diff --git a/src/components/WelcomeScreen.test.tsx b/src/components/WelcomeScreen.test.tsx
index ac5f398c..23017b28 100644
--- a/src/components/WelcomeScreen.test.tsx
+++ b/src/components/WelcomeScreen.test.tsx
@@ -94,9 +94,9 @@ describe('WelcomeScreen', () => {
       expect(screen.getByText(/could not be found on disk/)).toBeInTheDocument()
     })
 
-    it('shows the missing vault path in a badge', () => {
+    it('does not show the missing vault path in a badge', () => {
       render(<WelcomeScreen {...missingProps} />)
-      expect(screen.getByText('~/Laputa')).toBeInTheDocument()
+      expect(screen.queryByText('~/Laputa')).not.toBeInTheDocument()
     })
 
     it('shows "Choose a different folder" instead of "Open existing vault"', () => {
diff --git a/src/components/WelcomeScreen.tsx b/src/components/WelcomeScreen.tsx
index b9446b1a..8ab7af7c 100644
--- a/src/components/WelcomeScreen.tsx
+++ b/src/components/WelcomeScreen.tsx
@@ -103,14 +103,6 @@ const OPTION_DESC_STYLE: React.CSSProperties = {
   marginTop: 2,
 }
 
-const PATH_BADGE_STYLE: React.CSSProperties = {
-  width: '100%',
-  background: 'var(--sidebar)',
-  borderRadius: 6,
-  padding: '8px 12px',
-  textAlign: 'center',
-}
-
 const ERROR_STYLE: React.CSSProperties = {
   fontSize: 13,
   color: 'var(--destructive, #e03e3e)',
@@ -155,7 +147,7 @@ function OptionButton({ icon, iconBg, label, description, onClick, disabled, loa
   )
 }
 
-export function WelcomeScreen({ mode, missingPath, defaultVaultPath, onCreateVault, onCreateNewVault, onOpenFolder, creating, error }: WelcomeScreenProps) {
+export function WelcomeScreen({ mode, defaultVaultPath, onCreateVault, onCreateNewVault, onOpenFolder, creating, error }: WelcomeScreenProps) {
   const isWelcome = mode === 'welcome'
 
   return (
@@ -185,14 +177,6 @@ export function WelcomeScreen({ mode, missingPath, defaultVaultPath, onCreateVau
           </p>
         </div>
 
-        {!isWelcome && missingPath && (
-          <div style={PATH_BADGE_STYLE}>
-            <code style={{ fontSize: 12, color: 'var(--muted-foreground)', fontFamily: 'var(--font-mono, monospace)' }}>
-              {missingPath}
-            </code>
-          </div>
-        )}
-
         <div style={DIVIDER_STYLE} />
 
         <div style={{ width: '100%', display: 'flex', flexDirection: 'column', gap: 10 }}>
diff --git a/src/hooks/useOnboarding.test.ts b/src/hooks/useOnboarding.test.ts
index 5c271f97..662215b6 100644
--- a/src/hooks/useOnboarding.test.ts
+++ b/src/hooks/useOnboarding.test.ts
@@ -87,6 +87,38 @@ describe('useOnboarding', () => {
     })
   })
 
+  it('clears the persisted active vault when the saved path no longer exists', async () => {
+    localStorage.setItem('laputa_welcome_dismissed', '1')
+
+    mockInvokeFn.mockImplementation(async (cmd: string) => {
+      if (cmd === 'get_default_vault_path') return '/mock/Documents/Getting Started'
+      if (cmd === 'check_vault_exists') return false
+      if (cmd === 'load_vault_list') {
+        return {
+          vaults: [{ label: 'Old Vault', path: '/vault/deleted' }],
+          active_vault: '/vault/deleted',
+          hidden_defaults: [],
+        }
+      }
+      if (cmd === 'save_vault_list') return null
+      return null
+    })
+
+    const { result } = renderHook(() => useOnboarding('/vault/deleted'))
+
+    await waitFor(() => {
+      expect(result.current.state.status).toBe('vault-missing')
+    })
+
+    expect(mockInvokeFn).toHaveBeenCalledWith('save_vault_list', {
+      list: {
+        vaults: [{ label: 'Old Vault', path: '/vault/deleted' }],
+        active_vault: null,
+        hidden_defaults: [],
+      },
+    })
+  })
+
   it('handleCreateVault creates vault and transitions to ready', async () => {
     mockInvokeFn.mockImplementation(async (cmd: string) => {
       if (cmd === 'get_default_vault_path') return '/mock/Documents/Getting Started'
diff --git a/src/hooks/useOnboarding.ts b/src/hooks/useOnboarding.ts
index fd768c29..cf7dd7d2 100644
--- a/src/hooks/useOnboarding.ts
+++ b/src/hooks/useOnboarding.ts
@@ -15,6 +15,12 @@ function tauriCall<T>(command: string, args: Record<string, unknown>): Promise<T
 
 const DISMISSED_KEY = 'laputa_welcome_dismissed'
 
+interface PersistedVaultList {
+  vaults?: Array<{ label: string; path: string }>
+  active_vault?: string | null
+  hidden_defaults?: string[]
+}
+
 function wasDismissed(): boolean {
   try {
     return localStorage.getItem(DISMISSED_KEY) === '1'
@@ -31,6 +37,22 @@ function markDismissed(): void {
   }
 }
 
+async function clearMissingActiveVault(missingPath: string): Promise<void> {
+  try {
+    const list = await tauriCall<PersistedVaultList>('load_vault_list', {})
+    if (!list || list.active_vault !== missingPath) return
+    await tauriCall('save_vault_list', {
+      list: {
+        vaults: list.vaults ?? [],
+        active_vault: null,
+        hidden_defaults: list.hidden_defaults ?? [],
+      },
+    })
+  } catch {
+    // Best effort only — onboarding should still proceed
+  }
+}
+
 export function useOnboarding(initialVaultPath: string) {
   const [state, setState] = useState<OnboardingState>({ status: 'loading' })
   const [creating, setCreating] = useState(false)
@@ -48,7 +70,16 @@ export function useOnboarding(initialVaultPath: string) {
 
         if (exists) {
           setState({ status: 'ready', vaultPath: initialVaultPath })
-        } else if (wasDismissed()) {
+        } else {
+          await clearMissingActiveVault(initialVaultPath)
+          if (cancelled) return
+        }
+
+        if (exists) {
+          return
+        }
+
+        if (wasDismissed()) {
           // User previously dismissed — show vault-missing instead of welcome
           setState({ status: 'vault-missing', vaultPath: initialVaultPath, defaultPath })
         } else {