diff --git a/k8s/hpa.yaml b/k8s/hpa.yaml
index 731d60c7..da229d7e 100644
--- a/k8s/hpa.yaml
+++ b/k8s/hpa.yaml
@@ -22,8 +22,11 @@ spec:
     apiVersion: apps/v1
     kind: Deployment
     name: prop
-  minReplicas: 2
-  maxReplicas: 5
+  # Pinned at 1 pod (min == max). HPA still owns the replica count so
+  # Flux reconcile stays out of the way; raise both bounds together to
+  # restore autoscaling.
+  minReplicas: 1
+  maxReplicas: 1
   metrics:
     - type: Resource
       resource: