diff --git a/default/hypr/startup-cursor.lua b/default/hypr/startup-cursor.lua
index b30ede4f..4744a724 100644
--- a/default/hypr/startup-cursor.lua
+++ b/default/hypr/startup-cursor.lua
@@ -3,10 +3,11 @@ local function cursor_theme(value)
 end
 
 local function normal_theme(interrupted)
-  local theme = cursor_theme(os.getenv("XCURSOR_THEME"))
-  if not theme and (interrupted or os.getenv("XCURSOR_THEME") == "omarchy-startup") then
-    theme = cursor_theme(os.getenv("OMARCHY_STARTUP_CURSOR_THEME"))
-  end
+  local current = os.getenv("XCURSOR_THEME")
+  local theme = cursor_theme(current)
+  -- Only a lost preference needs recovering; an unset theme still means the default alias.
+  if theme or not (interrupted or current == "omarchy-startup") then return theme or "default" end
+  theme = cursor_theme(os.getenv("OMARCHY_STARTUP_CURSOR_THEME"))
   if theme then return theme end
   local pipe = io.popen("gsettings get org.gnome.desktop.interface cursor-theme 2>/dev/null", "r")
   if pipe then
diff --git a/test/shell.d/hyprland-startup-cursor-test.sh b/test/shell.d/hyprland-startup-cursor-test.sh
index 447f84c5..b83be465 100755
--- a/test/shell.d/hyprland-startup-cursor-test.sh
+++ b/test/shell.d/hyprland-startup-cursor-test.sh
@@ -127,6 +127,10 @@ env.OMARCHY_STARTUP_CURSOR_PATH = "/stale/icons"
 env.OMARCHY_STARTUP_CURSOR_SESSION = "old-session"
 events["config.reloaded"]()
 assert(omarchy_startup_cursor.xcursor == "next-theme" and omarchy_startup_cursor.path == "/next/icons", "a new session must honor changed cursor settings instead of inherited snapshots")
+omarchy_startup_cursor_pending, omarchy_startup_cursor = nil, nil
+env.XCURSOR_THEME, env.OMARCHY_STARTUP_CURSOR_SESSION, gsettings = "", "old-session", "'custom-cursor'\n"
+events["config.reloaded"]()
+assert(omarchy_startup_cursor.xcursor == "default", "an ordinary boot without a cursor theme keeps the default alias instead of adopting GSettings")
 io.popen = popen
 LUA
 pass "the first compositor frame starts blank and the reveal restores user cursor settings"