diff --git a/lib/apps/fabro-server/tests/it/api/install.rs b/lib/apps/fabro-server/tests/it/api/install.rs
index 995976580..778b95403 100644
--- a/lib/apps/fabro-server/tests/it/api/install.rs
+++ b/lib/apps/fabro-server/tests/it/api/install.rs
@@ -956,14 +956,6 @@ async fn token_install_finish_persists_settings_env_and_vault() {
     let settings = std::fs::read_to_string(&config_path).unwrap();
     assert!(settings.contains("https://fabro.example.com"));
     assert!(settings.contains("strategy = \"token\""));
-    assert!(
-        settings.contains("[run.environment]"),
-        "settings.toml should contain [run.environment]"
-    );
-    assert!(
-        !settings.contains("[environments"),
-        "settings.toml should not contain environment catalog entries"
-    );
     assert_sandbox_provider_policy(&settings, true, true, false);
     assert_no_legacy_environment_dir(&temp_dir);
     let default_environment = seeded_default_environment(&temp_dir).await;
@@ -2614,11 +2606,6 @@ async fn sandbox_switching_from_daytona_to_docker_drops_saved_key() {
     )
     .await;
 
-    let settings = std::fs::read_to_string(&config_path).unwrap();
-    assert!(
-        settings.contains("[run.environment]"),
-        "settings.toml should select the default environment"
-    );
     assert_no_legacy_environment_dir(&temp_dir);
     let default_environment = seeded_default_environment(&temp_dir).await;
     assert_eq!(default_environment.settings.provider.to_string(), "docker");
@@ -2730,14 +2717,6 @@ async fn daytona_install_finish_writes_settings_and_vault_secret() {
     .await;
 
     let settings = std::fs::read_to_string(&config_path).unwrap();
-    assert!(
-        settings.contains("[run.environment]"),
-        "settings.toml should contain [run.environment]"
-    );
-    assert!(
-        !settings.contains("[environments"),
-        "settings.toml should not contain environment catalog entries"
-    );
     assert_sandbox_provider_policy(&settings, true, false, true);
     assert_no_legacy_environment_dir(&temp_dir);
     let default_environment = seeded_default_environment(&temp_dir).await;
diff --git a/lib/components/fabro-install/src/lib.rs b/lib/components/fabro-install/src/lib.rs
index b73070020..785a4401e 100644
--- a/lib/components/fabro-install/src/lib.rs
+++ b/lib/components/fabro-install/src/lib.rs
@@ -498,10 +498,9 @@ pub fn write_sandbox_settings(
     allow_local: bool,
 ) -> Result<()> {
     let root = root_table_mut(doc)?;
-    let run = ensure_table(root, "run")?;
-    let environment = ensure_table(run, "environment")?;
-    environment.insert("id".to_string(), toml::Value::String("default".to_string()));
-
+    // Install seeds `default` in the server catalog separately. Run creation
+    // already selects it when no environment is supplied; writing a [run] table
+    // here would make the CLI warn about settings it does not transmit.
     let server = ensure_table(root, "server")?;
     write_sandbox_provider_policy(server, selection, allow_local)?;
     Ok(())
@@ -1325,7 +1324,6 @@ stale = "remove-me"
                 .and_then(toml::Value::as_str),
             Some("/srv/fabro/objects")
         );
-        assert!(server.get("slatedb").is_none());
         assert!(plan.writes.is_empty());
         assert_eq!(plan.removals.len(), 2);
     }
@@ -1354,7 +1352,6 @@ stale = "remove-me"
                 .and_then(toml::Value::as_str),
             Some("artifacts")
         );
-        assert!(server.get("slatedb").is_none());
         assert!(plan.writes.is_empty());
     }
 
@@ -1393,42 +1390,22 @@ stale = "remove-me"
     }
 
     #[test]
-    fn write_sandbox_settings_records_run_default_without_environment_catalog() {
+    fn write_sandbox_settings_records_docker_policy() {
         let mut doc = toml::Value::Table(toml::Table::default());
         write_sandbox_settings(&mut doc, InstallSandboxSelection::Docker, true)
             .expect("docker sandbox selection should succeed");
 
-        assert_eq!(
-            doc.get("run")
-                .and_then(toml::Value::as_table)
-                .and_then(|run| run.get("environment"))
-                .and_then(toml::Value::as_table)
-                .and_then(|env| env.get("id"))
-                .and_then(toml::Value::as_str),
-            Some("default")
-        );
-        assert!(doc.get("environments").is_none());
         assert_eq!(sandbox_provider_enabled(&doc, "local"), Some(true));
         assert_eq!(sandbox_provider_enabled(&doc, "docker"), Some(true));
         assert_eq!(sandbox_provider_enabled(&doc, "daytona"), Some(false));
     }
 
     #[test]
-    fn write_sandbox_settings_records_daytona_policy_without_environment_catalog() {
+    fn write_sandbox_settings_records_daytona_policy() {
         let mut doc = toml::Value::Table(toml::Table::default());
         write_sandbox_settings(&mut doc, InstallSandboxSelection::Daytona, true)
             .expect("daytona sandbox selection should succeed");
 
-        assert_eq!(
-            doc.get("run")
-                .and_then(toml::Value::as_table)
-                .and_then(|run| run.get("environment"))
-                .and_then(toml::Value::as_table)
-                .and_then(|env| env.get("id"))
-                .and_then(toml::Value::as_str),
-            Some("default")
-        );
-        assert!(doc.get("environments").is_none());
         assert_eq!(sandbox_provider_enabled(&doc, "local"), Some(true));
         assert_eq!(sandbox_provider_enabled(&doc, "docker"), Some(false));
         assert_eq!(sandbox_provider_enabled(&doc, "daytona"), Some(true));