  We critically analyse the nature of the infrared singularity in
Randall-Sundrum soft-wall models, where the extra dimension is dynamically
compactified by the formation of a curvature singularity. Due to the Israel
junction conditions, this singularity can only be shielded by a
time-independent black-hole horizon if there is ghost matter on the UV brane.
For this construction the spectrum of 4D states is shown to be similar to the
original soft-wall case. We point out, however, that no such shielding is
needed, as the singularity satisfies unitary boundary conditions.
