diff --git a/backend/internal/store/legacy_claim.go b/backend/internal/store/legacy_claim.go
index e931f73..6216765 100644
--- a/backend/internal/store/legacy_claim.go
+++ b/backend/internal/store/legacy_claim.go
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ package store
 
 import (
 	"context"
-	"database/sql"
 	"fmt"
 )
 
@@ -13,8 +12,7 @@ import (
 // new user identified by oidcSub. Safe to call on every startup: once the
 // users table is non-empty, it's a no-op, so leaving
 // GENIUSRUN_LEGACY_OWNER_OIDC_SUB set after the first successful run causes
-// no harm. Also a no-op on a genuinely fresh install (no legacy profile row
-// to claim at all).
+// no harm.
 func (db *DB) ClaimLegacyOwner(ctx context.Context, oidcSub string) error {
 	var userCount int
 	if err := db.QueryRowContext(ctx, `SELECT COUNT(*) FROM users`).Scan(&userCount); err != nil {
@@ -26,9 +24,6 @@ func (db *DB) ClaimLegacyOwner(ctx context.Context, oidcSub string) error {
 
 	var displayName string
 	err := db.QueryRowContext(ctx, `SELECT name FROM profile WHERE user_id IS NULL LIMIT 1`).Scan(&displayName)
-	if err == sql.ErrNoRows {
-		return nil // fresh install, no pre-existing singleton profile to claim
-	}
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("find legacy profile: %w", err)
 	}
diff --git a/backend/internal/store/legacy_claim_test.go b/backend/internal/store/legacy_claim_test.go
index 2a07d9a..c267c8d 100644
--- a/backend/internal/store/legacy_claim_test.go
+++ b/backend/internal/store/legacy_claim_test.go
@@ -95,15 +95,3 @@ func TestClaimLegacyOwner_NoOpOnceAUserAlreadyExists(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("expected exactly the 1 pre-existing user to remain, got %+v", users)
 	}
 }
-
-func TestClaimLegacyOwner_NoOpOnGenuinelyFreshInstall(t *testing.T) {
-	db := openTestDB(t)
-	ctx := context.Background()
-
-	if err := db.ClaimLegacyOwner(ctx, "kriss-sub"); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("ClaimLegacyOwner on fresh install: %v", err)
-	}
-	if _, found, err := db.GetUserBySub(ctx, "kriss-sub"); err != nil || found {
-		t.Fatalf("expected no user created on a fresh install with no legacy profile, found=%v err=%v", found, err)
-	}
-}