diff --git a/lib/logitech_receiver/settings.py b/lib/logitech_receiver/settings.py
index b5ddd23c..39c8c872 100644
--- a/lib/logitech_receiver/settings.py
+++ b/lib/logitech_receiver/settings.py
@@ -61,6 +61,11 @@ class Setting:
     validator_class = None
     validator_options = {}
     display = True  # display setting in UI
+    # Set False for settings whose value cannot be read back from the device
+    # (e.g. PerKeyLighting — the 0x8081 protocol has no GetIndividualRgbZones).
+    # `solaar show` uses this to suppress the "(live)" output line that would
+    # otherwise print a fabricated value misleadingly.
+    live_readable = True
     # Optional UI editor override as "module.path:ClassName". Resolved by the
     # config panel before the Kind dispatch. Kept as a string so this module
     # stays free of GTK imports — the FE/BE seam is preserved.
diff --git a/lib/logitech_receiver/settings_templates.py b/lib/logitech_receiver/settings_templates.py
index ef5a7688..6e6e7d22 100644
--- a/lib/logitech_receiver/settings_templates.py
+++ b/lib/logitech_receiver/settings_templates.py
@@ -1894,6 +1894,11 @@ class PerKeyLighting(settings.Settings):
     feature = _F.PER_KEY_LIGHTING_V2
     keys_universe = special_keys.KEYCODES
     editor_class = "solaar.ui.perkey.control:PerKeyControl"
+    # 0x8081 has no GetIndividualRgbZones — there's no way to ask the device
+    # what colors are currently on the per-key buffer. read() returns the
+    # canonical in-memory map for callers that need a value, but `solaar show`
+    # honors this flag and skips its live-read line to avoid misleading output.
+    live_readable = False
 
     @staticmethod
     def _wrap_color(value):
@@ -1916,12 +1921,20 @@ class PerKeyLighting(settings.Settings):
         super().update_key_value(key, self._wrap_color(value), save)
 
     def read(self, cached=True):
+        # The 0x8081 protocol has no GetIndividualRgbZones — the device cannot
+        # report its current per-key buffer back. So a "live" read is fictional:
+        # we either return what we last wrote (the persisted/in-memory map,
+        # which is the canonical truth for this setting) or, on a fresh device
+        # with no persisted state, fabricate an all-"No change" sentinel map
+        # as the starting point. Returning the cached value unconditionally
+        # also fixes `solaar show` showing every key as "No change" on the
+        # live line — it now matches what's actually on the keyboard.
         self._pre_read(cached)
-        if cached and self._value is not None:
+        if self._value is not None:
             return self._value
         reply_map = {}
         for key in self._validator.choices:
-            reply_map[int(key)] = special_keys.COLORSPLUS["No change"]  # this signals no change
+            reply_map[int(key)] = special_keys.COLORSPLUS["No change"]  # starting state, no per-key write yet
         self._value = reply_map
         return reply_map
 
diff --git a/lib/solaar/cli/show.py b/lib/solaar/cli/show.py
index ab03a5b9..050b8509 100644
--- a/lib/solaar/cli/show.py
+++ b/lib/solaar/cli/show.py
@@ -375,14 +375,19 @@ def _print_device(dev, num=None):
                     ):
                         v = setting.val_to_string(setting._device.persister.get(setting.name))
                         print(f"            {setting.label} (saved): {v}")
-                    try:
-                        v = setting.read(False)
-                        v = setting.val_to_string(v)
-                    except exceptions.FeatureCallError as e:
-                        v = "HID++ error " + str(e)
-                    except AssertionError as e:
-                        v = "AssertionError " + str(e)
-                    print(f"            {setting.label}        : {v}")
+                    # Settings whose value cannot be read back from the device
+                    # (e.g. PerKeyLighting — 0x8081 has no GetIndividualRgbZones)
+                    # suppress the live-read line; the saved line above is the
+                    # authoritative record. See Setting.live_readable.
+                    if getattr(setting, "live_readable", True):
+                        try:
+                            v = setting.read(False)
+                            v = setting.val_to_string(v)
+                        except exceptions.FeatureCallError as e:
+                            v = "HID++ error " + str(e)
+                        except AssertionError as e:
+                            v = "AssertionError " + str(e)
+                        print(f"            {setting.label}        : {v}")
 
     if dev.online and dev.keys:
         print(f"     Has {len(dev.keys)} reprogrammable keys:")