diff --git a/scripts/e2e_seed.py b/scripts/e2e_seed.py
index f2ac5994..fcc35365 100644
--- a/scripts/e2e_seed.py
+++ b/scripts/e2e_seed.py
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ from sqlalchemy import delete, func, select  # noqa: E402
 
 from app.db import SessionLocal  # noqa: E402
 from app.models import (  # noqa: E402
+    AppState,
     Channel,
     Playlist,
     PlaylistItem,
@@ -46,6 +47,21 @@ def _now() -> datetime:
 def main() -> None:
     db = SessionLocal()
     try:
+        # 0. Mark the instance configured so the first-run setup wizard is skipped. A prod→dev
+        #    reseed (siftlode seed-dev-from-prod) TRUNCATEs app_state — it's excluded from the
+        #    data allow-list, being local/operational state — which would otherwise drop the box
+        #    back into "Setup needed" and block login/UAT. Since e2e_seed always leaves a loginable
+        #    admin below, the instance is legitimately set up. Idempotent (mirrors state._row +
+        #    state.mark_configured). The running api process caches `configured` one-way from False,
+        #    so it re-reads the DB and promotes on the next request — no restart needed.
+        app_state = db.get(AppState, 1)
+        if app_state is None:
+            app_state = AppState(id=1, sync_paused=False)
+            db.add(app_state)
+        app_state.configured = True
+        app_state.setup_token_hash = None
+        db.commit()
+
         # 1. Upsert the account and always reset it to a clean, loginable baseline
         #    (email_verified + is_active + not suspended + not demo + password set).
         user = db.scalar(select(User).where(User.email == EMAIL))