diff --git a/src/main.cpp b/src/main.cpp
index d456938..86ae7f5 100644
--- a/src/main.cpp
+++ b/src/main.cpp
@@ -2596,9 +2596,11 @@ void setup() {
   jamPower     = kPowerTable[jamPowerIdx];
   preferences.putInt("jamPowerIdx", (int)jamPowerIdx);
   capHistoryLoad();
-  jamMode = jamModeFromU8(preferences.getUChar("jamMode", 0));
+  // Boot policy: always start in Special jam (60 B PRNG / 10 ms); persists to NVS for startJamming().
+  jamMode = JamMode::SPECIAL;
+  preferences.putUChar("jamMode", (uint8_t)jamMode);
   logLine("[NVS] jam at boot: always ON | jamPower=" + String(jamPower) + " dBm | jam_mode=" +
-          String(jamModeToCstr(jamMode)));
+          String(jamModeToCstr(jamMode)) + " (default on power-up)");
   
   logLine("[BOOT] CC1101 Key-Fob Jammer starting");
   logLine("[BOOT] ESP32-S3 DevKitC-1");