diff --git a/src/App.test.tsx b/src/App.test.tsx
index ec5257dd..5f503023 100644
--- a/src/App.test.tsx
+++ b/src/App.test.tsx
@@ -495,6 +495,24 @@ describe('App', () => {
     expect(screen.getByTestId('welcome-open-folder')).toHaveTextContent('Choose a different folder')
   })
 
+  it('shows welcome instead of vault-missing when the missing path was not a persisted active vault', async () => {
+    localStorage.setItem('tolaria_welcome_dismissed', '1')
+    mockCommandResults.load_vault_list = {
+      vaults: [],
+      active_vault: null,
+      hidden_defaults: [],
+    }
+    mockCommandResults.check_vault_exists = (args?: { path?: string }) => args?.path === '/Users/mock/Documents/Getting Started'
+
+    render(<App />)
+
+    await waitFor(() => {
+      expect(screen.getByText('Welcome to Tolaria')).toBeInTheDocument()
+    })
+    expect(screen.queryByText('Vault not found')).not.toBeInTheDocument()
+    expect(screen.getByTestId('welcome-open-folder')).toHaveTextContent('Open existing vault')
+  })
+
   it('renders sidebar with correct default selection (All Notes)', async () => {
     render(<App />)
     await waitFor(() => {
diff --git a/src/hooks/useOnboarding.test.ts b/src/hooks/useOnboarding.test.ts
index 486aeb26..0d93ed96 100644
--- a/src/hooks/useOnboarding.test.ts
+++ b/src/hooks/useOnboarding.test.ts
@@ -155,6 +155,21 @@ describe('useOnboarding', () => {
     })
   })
 
+  it('shows welcome instead of vault-missing when no persisted active vault matches the missing path', async () => {
+    localStorage.setItem(APP_STORAGE_KEYS.welcomeDismissed, '1')
+    mockCommands({
+      load_vault_list: {
+        vaults: [],
+        active_vault: null,
+        hidden_defaults: [],
+      },
+    })
+
+    const { result } = await renderOnboarding('/vault/deleted')
+
+    expect(result.current.state).toEqual({ status: 'welcome', defaultPath: DEFAULT_GETTING_STARTED_PATH })
+  })
+
   it('clears the persisted active vault when the saved path no longer exists', async () => {
     localStorage.setItem(LEGACY_APP_STORAGE_KEYS.welcomeDismissed, '1')
     mockCommands({
diff --git a/src/hooks/useOnboarding.ts b/src/hooks/useOnboarding.ts
index 3ec6f231..d0a52367 100644
--- a/src/hooks/useOnboarding.ts
+++ b/src/hooks/useOnboarding.ts
@@ -40,10 +40,10 @@ function markDismissed(): void {
   }
 }
 
-async function clearMissingActiveVault(missingPath: string): Promise<void> {
+async function clearMissingActiveVault(missingPath: string): Promise<boolean> {
   try {
     const list = await tauriCall<PersistedVaultList>('load_vault_list', {})
-    if (!list || list.active_vault !== missingPath) return
+    if (!list || list.active_vault !== missingPath) return false
     await tauriCall('save_vault_list', {
       list: {
         vaults: list.vaults ?? [],
@@ -51,8 +51,10 @@ async function clearMissingActiveVault(missingPath: string): Promise<void> {
         hidden_defaults: list.hidden_defaults ?? [],
       },
     })
+    return true
   } catch {
     // Best effort only — onboarding should still proceed
+    return false
   }
 }
 
@@ -84,17 +86,14 @@ export function useOnboarding(
 
         if (exists) {
           setState({ status: 'ready', vaultPath: initialVaultPath })
-        } else {
-          await clearMissingActiveVault(initialVaultPath)
-          if (cancelled) return
-        }
-
-        if (exists) {
           return
         }
 
-        if (wasDismissed()) {
-          // User previously dismissed — show vault-missing instead of welcome
+        const missingWasPersistedActiveVault = await clearMissingActiveVault(initialVaultPath)
+        if (cancelled) return
+
+        if (wasDismissed() && missingWasPersistedActiveVault) {
+          // Only show vault-missing when a previously selected vault path truly disappeared.
           setState({ status: 'vault-missing', vaultPath: initialVaultPath, defaultPath })
         } else {
           setState({ status: 'welcome', defaultPath })