diff --git a/extensions/matrix/src/matrix/sdk.test.ts b/extensions/matrix/src/matrix/sdk.test.ts
index ed3a58f9e55..2a0ec77a4ff 100644
--- a/extensions/matrix/src/matrix/sdk.test.ts
+++ b/extensions/matrix/src/matrix/sdk.test.ts
@@ -842,6 +842,53 @@ describe("MatrixClient crypto bootstrapping", () => {
     });
   });
 
+  it("does not force-reset bootstrap when the device is already signed by its owner", async () => {
+    matrixJsClient.getCrypto = vi.fn(() => ({ on: vi.fn() }));
+    const client = new MatrixClient("https://matrix.example.org", "token", undefined, undefined, {
+      encryption: true,
+      password: "secret-password",
+    });
+    const bootstrapSpy = vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({
+      crossSigningReady: false,
+      crossSigningPublished: false,
+      ownDeviceVerified: true,
+    });
+    (
+      client as unknown as {
+        cryptoBootstrapper: { bootstrap: typeof bootstrapSpy };
+      }
+    ).cryptoBootstrapper.bootstrap = bootstrapSpy;
+    vi.spyOn(client, "getOwnDeviceVerificationStatus").mockResolvedValue({
+      encryptionEnabled: true,
+      userId: "@bot:example.org",
+      deviceId: "DEVICE123",
+      verified: true,
+      localVerified: true,
+      crossSigningVerified: false,
+      signedByOwner: true,
+      recoveryKeyStored: false,
+      recoveryKeyCreatedAt: null,
+      recoveryKeyId: null,
+      backupVersion: null,
+      backup: {
+        serverVersion: null,
+        activeVersion: null,
+        trusted: null,
+        matchesDecryptionKey: null,
+        decryptionKeyCached: false,
+        keyLoadAttempted: false,
+        keyLoadError: null,
+      },
+    });
+
+    await client.start();
+
+    expect(bootstrapSpy).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+    expect(bootstrapSpy.mock.calls[0]?.[1]).toEqual({
+      allowAutomaticCrossSigningReset: false,
+    });
+  });
+
   it("does not force-reset bootstrap when password is unavailable", async () => {
     matrixJsClient.getCrypto = vi.fn(() => ({ on: vi.fn() }));
     const client = new MatrixClient("https://matrix.example.org", "token", undefined, undefined, {
diff --git a/extensions/matrix/src/matrix/sdk.ts b/extensions/matrix/src/matrix/sdk.ts
index fa58392c686..afdefb57c7e 100644
--- a/extensions/matrix/src/matrix/sdk.ts
+++ b/extensions/matrix/src/matrix/sdk.ts
@@ -309,9 +309,17 @@ export class MatrixClient {
     if (!crypto) {
       return;
     }
-    const initial = await this.cryptoBootstrapper.bootstrap(crypto);
+    const initial = await this.cryptoBootstrapper.bootstrap(crypto, {
+      allowAutomaticCrossSigningReset: false,
+    });
     if (!initial.crossSigningPublished || initial.ownDeviceVerified === false) {
-      if (this.password?.trim()) {
+      const status = await this.getOwnDeviceVerificationStatus();
+      if (status.signedByOwner) {
+        LogService.warn(
+          "MatrixClientLite",
+          "Cross-signing/bootstrap is incomplete for an already owner-signed device; skipping automatic reset and preserving the current identity. Restore the recovery key or run an explicit verification bootstrap if repair is needed.",
+        );
+      } else if (this.password?.trim()) {
         try {
           const repaired = await this.cryptoBootstrapper.bootstrap(crypto, {
             forceResetCrossSigning: true,
@@ -757,7 +765,9 @@ export class MatrixClient {
       return await fail(err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err));
     }
 
-    await this.cryptoBootstrapper.bootstrap(crypto);
+    await this.cryptoBootstrapper.bootstrap(crypto, {
+      allowAutomaticCrossSigningReset: false,
+    });
     const status = await this.getOwnDeviceVerificationStatus();
     if (!status.verified) {
       return {
diff --git a/extensions/matrix/src/matrix/sdk/crypto-bootstrap.test.ts b/extensions/matrix/src/matrix/sdk/crypto-bootstrap.test.ts
index 651e31ecf80..3299d52c856 100644
--- a/extensions/matrix/src/matrix/sdk/crypto-bootstrap.test.ts
+++ b/extensions/matrix/src/matrix/sdk/crypto-bootstrap.test.ts
@@ -99,6 +99,36 @@ describe("MatrixCryptoBootstrapper", () => {
     );
   });
 
+  it("does not auto-reset cross-signing when automatic reset is disabled", async () => {
+    const deps = createBootstrapperDeps();
+    const bootstrapCrossSigning = vi.fn(async () => {});
+    const crypto = createCryptoApi({
+      bootstrapCrossSigning,
+      isCrossSigningReady: vi.fn(async () => false),
+      userHasCrossSigningKeys: vi.fn(async () => false),
+      getDeviceVerificationStatus: vi.fn(async () => ({
+        isVerified: () => true,
+        localVerified: true,
+        crossSigningVerified: false,
+        signedByOwner: true,
+      })),
+    });
+    const bootstrapper = new MatrixCryptoBootstrapper(
+      deps as unknown as MatrixCryptoBootstrapperDeps<MatrixRawEvent>,
+    );
+
+    await bootstrapper.bootstrap(crypto, {
+      allowAutomaticCrossSigningReset: false,
+    });
+
+    expect(bootstrapCrossSigning).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+    expect(bootstrapCrossSigning).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      expect.objectContaining({
+        authUploadDeviceSigningKeys: expect.any(Function),
+      }),
+    );
+  });
+
   it("fails in strict mode when cross-signing keys are still unpublished", async () => {
     const deps = createBootstrapperDeps();
     const crypto = createCryptoApi({
diff --git a/extensions/matrix/src/matrix/sdk/crypto-bootstrap.ts b/extensions/matrix/src/matrix/sdk/crypto-bootstrap.ts
index a0321ca3de5..0829d1aa983 100644
--- a/extensions/matrix/src/matrix/sdk/crypto-bootstrap.ts
+++ b/extensions/matrix/src/matrix/sdk/crypto-bootstrap.ts
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ export type MatrixCryptoBootstrapperDeps<TRawEvent extends MatrixRawEvent> = {
 
 export type MatrixCryptoBootstrapOptions = {
   forceResetCrossSigning?: boolean;
+  allowAutomaticCrossSigningReset?: boolean;
   strict?: boolean;
 };
 
@@ -51,6 +52,7 @@ export class MatrixCryptoBootstrapper<TRawEvent extends MatrixRawEvent> {
     await this.bootstrapSecretStorage(crypto, strict);
     const crossSigning = await this.bootstrapCrossSigning(crypto, {
       forceResetCrossSigning: options.forceResetCrossSigning === true,
+      allowAutomaticCrossSigningReset: options.allowAutomaticCrossSigningReset !== false,
       strict,
     });
     await this.bootstrapSecretStorage(crypto, strict);
@@ -91,7 +93,11 @@ export class MatrixCryptoBootstrapper<TRawEvent extends MatrixRawEvent> {
 
   private async bootstrapCrossSigning(
     crypto: MatrixCryptoBootstrapApi,
-    options: { forceResetCrossSigning: boolean; strict: boolean },
+    options: {
+      forceResetCrossSigning: boolean;
+      allowAutomaticCrossSigningReset: boolean;
+      strict: boolean;
+    },
   ): Promise<{ ready: boolean; published: boolean }> {
     const userId = await this.deps.getUserId();
     const authUploadDeviceSigningKeys = this.createSigningKeysUiAuthCallback({
@@ -156,6 +162,14 @@ export class MatrixCryptoBootstrapper<TRawEvent extends MatrixRawEvent> {
         authUploadDeviceSigningKeys,
       });
     } catch (err) {
+      if (!options.allowAutomaticCrossSigningReset) {
+        LogService.warn(
+          "MatrixClientLite",
+          "Initial cross-signing bootstrap failed and automatic reset is disabled:",
+          err,
+        );
+        return { ready: false, published: false };
+      }
       LogService.warn(
         "MatrixClientLite",
         "Initial cross-signing bootstrap failed, trying reset:",
@@ -182,6 +196,10 @@ export class MatrixCryptoBootstrapper<TRawEvent extends MatrixRawEvent> {
       return { ready: true, published: true };
     }
 
+    if (!options.allowAutomaticCrossSigningReset) {
+      return { ready: firstPassReady, published: firstPassPublished };
+    }
+
     // Fallback: recover from broken local/server state by creating a fresh identity.
     try {
       await crypto.bootstrapCrossSigning({