diff --git a/src/client/components/ProfileSection.tsx b/src/client/components/ProfileSection.tsx
index b466cbe..466ac3b 100644
--- a/src/client/components/ProfileSection.tsx
+++ b/src/client/components/ProfileSection.tsx
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ export function ProfileSection() {
 	const [displayName, setDisplayName] = useState("");
 	const [bio, setBio] = useState("");
 	const [avatarUrl, setAvatarUrl] = useState<string | null>(null);
-	const [initialized, setInitialized] = useState(false);
+	const [dirty, setDirty] = useState(false);
 	const [message, setMessage] = useState<{
 		type: "success" | "error";
 		text: string;
@@ -21,13 +21,12 @@ export function ProfileSection() {
 	const fileInputRef = useRef<HTMLInputElement>(null);
 
 	useEffect(() => {
-		if (profile && !initialized) {
+		if (profile && !dirty) {
 			setDisplayName(profile.displayName ?? "");
 			setBio(profile.bio ?? "");
 			setAvatarUrl(profile.avatarUrl ?? null);
-			setInitialized(true);
 		}
-	}, [profile, initialized]);
+	}, [profile, dirty]);
 
 	async function handleSave(e: React.FormEvent) {
 		e.preventDefault();
@@ -38,6 +37,7 @@ export function ProfileSection() {
 				avatarUrl,
 				bio: bio.trim() || undefined,
 			});
+			setDirty(false);
 			setMessage({ type: "success", text: "Profile updated" });
 		} catch (err) {
 			setMessage({ type: "error", text: (err as Error).message });
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@ export function ProfileSection() {
 		try {
 			const result = await apiUpload<{ filename: string }>("/api/images", file);
 			setAvatarUrl(result.filename);
+			setDirty(true);
 		} catch {
 			setMessage({ type: "error", text: "Avatar upload failed." });
 		} finally {
@@ -147,7 +148,7 @@ export function ProfileSection() {
 					{avatarUrl && (
 						<button
 							type="button"
-							onClick={() => setAvatarUrl(null)}
+							onClick={() => { setAvatarUrl(null); setDirty(true); }}
 							className="block text-xs text-red-500 hover:text-red-700 mt-0.5"
 						>
 							Remove
@@ -175,7 +176,7 @@ export function ProfileSection() {
 					id="displayName"
 					type="text"
 					value={displayName}
-					onChange={(e) => setDisplayName(e.target.value)}
+					onChange={(e) => { setDisplayName(e.target.value); setDirty(true); }}
 					maxLength={100}
 					placeholder="Your display name"
 					className="w-full px-3 py-2 border border-gray-200 rounded-lg text-sm focus:outline-none focus:ring-2 focus:ring-gray-200"
@@ -193,7 +194,7 @@ export function ProfileSection() {
 				<textarea
 					id="bio"
 					value={bio}
-					onChange={(e) => setBio(e.target.value)}
+					onChange={(e) => { setBio(e.target.value); setDirty(true); }}
 					maxLength={500}
 					rows={3}
 					placeholder="Tell others about yourself and your gear interests"