diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,15 @@
 # Changelog
 
+## [0.4.0.4] - 2024-07-28
+
+### Added
+
+* Added a lint for examples that none of the configuration codecs can decode.
+
+### Changed
+
+* Fixed: linter would 'catch' unreadable examples even though a setting would only read a configuration value
+
 ## [0.4.0.3] - 2024-07-28
 
 ### Changed
diff --git a/opt-env-conf.cabal b/opt-env-conf.cabal
--- a/opt-env-conf.cabal
+++ b/opt-env-conf.cabal
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 -- see: https://github.com/sol/hpack
 
 name:           opt-env-conf
-version:        0.4.0.3
+version:        0.4.0.4
 synopsis:       Settings parsing for Haskell: command-line arguments, environment variables, and configuration values.
 homepage:       https://github.com/NorfairKing/opt-env-conf#readme
 bug-reports:    https://github.com/NorfairKing/opt-env-conf/issues
diff --git a/src/OptEnvConf/Lint.hs b/src/OptEnvConf/Lint.hs
--- a/src/OptEnvConf/Lint.hs
+++ b/src/OptEnvConf/Lint.hs
@@ -13,8 +13,10 @@
   )
 where
 
+import Autodocodec
 import Control.Monad
 import Control.Monad.Reader
+import qualified Data.Aeson.Types as JSON
 import Data.Either
 import Data.Foldable
 import Data.List.NonEmpty (NonEmpty (..))
@@ -51,6 +53,7 @@
   | LintErrorNoMetavarForEnvVar
   | LintErrorNoCommands
   | LintErrorUnreadableExample !String
+  | LintErrorUndecodableExample !String
   | LintErrorConfigWithoutLoad
   | LintErrorManyInfinite
 
@@ -192,6 +195,10 @@
           [ [functionChunk "example", " was called with an example that none of the ", functionChunk "reader", "s succeed in reading."],
             ["Example: ", chunk $ T.pack e]
           ]
+        LintErrorUndecodableExample e ->
+          [ [functionChunk "example", " was called with an example that none of the ", functionChunk "conf", "s succeed in decoding."],
+            ["Example: ", chunk $ T.pack e]
+          ]
         LintErrorConfigWithoutLoad ->
           [ [ functionChunk "conf",
               " was called with no way to load configuration."
@@ -299,9 +306,15 @@
         when (isJust settingEnvVars && not settingHidden && isNothing settingMetavar) $
           validationTFailure LintErrorNoMetavarForEnvVar
         for_ settingExamples $ \e ->
-          when (not $ any (\r -> isRight $ OptEnvConf.runReader r e) settingReaders) $
-            validationTFailure $
-              LintErrorUnreadableExample e
+          let canRead r = isRight $ OptEnvConf.runReader r e
+           in when ((settingTryArgument || settingTryOption) && not (any canRead settingReaders)) $
+                validationTFailure $
+                  LintErrorUnreadableExample e
+        for_ settingExamples $ \e ->
+          let canDecode (ConfigValSetting _ c) = isRight $ JSON.parseEither (parseJSONVia c) (JSON.String (T.pack e))
+           in when (isJust settingConfigVals && not (any canDecode (maybe [] NE.toList settingConfigVals))) $
+                validationTFailure $
+                  LintErrorUndecodableExample e
         hasConfig <- ask
         when (isJust settingConfigVals && not hasConfig) $
           validationTFailure LintErrorConfigWithoutLoad