diff --git a/manifests/nvidia-device-plugin/nvidia-device-plugin.yaml b/manifests/nvidia-device-plugin/nvidia-device-plugin.yaml
index d490e48..409a610 100644
--- a/manifests/nvidia-device-plugin/nvidia-device-plugin.yaml
+++ b/manifests/nvidia-device-plugin/nvidia-device-plugin.yaml
@@ -28,8 +28,12 @@ spec:
       labels:
         name: nvidia-device-plugin-ds
     spec:
-      nodeSelector:
-        nvidia.com/gpu.present: "true"
+      # nodeSelector removed for initial deployment to avoid chicken-egg problem
+      # The nvidia.com/gpu.present label is applied BY the device plugin itself
+      # FAIL_ON_INIT_ERROR=false ensures graceful skip on nodes without GPU
+      # After first deployment, you can optionally re-enable with:
+      # nodeSelector:
+      #   nvidia.com/gpu.present: "true"
       tolerations:
       - key: nvidia.com/gpu
         operator: Exists