diff --git a/lib/daemon.js b/lib/daemon.js
index 3a8c7c4..da3d41f 100644
--- a/lib/daemon.js
+++ b/lib/daemon.js
@@ -49,7 +49,12 @@ try {
     var _isDev = !!(process.env.CLAGENTIC_DEV || process.env.CLAY_DEV);
     config = { port: _isDev ? 2635 : 2633, projects: [], mode: "single", setupCompleted: false };
     // Persist so subsequent reads succeed.
-    fs.writeFileSync(configFile, JSON.stringify(config, null, 2), { mode: 0o600 });
+    try {
+      fs.writeFileSync(configFile, JSON.stringify(config, null, 2), { mode: 0o600 });
+    } catch (writeErr) {
+      console.error("[daemon] Failed to persist bootstrap config:", writeErr.message);
+      process.exit(1);
+    }
   } else {
     console.error("[daemon] Failed to read config:", e.message);
     process.exit(1);