diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 623e7b4..e4867c1 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ The installer is idempotent:
 
 Installer knobs (optional):
 - `HECATE_ENABLE_BOOTSTRAP=1` enables `hecate-bootstrap.service` on this host.
+- `HECATE_ENABLE_BOOTSTRAP=0` disables it; default `auto` preserves current bootstrap enablement state.
 - `HECATE_MANAGE_NUT=0` skips writing NUT/udev files.
 - `HECATE_NUT_UPS_NAME` (default `atlasups`)
 - `HECATE_NUT_VENDOR_ID` / `HECATE_NUT_PRODUCT_ID` (defaults `0764` / `0601`)
diff --git a/scripts/install.sh b/scripts/install.sh
index b6ee38e..3eec6c4 100755
--- a/scripts/install.sh
+++ b/scripts/install.sh
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ SYSTEMD_DIR="/etc/systemd/system"
 LIB_DIR="/usr/local/lib/hecate"
 START_NOW=1
 INSTALL_DEPS=1
-ENABLE_BOOTSTRAP="${HECATE_ENABLE_BOOTSTRAP:-0}"
+ENABLE_BOOTSTRAP="${HECATE_ENABLE_BOOTSTRAP:-auto}"
 MANAGE_NUT="${HECATE_MANAGE_NUT:-1}"
 NUT_UPS_NAME="${HECATE_NUT_UPS_NAME:-atlasups}"
 NUT_VENDOR_ID="${HECATE_NUT_VENDOR_ID:-0764}"
@@ -185,8 +185,10 @@ systemctl daemon-reload
 systemctl enable hecate.service hecate-update.timer
 if [[ "${ENABLE_BOOTSTRAP}" == "1" ]]; then
   systemctl enable hecate-bootstrap.service
-else
+elif [[ "${ENABLE_BOOTSTRAP}" == "0" ]]; then
   systemctl disable hecate-bootstrap.service >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
+else
+  echo "[install] leaving hecate-bootstrap.service state unchanged (HECATE_ENABLE_BOOTSTRAP=${ENABLE_BOOTSTRAP})"
 fi
 
 if [[ "${START_NOW}" -eq 1 ]]; then