diff --git a/tests/test_settings.py b/tests/test_settings.py
index a3c93de..d99fcb4 100644
--- a/tests/test_settings.py
+++ b/tests/test_settings.py
@@ -48,4 +48,20 @@ def test_switching_categories_retains_dirty_settings(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
     app._update_dirty_setting("theme", "light")
     app.selected_category = "Data"
     assert "theme" in app.dirty_settings
-    assert app.dirty_settings["theme"] == "light"
\ No newline at end of file
+    assert app.dirty_settings["theme"] == "light"
+
+
+def test_dirty_settings_seeded_from_loaded_settings(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
+    # Regression: __init__ used to overwrite `dirty_settings` with an empty
+    # dict immediately after seeding it from `self.settings`, which silently
+    # discarded any persisted values before the UI rendered.
+    monkeypatch.setattr(Path, "home", lambda: tmp_path)
+    app = SettingsApp()
+    assert app.dirty_settings == app.settings
+    assert app.dirty_settings == {
+        "theme": "dark",
+        "prompt_symbol": "➜",
+        "show_git_status": True,
+        "auto_complete": True,
+        "csv_max_rows": 50,
+    }
diff --git a/trushell/commands/settings.py b/trushell/commands/settings.py
index b7243eb..2057ad0 100644
--- a/trushell/commands/settings.py
+++ b/trushell/commands/settings.py
@@ -74,10 +74,9 @@ def __init__(self, **kwargs) -> None:
         super().__init__(**kwargs)
         self.manager = SettingsManager()
         self.settings = self.manager.load()
+        # Track changes to settings without losing data when switching categories
         self.dirty_settings = dict(self.settings)
         self.selected_category = "General"
-        # Track changes to settings without losing data when switching categories
-        self.dirty_settings: dict = {}
 
     def compose(self) -> ComposeResult:
         yield Header(show_clock=False)