diff --git a/web/src/settings/AISettingsPage.test.tsx b/web/src/settings/AISettingsPage.test.tsx
index 903fabd..1ad7dbd 100644
--- a/web/src/settings/AISettingsPage.test.tsx
+++ b/web/src/settings/AISettingsPage.test.tsx
@@ -657,6 +657,29 @@ describe('Recipe search card', () => {
     expect(await screen.findByRole('dialog', { name: 'Leave without saving?' })).toBeInTheDocument()
   })
 
+  it('does not count the suggested SearXNG URL as an unsaved change until it is edited', async () => {
+    stubAPI({ 'GET /api/v1/settings/recipe-search': () => jsonResponse(200, UNCONFIGURED) })
+    await renderCard()
+    const unload = () => {
+      const event = new Event('beforeunload', { cancelable: true })
+      act(() => void window.dispatchEvent(event))
+      return event.defaultPrevented
+    }
+    expect(saveSearch()).toBeEnabled()
+    expect(unload()).toBe(false)
+    fireEvent.change(url(), { target: { value: 'https://search.example' } })
+    expect(unload()).toBe(true)
+    fireEvent.change(url(), { target: { value: 'http://searxng:8080' } })
+    expect(unload()).toBe(false)
+  })
+
+  it('leaves the untouched first-use card without asking', async () => {
+    stubAPI({ 'GET /api/v1/settings/recipe-search': () => jsonResponse(200, UNCONFIGURED) })
+    await renderCard()
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole('button', { name: 'Back to Settings' }))
+    expect(await screen.findByTestId('path')).toHaveTextContent('/settings')
+  })
+
   it('keeps 44 px tap targets', async () => {
     stubAPI({ 'GET /api/v1/settings/recipe-search': () => jsonResponse(200, BRAVE_SETTINGS) })
     await renderCard()
diff --git a/web/src/settings/RecipeSearchCard.tsx b/web/src/settings/RecipeSearchCard.tsx
index 9d54064..7cf7daf 100644
--- a/web/src/settings/RecipeSearchCard.tsx
+++ b/web/src/settings/RecipeSearchCard.tsx
@@ -81,16 +81,24 @@ function patchOf(saved: RecipeSearchSettings, draft: Draft): RecipeSearchSetting
   return patch
 }
 
+function sameDraft(a: Draft, b: Draft): boolean {
+  return a.provider === b.provider && a.base_url === b.base_url && a.api_key === b.api_key
+}
+
 function RecipeSearchForm({ saved, onDirtyChange }: { saved: RecipeSearchSettings } & RecipeSearchCardProps) {
   const [draft, setDraft] = useState(() => draftOf(saved))
   const save = useSaveRecipeSearchSettings()
   const test = useTestRecipeSearch()
   const patch = patchOf(saved, draft)
   const dirty = Object.keys(patch).length > 0
+  // Only the household's own edits are unsaved changes. Before recipe search
+  // is set up the untouched draft already differs from what is saved — it
+  // suggests SearXNG and the deployment's URL — but leaving it loses nothing.
+  const edited = dirty && !sameDraft(draft, draftOf(saved))
 
   useEffect(() => {
-    onDirtyChange(dirty)
-  }, [dirty, onDirtyChange])
+    onDirtyChange(edited)
+  }, [edited, onDirtyChange])
   useEffect(() => () => onDirtyChange(false), [onDirtyChange])
 
   // An edit clears the last save and test results: they describe the saved