diff --git a/update-gitops-status.sh b/update-gitops-status.sh
index b51b447..65bbbb1 100644
--- a/update-gitops-status.sh
+++ b/update-gitops-status.sh
@@ -248,10 +248,22 @@ if [ "$MODE" = "post-deploy" ]; then
   fi
   DEPLOYED_FILES_JSON+="]"
 else
-  # Drift-check mode: populate drifted_files, keep deployed_files empty
-  DEPLOYED_FILES_JSON="[]"
-  DRIFTED_FILES_JSON="["
+  # Drift-check mode: Keep existing deployed_files, only update drifted_files
+  # First fetch current status to preserve deployed_files
+  echo "  Fetching current deployed_files from API..."
+  CURRENT_JSON=$(curl -s "$GITOPS_STATUS_SERVER_URL/api/status" 2>/dev/null || echo "{}")
   
+  # Extract deployed_files from current JSON (use jq if available)
+  if command -v jq >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    DEPLOYED_FILES_JSON=$(echo "$CURRENT_JSON" | jq -c '.deployed_files // []' 2>/dev/null || echo "[]")
+    echo "  Preserving deployed_files: $DEPLOYED_FILES_JSON"
+  else
+    DEPLOYED_FILES_JSON="[]"
+    echo "  WARNING: jq not available, cannot preserve deployed_files"
+  fi
+  
+  # Build drifted_files from detected drift
+  DRIFTED_FILES_JSON="["
   if [ ${#CHANGED_FILES[@]} -gt 0 ]; then
     for i in "${!CHANGED_FILES[@]}"; do
       if [ "$i" -gt 0 ]; then