diff --git a/scripts/install.mjs b/scripts/install.mjs
index 7478e94..271f72c 100755
--- a/scripts/install.mjs
+++ b/scripts/install.mjs
@@ -113,6 +113,39 @@ function setJson(pathKey, value) {
   runOpenclaw(["config", "set", pathKey, JSON.stringify(value), "--json"]);
 }
 
+function isPlainObject(value) {
+  return !!value && typeof value === "object" && !Array.isArray(value);
+}
+
+function mergePreservingExisting(base, updates) {
+  if (!isPlainObject(updates)) return updates;
+  const out = isPlainObject(base) ? { ...base } : {};
+  for (const [key, nextValue] of Object.entries(updates)) {
+    const currentValue = out[key];
+    if (nextValue === undefined) continue;
+    if (isPlainObject(nextValue)) {
+      out[key] = mergePreservingExisting(currentValue, nextValue);
+      continue;
+    }
+    if (nextValue === null) {
+      if (currentValue === undefined) out[key] = null;
+      continue;
+    }
+    if (typeof nextValue === "string") {
+      if (nextValue === "" && currentValue !== undefined) continue;
+      out[key] = nextValue;
+      continue;
+    }
+    if (Array.isArray(nextValue)) {
+      if (nextValue.length === 0 && Array.isArray(currentValue) && currentValue.length > 0) continue;
+      out[key] = nextValue;
+      continue;
+    }
+    out[key] = nextValue;
+  }
+  return out;
+}
+
 function unsetPath(pathKey) {
   runOpenclaw(["config", "unset", pathKey], true);
 }
@@ -185,7 +218,8 @@ if (mode === "install") {
   plugins.load.paths = loadPaths;
 
   plugins.entries = plugins.entries || {};
-  plugins.entries.dirigent = {
+  const existingDirigentEntry = isPlainObject(plugins.entries.dirigent) ? plugins.entries.dirigent : {};
+  const desiredDirigentEntry = {
     enabled: true,
     config: {
       enabled: true,
@@ -201,6 +235,7 @@ if (mode === "install") {
       noReplyPort: NO_REPLY_PORT,
     },
   };
+  plugins.entries.dirigent = mergePreservingExisting(existingDirigentEntry, desiredDirigentEntry);
   setJson("plugins", plugins);
 
   step(5, 6, "configure no-reply provider");