diff --git a/PAI-Install/engine/steps-fresh.ts b/PAI-Install/engine/steps-fresh.ts
index a24c1165..9e32bd2a 100644
--- a/PAI-Install/engine/steps-fresh.ts
+++ b/PAI-Install/engine/steps-fresh.ts
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ import { buildOpenCodeBinary } from "./build-opencode.ts";
 import type { BuildResult } from "./build-opencode.ts";
 import { PROVIDER_MODELS, PROVIDER_LABELS } from "./provider-models.ts";
 import type { ProviderName } from "./provider-models.ts";
-import { existsSync, mkdirSync, writeFileSync, chmodSync, symlinkSync, unlinkSync, lstatSync, realpathSync, readFileSync } from "node:fs";
+import { existsSync, mkdirSync, writeFileSync, chmodSync, symlinkSync, unlinkSync, lstatSync, realpathSync, readFileSync, renameSync } from "node:fs";
 import { join, resolve, dirname } from "node:path";
 import { homedir } from "node:os";
 
@@ -380,14 +380,19 @@ ${providerEnvVar}=${state.collected.apiKey || ""}
 				}
 				// If it already points to our location, nothing to do
 			} else if (stats.isDirectory()) {
-				// It's a real directory - backup and replace with symlink
+				if (realpathSync(globalOpencodeLink) === localOpencodeDir) {
+					console.warn("PAI install directory already matches ~/.opencode; no symlink changes needed.");
+				} else {
+				// It's a real directory — back it up and replace it so validation reads the new install.
 				const backupPath = `${globalOpencodeLink}.backup-${Date.now()}`;
-				// Note: In production, this would need proper backup logic
-				// For now, we just warn and don't overwrite
-				throw new Error(
-					`~/.opencode is a directory (not a symlink). ` +
-					`Please backup and remove it manually, then re-run the installer.`
-				);
+				renameSync(globalOpencodeLink, backupPath);
+				symlinkSync(localOpencodeDir, globalOpencodeLink, "dir");
+				console.warn(`Warning: Existing ~/.opencode directory moved to ${backupPath}`);
+				}
+			} else {
+				// Regular file (not a symlink or directory) — replace it with the symlink.
+				unlinkSync(globalOpencodeLink);
+				symlinkSync(localOpencodeDir, globalOpencodeLink, "dir");
 			}
 		} else {
 			// No ~/.opencode exists - create symlink
@@ -585,4 +590,4 @@ export async function runFreshInstall(
 import { exec as execCallback } from "node:child_process";
 import { promisify } from "node:util";
 
-const exec = promisify(execCallback);
\ No newline at end of file
+const exec = promisify(execCallback);
diff --git a/PAI-Install/public/app.js b/PAI-Install/public/app.js
index 2fb705f9..b3b83f82 100644
--- a/PAI-Install/public/app.js
+++ b/PAI-Install/public/app.js
@@ -12,10 +12,12 @@ let voiceEnabled = true;
 let currentAudio = null;
 let installMode = null; // 'fresh', 'migrate', 'update'
 let steps = [];
+let installationComplete = false;
 
 // ─── WebSocket Connection ────────────────────────────────────────
 
 function connect() {
+  if (installationComplete) return;
   const protocol = location.protocol === 'https:' ? 'wss:' : 'ws:';
   ws = new WebSocket(`${protocol}//${location.host}/ws`);
 
@@ -35,8 +37,10 @@ function connect() {
 
   ws.onclose = () => {
     connected = false;
-    addMessage('system', 'Connection lost. Reconnecting...', false);
-    setTimeout(connect, 2000); // Auto-reconnect
+    if (!installationComplete) {
+      addMessage('system', 'Connection lost. Reconnecting...', false);
+      setTimeout(connect, 2000); // Auto-reconnect
+    }
   };
 
   ws.onerror = () => {
@@ -59,6 +63,7 @@ function handleServerMessage(msg) {
       break;
 
     case 'mode_selected':
+      installationComplete = false;
       setStepsForMode(msg.mode);
       renderSteps();
       break;
@@ -111,6 +116,7 @@ function handleServerMessage(msg) {
       break;
 
     case 'install_complete':
+      installationComplete = true;
       renderSummary(msg.summary);
       break;