diff --git a/persistent-memory.md b/persistent-memory.md
index 382611c..9b7a9df 100644
--- a/persistent-memory.md
+++ b/persistent-memory.md
@@ -273,6 +273,20 @@ _As of 2026-05-20:_
   Lesson: when encoding container-internal paths in compose, verify
   against the Dockerfile, not the design-doc.
 
+- `[2026-05-20]` `SKALDSONG_DB_PATH` + `SKALDSONG_RUNS_DIR` in
+  compose env block — names skaldsong's app doesn't read. App reads
+  `SKALDSONG_HOST_SQLITE_PATH` + `SKALDSONG_HOST_RUNS_ROOT` (per
+  Dockerfile ENV defaults). Wrong names = silently no-op; app fell
+  back to Dockerfile defaults pointing at `/app/data/...` which the
+  compose's bind mount did NOT cover (mount target was
+  `/app/state/...`). Result: every `--force-recreate` wiped the
+  SQLite DB along with the ephemeral container layer. Caught by
+  skaldsong-dev after operator noticed stories vanishing on each
+  CD push (althing thread `01KS4DPF6SXTBP4Q360JZVWPNT`). Fix in
+  `52e98fa` — rename env vars, bind targets unchanged. Same lesson
+  as the `/app/web/dist` footgun: verify env var NAMES against the
+  Dockerfile/app, not against design-doc shorthand.
+
 - `[2026-05-19]` Playbook verify step `docker ps | grep healthy`
   racing the container's `start_period` (30s in compose's
   healthcheck). Verify ran 0.09s after `compose up -d --force-recreate`