diff --git a/src/dpy_paginator/dpy_paginator.py b/src/dpy_paginator/dpy_paginator.py
index b1a7851..cbe238a 100644
--- a/src/dpy_paginator/dpy_paginator.py
+++ b/src/dpy_paginator/dpy_paginator.py
@@ -374,15 +374,16 @@ class ButtonPaginator(Generic[PageT_co], discord.ui.View):
             kwargs.pop("view", None)
 
         self.reset_files(kwargs)
-        send_kwargs["ephemeral"] = self.ephemeral
 
         if isinstance(obj, discord.Interaction):
+            # ephemeral is an interaction-response concept; only these paths accept it
             if obj.response.is_done():
-                self.message = await obj.followup.send(**kwargs, **send_kwargs)
+                self.message = await obj.followup.send(**kwargs, ephemeral=self.ephemeral, **send_kwargs)
             else:
-                await obj.response.send_message(**kwargs, **send_kwargs)
+                await obj.response.send_message(**kwargs, ephemeral=self.ephemeral, **send_kwargs)
                 self.message = await obj.original_response()
         elif isinstance(obj, Messageable):
+            # Messageable.send (a raw channel) has no ephemeral param — never pass it
             self.message = await obj.send(**kwargs, **send_kwargs)
         else:
             raise TypeError(f"expected Interaction or Messageable, got {obj.__class__.__name__}")