diff --git a/TODO.AI.md b/TODO.AI.md
index b3ee46e..86f467b 100644
--- a/TODO.AI.md
+++ b/TODO.AI.md
@@ -7,6 +7,17 @@
   and the container exits 1 (empty days value passed to `openssl req -days`). The file is
   generated, so the fix belongs in the upstream gen-dockerfile template, then regenerate.
 
+## Fixed — startup overwrote user config when `.initialized` marker was missing (init.d seed copy)
+
+- `__run_precopy` in `08-gitea.sh`, `05-dockerd.sh` and `zz-act_runner.sh` did
+  `cp -Rf "$ETC_DIR/." "$CONF_DIR/"` whenever `$CONF_DIR/.initialized` was absent (since commit
+  `42d0439`), replacing an existing `app.ini` with the template: custom settings lost and
+  SECRET_KEY/INTERNAL_TOKEN/LFS_JWT_SECRET regenerated. Now `cp -Rn` (fills missing files, never
+  overwrites). Verified with a real 428-line `app.ini` and no marker: all lines and all four secrets
+  preserved; before the fix the same test changed SECRET_KEY and INTERNAL_TOKEN.
+- The same `__run_precopy` block is generated: the upstream start-service template needs the same
+  `cp -Rn` change or the next regeneration will bring the bug back.
+
 ## Fixed — Gitea retention/cleanup defaults (app.ini, 08-gitea.sh)
 
 - Template: `[actions]` artifacts 30d, logs 90d, runs 180d; enabled `cron.gc_lfs` (daily),
diff --git a/rootfs/usr/local/etc/docker/init.d/05-dockerd.sh b/rootfs/usr/local/etc/docker/init.d/05-dockerd.sh
index b32c3ba..051b39c 100755
--- a/rootfs/usr/local/etc/docker/init.d/05-dockerd.sh
+++ b/rootfs/usr/local/etc/docker/init.d/05-dockerd.sh
@@ -279,7 +279,7 @@ __run_precopy() {
 	if [ -d "$ETC_DIR" ] && ! [ -L "$ETC_DIR" ]; then
 		if [ ! -f "$CONF_DIR/.initialized" ]; then
 			mkdir -p "$CONF_DIR"
-			cp -Rf "$ETC_DIR/." "$CONF_DIR/" 2>/dev/null || true
+			cp -Rn "$ETC_DIR/." "$CONF_DIR/" 2>/dev/null || true
 		fi
 		rm -Rf "$ETC_DIR"
 		ln -sf "$CONF_DIR" "$ETC_DIR"
diff --git a/rootfs/usr/local/etc/docker/init.d/08-gitea.sh b/rootfs/usr/local/etc/docker/init.d/08-gitea.sh
index 29b4287..432836b 100755
--- a/rootfs/usr/local/etc/docker/init.d/08-gitea.sh
+++ b/rootfs/usr/local/etc/docker/init.d/08-gitea.sh
@@ -345,7 +345,7 @@ __run_precopy() {
 	# during container startup, after the entrypoint's initial copy. Applying it here
 	# (in the init.d phase) ensures it takes effect after Docker finishes network setup.
 	[ -f "/usr/local/etc/resolv.conf" ] && cp -f "/usr/local/etc/resolv.conf" "/etc/resolv.conf" 2>/dev/null || true
-	# Seed /config/$SERVICE_NAME from the baked /etc copy on first initialisation only.
+	# Seed /config/$SERVICE_NAME from the baked /etc copy on first initialisation only; cp -n never overwrites existing user files.
 	# The marker file $CONF_DIR/.initialized is written after substitution completes;
 	# delete it to force a re-seed (e.g. after intentional config reset).
 	# Then replace the /etc/$SERVICE_NAME directory with a symlink to /config/$SERVICE_NAME
@@ -353,7 +353,7 @@ __run_precopy() {
 	if [ -d "$ETC_DIR" ] && ! [ -L "$ETC_DIR" ]; then
 		if [ ! -f "$CONF_DIR/.initialized" ]; then
 			mkdir -p "$CONF_DIR"
-			cp -Rf "$ETC_DIR/." "$CONF_DIR/" 2>/dev/null || true
+			cp -Rn "$ETC_DIR/." "$CONF_DIR/" 2>/dev/null || true
 		fi
 		rm -Rf "$ETC_DIR"
 		ln -sf "$CONF_DIR" "$ETC_DIR"
diff --git a/rootfs/usr/local/etc/docker/init.d/zz-act_runner.sh b/rootfs/usr/local/etc/docker/init.d/zz-act_runner.sh
index 0f8b2e4..ce04748 100755
--- a/rootfs/usr/local/etc/docker/init.d/zz-act_runner.sh
+++ b/rootfs/usr/local/etc/docker/init.d/zz-act_runner.sh
@@ -379,7 +379,7 @@ __run_precopy() {
 	if [ -d "$ETC_DIR" ] && ! [ -L "$ETC_DIR" ]; then
 		if [ ! -f "$CONF_DIR/.initialized" ]; then
 			mkdir -p "$CONF_DIR"
-			cp -Rf "$ETC_DIR/." "$CONF_DIR/" 2>/dev/null || true
+			cp -Rn "$ETC_DIR/." "$CONF_DIR/" 2>/dev/null || true
 		fi
 		rm -Rf "$ETC_DIR"
 		ln -sf "$CONF_DIR" "$ETC_DIR"