diff --git a/apps/minecraft-paper/CUTOVER.md b/apps/minecraft-paper/CUTOVER.md
index 5975f4c..e69e969 100644
--- a/apps/minecraft-paper/CUTOVER.md
+++ b/apps/minecraft-paper/CUTOVER.md
@@ -20,3 +20,9 @@ Never let both runtimes write the server directory simultaneously.
 
 The normal LoadBalancer address is dynamically assigned; the separate direct
 service also answers on `10.12.4.170` and `192.168.0.2`.
+
+Paper's pod is gated by node label `minecraft.brunner.ninja/dynmap-ready=true`.
+The host mount scripts set it only after the Dynmap tiles directory is confirmed
+as a bind mount from `/mnt`; the offline script removes the label and waits for
+Paper to stop before unmounting. This prevents a fresh empty directory on the
+system disk from being used for map tiles.
diff --git a/apps/minecraft-paper/deployment.yaml b/apps/minecraft-paper/deployment.yaml
index 0c6873a..417103c 100644
--- a/apps/minecraft-paper/deployment.yaml
+++ b/apps/minecraft-paper/deployment.yaml
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ spec:
       terminationGracePeriodSeconds: 600
       nodeSelector:
         kubernetes.io/hostname: arschrock
+        minecraft.brunner.ninja/dynmap-ready: "true"
       tolerations:
         - key: node-role.kubernetes.io/control-plane
           operator: Exists