto and '' or indent
+    -- Skip our own indent copy when auto-indent is active (see has_auto_indent).
+    local effective_indent = has_auto_indent() and '' or indent
     return cr .. effective_indent .. marker .. ' ' .. (cb and '[ ] ' or '')
   end
   return cr
@@ -1037,23 +1047,15 @@ function M.smart_shift_return()
   local line = vim.api.nvim_get_current_line()
   local cr = vim.api.nvim_replace_termcodes('<CR>', true, false, true)
   if vim.fn.pumvisible() == 1 then return cr end
-  local indent, marker, after = line:match('^(%s*)([%-%*%#])%s(.*)$')
-  if not marker then
-    local n
-    indent, n, marker, after = line:match('^(%s*)(%d+)([%.%)])%s(.*)$')
-    if marker then marker = n .. marker end
-  end
+  local indent, marker, after = parse_list_marker(line)
   if not marker then
     return cr
   end
   -- Align under the text: marker width + 1 space (+ 4 for a `[ ] ` checkbox).
   local has_cb = after:match('^%[[%sxXoO%.%-]%]') ~= nil
   local pad = #marker + 1 + (has_cb and 4 or 0)
-  -- Mirror smart_return's auto-indent handling: when an auto-indent mechanism
-  -- is active, Vim already re-inserts the line's indent after `<CR>`.
-  local auto = vim.bo.autoindent or vim.bo.smartindent or vim.bo.cindent
-      or (vim.bo.indentexpr ~= nil and vim.bo.indentexpr ~= '')
-  return cr .. (auto and '' or indent) .. string.rep(' ', pad)
+  -- Mirror smart_return's auto-indent handling (see has_auto_indent).
+  return cr .. (has_auto_indent() and '' or indent) .. string.rep(' ', pad)
 end
 
 -- :VimwikiReturn / :NuwikiReturn — the command form of the smart `<CR>`
@@ -1242,17 +1244,7 @@ function M.colorize(color, visual)
   local cword = vim.fn.expand('<cword>')
   if cword == '' then return end
   local col = vim.api.nvim_win_get_cursor(0)[2]
-  local left = col
-  while left > 0 and line:sub(left, left):match('[%w_%-]') do
-    left = left - 1
-  end
-  if not line:sub(left + 1, left + 1):match('[%w_%-]') then
-    left = left + 1
-  end
-  local right = left + 1
-  while right <= #line and line:sub(right, right):match('[%w_%-]') do
-    right = right + 1
-  end
+  local left, right = word_boundaries(line, col)
   local before = line:sub(1, left)
   local word = line:sub(left + 1, right - 1)
   local after = line:sub(right)
diff --git a/lua/nuwiki/ftplugin.lua b/lua/nuwiki/ftplugin.lua
index b6dbfbd..d89103a 100644
--- a/lua/nuwiki/ftplugin.lua
+++ b/lua/nuwiki/ftplugin.lua
@@ -18,16 +18,13 @@ local function setup_folding(bufnr, folding_mode)
   -- yet attached) degrades to the regex variant instead of spamming
   -- the user with E5108 errors per line.
   local apply = function()
-    if folding_mode == 'expr'
-       or not (vim.fn.has('nvim-0.11') == 1 and vim.lsp.foldexpr)
-    then
-      vim.opt_local.foldmethod = 'expr'
+    vim.opt_local.foldmethod = 'expr'
+    vim.opt_local.foldtext = 'v:lua.require("nuwiki.folding").foldtext()'
+    -- Min Neovim is 0.11, so vim.lsp.foldexpr is the only capability gate.
+    if folding_mode == 'expr' or not vim.lsp.foldexpr then
       vim.opt_local.foldexpr = 'v:lua.require("nuwiki.folding").expr()'
-      vim.opt_local.foldtext = 'v:lua.require("nuwiki.folding").foldtext()'
     else
-      vim.opt_local.foldmethod = 'expr'
       vim.opt_local.foldexpr = 'v:lua.require("nuwiki.folding").lsp_expr()'
-      vim.opt_local.foldtext = 'v:lua.require("nuwiki.folding").foldtext()'
     end
   end
 
diff --git a/lua/nuwiki/install.lua b/lua/nuwiki/install.lua
index 6b2e256..88c0f00 100644
--- a/lua/nuwiki/install.lua
+++ b/lua/nuwiki/install.lua
@@ -53,8 +53,8 @@ local function build_from_source(dest)
   local root = plugin_root()
   vim.notify('nuwiki: building nuwiki-ls from source (cargo build --release) …', vim.log.levels.INFO)
   local rs_repo = vim.fn.fnamemodify(root, ':h:h') .. '/nuwiki-rs'
-  if not vim.uv then vim.uv = vim.loop end
-  local rs_exists = vim.uv.fs_stat(rs_repo)
+  local uv = vim.uv or vim.loop
+  local rs_exists = uv.fs_stat(rs_repo)
   if not rs_exists then
     vim.notify('nuwiki: cloning nuwiki-rs …', vim.log.levels.INFO)
     local _ = vim.fn.system({
diff --git a/lua/nuwiki/keymaps.lua b/lua/nuwiki/keymaps.lua
index 5c80ab5..9e7fdd8 100644
--- a/lua/nuwiki/keymaps.lua
+++ b/lua/nuwiki/keymaps.lua
@@ -97,30 +97,22 @@ function link.prev() jump_to_pattern([[\[\[]], -1) end
 -- approximate: when the current line starts with a list marker, insert
 -- the marker on the new line; otherwise fall back to plain o/O.
 
-local function open_below_with_bullet()
+-- `cmd` is 'o' (open below) or 'O' (open above). Off a list item it's a plain
+-- o/O. The below ('o') variant also re-adds a `[ ] ` checkbox prefix when the
+-- source item has one, so the continuation is a fresh unchecked item; the
+-- above ('O') variant inserts a bare bullet (preserves prior behaviour).
+local function open_with_bullet(cmd)
   local line = vim.fn.getline('.')
   local indent, marker = line:match('^(%s*)([%-%*#])%s')
   if not marker then
-    vim.api.nvim_feedkeys('o', 'n', false)
+    vim.api.nvim_feedkeys(cmd, 'n', false)
     return
   end
   local prefix = indent .. marker .. ' '
-  -- Also preserve checkbox if present
-  local checkbox = line:match('^%s*[%-%*#]%s+(%[[%sxXoO%.%-]%])')
-  if checkbox then
+  if cmd == 'o' and line:match('^%s*[%-%*#]%s+(%[[%sxXoO%.%-]%])') then
     prefix = prefix .. '[ ] '
   end
-  vim.api.nvim_feedkeys('o' .. prefix, 'n', false)
-end
-local function open_above_with_bullet()
-  local line = vim.fn.getline('.')
-  local indent, marker = line:match('^(%s*)([%-%*#])%s')
-  if not marker then
-    vim.api.nvim_feedkeys('O', 'n', false)
-    return
-  end
-  local prefix = indent .. marker .. ' '
-  vim.api.nvim_feedkeys('O' .. prefix, 'n', false)
+  vim.api.nvim_feedkeys(cmd .. prefix, 'n', false)
 end
 
 -- ===== Public attach =====
@@ -253,8 +245,8 @@ function M.attach(bufnr, mappings)
         { desc = 'nuwiki: remove checkbox (current item)' }, bufnr)
     map('n', 'gL', cmd.list_remove_checkbox_in_list,
         { desc = 'nuwiki: remove checkboxes (whole list)' }, bufnr)
-    map('n', 'o',         open_below_with_bullet, { desc = 'nuwiki: open below + bullet' }, bufnr)
-    map('n', 'O',         open_above_with_bullet, { desc = 'nuwiki: open above + bullet' }, bufnr)
+    map('n', 'o',         function() open_with_bullet('o') end, { desc = 'nuwiki: open below + bullet' }, bufnr)
+    map('n', 'O',         function() open_with_bullet('O') end, { desc = 'nuwiki: open above + bullet' }, bufnr)
 
     -- Insert-mode bindings (matches upstream vimwiki). The list helpers
     -- mutate the buffer via the LSP / `nvim_buf_set_lines`, both of
diff --git a/lua/nuwiki/lsp.lua b/lua/nuwiki/lsp.lua
index 4cdef38..5a07b4e 100644
--- a/lua/nuwiki/lsp.lua
+++ b/lua/nuwiki/lsp.lua
@@ -64,7 +64,9 @@ local function root_dir_for(buf_file)
   if opts.wikis then
     local buf_norm = vim.fs.normalize(buf_file)
     for _, w in ipairs(opts.wikis) do
-      local root = vim.fn.expand(w.root or '')
+      -- Normalize both sides so the prefix compare survives mixed path
+      -- separators (e.g. on Windows); buf_norm is already normalized.
+      local root = vim.fs.normalize(vim.fn.expand(w.root or ''))
       if root ~= '' and buf_norm:sub(1, #root) == root then
         return root
       end