diff --git a/bin/joj3-forge-convert b/bin/joj3-forge-convert
index 86f7723..022e4df 100755
--- a/bin/joj3-forge-convert
+++ b/bin/joj3-forge-convert
@@ -58,7 +58,12 @@ EOF
         echo "FATAL: Forbidden file found in '/home/tt/.config/teapot/teapot.env'. Check the latest README to set TEAPOT_GITEA_TOKEN in secrets instead." >&2
         exit 1
     fi
-    rsync -a "$config_repo_path/home/tt/.ssh/" "/home/tt/.ssh"
+    # optional .ssh path
+    if [ -d "$config_repo_path/home/tt/.ssh/" ]; then
+        rsync -a "$config_repo_path/home/tt/.ssh/" "/home/tt/.ssh"
+    else
+        echo "WARNING: No .ssh directory found in config repo"
+    fi
     rsync -a --delete "$config_repo_path/home/tt/.config/" "/home/tt/.config"
 
     # check gitea token