diff --git a/src/app/api/auth/me/coach-prefs/__tests__/route.test.ts b/src/app/api/auth/me/coach-prefs/__tests__/route.test.ts
index 0eec03dd1..0a5592c0f 100644
--- a/src/app/api/auth/me/coach-prefs/__tests__/route.test.ts
+++ b/src/app/api/auth/me/coach-prefs/__tests__/route.test.ts
@@ -64,7 +64,24 @@ beforeEach(() => {
 });
 
 describe("GET /api/auth/me/coach-prefs", () => {
-  it("returns the prefs plus the optimistic-concurrency token", async () => {
+  it("returns a SAVED user's prefs plus the optimistic-concurrency token", async () => {
+    vi.mocked(prisma.user.findUnique).mockResolvedValue({
+      coachPrefsJson: { tone: "concise" },
+      updatedAt: new Date("2026-07-24T10:00:00.000Z"),
+    } as never);
+
+    const res = await (GET as () => Promise<Response>)();
+    expect(res.status).toBe(200);
+    const env = (await res.json()) as {
+      data: { tone: string; updatedAt?: string };
+    };
+    expect(env.data.tone).toBe("concise");
+    expect(env.data.updatedAt).toBe("2026-07-24T10:00:00.000Z");
+  });
+
+  it("returns the PURE default with NO token for a never-saved user", async () => {
+    // Mirrors the insights-layout never-saved GET: nothing to guard yet, and
+    // the first save is the tokenless unconditional write (backward-compat).
     vi.mocked(prisma.user.findUnique).mockResolvedValue({
       coachPrefsJson: null,
       updatedAt: new Date("2026-07-24T10:00:00.000Z"),
@@ -76,7 +93,7 @@ describe("GET /api/auth/me/coach-prefs", () => {
       data: { tone: string; updatedAt?: string };
     };
     expect(env.data.tone).toBe("warm");
-    expect(env.data.updatedAt).toBe("2026-07-24T10:00:00.000Z");
+    expect(env.data.updatedAt).toBeUndefined();
   });
 });
 
diff --git a/src/app/api/auth/me/coach-prefs/route.ts b/src/app/api/auth/me/coach-prefs/route.ts
index e40ff6c13..d76c3fdb2 100644
--- a/src/app/api/auth/me/coach-prefs/route.ts
+++ b/src/app/api/auth/me/coach-prefs/route.ts
@@ -39,12 +39,16 @@ export const GET = apiHandler(async () => {
     where: { id: user.id },
     select: { coachPrefsJson: true, updatedAt: true },
   });
-  return apiSuccess({
-    ...parseCoachPrefs(row?.coachPrefsJson),
-    // v1.32.22 (M4) — optimistic-concurrency token (additive sibling key; the
-    // prefs shape is a fixed key set, so `updatedAt` cannot collide).
-    updatedAt: row?.updatedAt?.toISOString(),
-  });
+  const prefs = parseCoachPrefs(row?.coachPrefsJson);
+  // v1.32.22 (M4) — a never-saved user gets the PURE default with NO token
+  // (mirrors the insights-layout never-saved GET). There is nothing to guard
+  // against yet, and the first save is just the tokenless unconditional write.
+  // A saved row carries `updatedAt` (additive sibling key; the prefs shape is a
+  // fixed key set, so it cannot collide) so the client can echo it.
+  if (row?.coachPrefsJson == null) {
+    return apiSuccess(prefs);
+  }
+  return apiSuccess({ ...prefs, updatedAt: row.updatedAt?.toISOString() });
 });
 
 export const PUT = apiHandler(async (req: Request) => {
diff --git a/tests/integration/coach-prefs.test.ts b/tests/integration/coach-prefs.test.ts
index 5da6b5531..6a1a6e3f7 100644
--- a/tests/integration/coach-prefs.test.ts
+++ b/tests/integration/coach-prefs.test.ts
@@ -104,23 +104,30 @@ describe("PUT /api/auth/me/coach-prefs", () => {
       }),
     );
     expect(putRes.status).toBe(200);
-    const putEnv = (await putRes.json()) as { data: typeof expected };
-    expect(putEnv.data).toEqual(expected);
+    // v1.32.22 (M4) — the write echoes the fresh optimistic-concurrency
+    // `updatedAt` token alongside the canonical prefs.
+    const putEnv = (await putRes.json()) as {
+      data: typeof expected & { updatedAt?: string };
+    };
+    expect(putEnv.data).toEqual({ ...expected, updatedAt: expect.any(String) });
 
-    // DB row reflects the canonical defaulted form.
+    // DB row reflects the canonical defaulted form. `coachPrefsJson` must NOT
+    // carry `updatedAt` — that token is the separate `User.updatedAt` column.
     const row = await prisma.user.findUnique({
       where: { id: user.id },
       select: { coachPrefsJson: true },
     });
     expect(row?.coachPrefsJson).toEqual(expected);
 
-    // GET reads the saved values back.
+    // GET reads the saved values back, now carrying the token (saved row).
     const getRes = await (GET as (r: Request) => Promise<Response>)(
       new Request("http://localhost/api/auth/me/coach-prefs"),
     );
     expect(getRes.status).toBe(200);
-    const getEnv = (await getRes.json()) as { data: typeof expected };
-    expect(getEnv.data).toEqual(expected);
+    const getEnv = (await getRes.json()) as {
+      data: typeof expected & { updatedAt?: string };
+    };
+    expect(getEnv.data).toEqual({ ...expected, updatedAt: expect.any(String) });
   });
 
   it("rejects unknown tone values with 422", async () => {