diff --git a/etc/init_registry.sh b/etc/init_registry.sh
index d34a9f1..bd18212 100755
--- a/etc/init_registry.sh
+++ b/etc/init_registry.sh
@@ -342,8 +342,26 @@ apply_registry() {
   mode=$(current_mode)
   if [[ "$mode" == "k3d" ]]; then
     if command -v k3d >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+      # Remove legacy prole-registry that may be squatting on port 5000.
+      # It may be k3d-managed (delete via k3d) or a bare Docker container (rm -f).
+      if k3d registry list prole-registry >/dev/null 2>&1 \
+          || docker inspect k3d-prole-registry >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+        echo "Removing legacy k3d-prole-registry from port 5000 ..."
+        k3d registry delete prole-registry >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
+        docker stop k3d-prole-registry >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
+        docker rm -f k3d-prole-registry >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
+      fi
+
       echo "Ensuring k3d registry 'knoe-registry' on port 5000 ..."
-      if ! k3d registry list knoe-registry >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+      # If knoe-registry was created but never started (port was taken), nuke and recreate.
+      if k3d registry list knoe-registry >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+        if ! docker ps --format '{{.Names}}' 2>/dev/null | grep -qE '^k3d-knoe-registry$'; then
+          echo "k3d-knoe-registry exists but is not running; recreating ..."
+          k3d registry delete knoe-registry >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
+          docker rm -f k3d-knoe-registry >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
+          k3d registry create knoe-registry --port 5000 || true
+        fi
+      else
         k3d registry create knoe-registry --port 5000 || true
       fi
       local cluster_name