diff --git a/oci/catalog/overlays/pocketbase.json b/oci/catalog/overlays/pocketbase.json
index c11479ef..7c1be1ba 100644
--- a/oci/catalog/overlays/pocketbase.json
+++ b/oci/catalog/overlays/pocketbase.json
@@ -1,4 +1,38 @@
 {
+  "container_contract": {
+    "volumes": [
+      {
+        "id": "volume-0",
+        "container_path": "/pocketbase/pb_data",
+        "compose_source_example": "/DATA/AppData/$AppID/pb_data",
+        "read_only": false,
+        "required": true,
+        "installation_choice": [
+          "managed-volume",
+          "host-bind"
+        ],
+        "default": "managed-volume",
+        "managed_volume": {
+          "backup": true,
+          "default_size_gb": 8
+        }
+      }
+    ]
+  },
+  "proxmox": {
+    "installer_profile": {
+      "volume_seeds": [
+        {
+          "container_path": "/pocketbase/pb_data",
+          "source_path": "/pocketbase/pb_data",
+          "mount_types": [
+            "managed-volume",
+            "host-bind"
+          ]
+        }
+      ]
+    }
+  },
   "first_run": {
     "credentials": [
       {
diff --git a/oci/remote/install_oci.sh b/oci/remote/install_oci.sh
index 24ae0b45..dd80a127 100755
--- a/oci/remote/install_oci.sh
+++ b/oci/remote/install_oci.sh
@@ -318,6 +318,11 @@ SECCOMP_PROFILE_FILE=""
 CT_CREATED=0
 INSTALL_COMPLETE=0
 PRESERVE_FAILED_CT=0
+VOLUME_SEED_STAGE_ROOT=""
+VOLUME_SEED_TARGETS=()
+VOLUME_SEED_STAGES=()
+VOLUME_SEED_MOUNT_TYPES=()
+CANONICAL_INPUT_DIR=""
 
 cleanup_runtime_console_log() {
   # The console log is the container's own log from here on, and its line in
@@ -327,6 +332,14 @@ cleanup_runtime_console_log() {
   RUNTIME_CONSOLE_LOG=""
 }
 
+cleanup_canonical_inputs() {
+  [[ -n ${CANONICAL_INPUT_DIR:-} ]] || return 0
+  [[ $CANONICAL_INPUT_DIR == "/var/tmp/proxmenux-oci-inputs-${VMID}."* && -d $CANONICAL_INPUT_DIR && ! -L $CANONICAL_INPUT_DIR ]] \
+    || { oci_log "Refusing to remove an unexpected canonical input directory: ${CANONICAL_INPUT_DIR}"; return 1; }
+  rm -rf -- "$CANONICAL_INPUT_DIR" || return 1
+  CANONICAL_INPUT_DIR=""
+}
+
 # A derived check accepts any HTTP answer below 500: the application is up,
 # even when its first page is a redirect or asks for a login.
 healthcheck_probe() {
@@ -342,6 +355,8 @@ healthcheck_probe() {
 cleanup_failed_install() {
   local status=$?
   stop_spinner
+  cleanup_volume_seed_staging || true
+  cleanup_canonical_inputs || true
   if [[ -n ${PROXMENUX_OCI_TRANSACTION:-} ]]; then
     # The transaction owns recovery. Destroying this CT could destroy reused data.
     cleanup_runtime_console_log || true
@@ -398,6 +413,121 @@ ensure_rootfs_directory() {
   done
 }
 
+is_reused_managed_mount() {
+  local target=$1
+  [[ -n ${PROXMENUX_OCI_TRANSACTION:-} ]] || return 1
+  jq -e --arg path "$target" \
+    '[.transaction_reuse_mounts[]? | select(.container_path == $path)] | length > 0' \
+    "$DEPLOYMENT_FILE" >/dev/null
+}
+
+cleanup_volume_seed_staging() {
+  [[ -n ${VOLUME_SEED_STAGE_ROOT:-} ]] || return 0
+  [[ $VOLUME_SEED_STAGE_ROOT == "/var/tmp/proxmenux-oci-seed-${VMID}."* && -d $VOLUME_SEED_STAGE_ROOT && ! -L $VOLUME_SEED_STAGE_ROOT ]] \
+    || { oci_log "Refusing to remove an unexpected image-volume staging directory: ${VOLUME_SEED_STAGE_ROOT}"; return 1; }
+  rm -rf -- "$VOLUME_SEED_STAGE_ROOT" || return 1
+  VOLUME_SEED_STAGE_ROOT=""
+}
+
+capture_volume_seeds() {
+  local seed_count=0 rootfs="/var/lib/lxc/${VMID}/rootfs"
+  local encoded item target source_path selected_mount_type mount_types source stage index=0 mounted=0 failed=0
+
+  seed_count=$(jq '.proxmox.installer_profile.volume_seeds? // [] | length' "$TEMPLATE_FILE")
+  (( seed_count > 0 )) || return 0
+
+  mount_ct_rootfs
+  mounted=1
+  VOLUME_SEED_STAGE_ROOT=$(mktemp -d "/var/tmp/proxmenux-oci-seed-${VMID}.XXXXXX") || failed=1
+  while (( failed == 0 )) && IFS= read -r encoded; do
+    [[ -n $encoded ]] || continue
+    item=$(printf '%s' "$encoded" | base64 -d)
+    target=$(jq -er '.container_path' <<<"$item")
+    source_path=$(jq -er '.source_path' <<<"$item")
+    mount_types=$(jq -c '.mount_types // ["managed-volume"]' <<<"$item")
+    selected_mount_type=$(jq -r --arg target "$target" \
+      '[.mounts[]? | select(.container_path == $target) | .type] | first // empty' \
+      "$DEPLOYMENT_FILE")
+    [[ $target == /* && $target != *[[:space:]]* && $target != *","* ]] \
+      || { oci_log "Invalid volume seed target: $target"; failed=1; break; }
+    [[ $source_path == /* && $source_path != *[[:space:]]* && $source_path != *","* ]] \
+      || { oci_log "Invalid image volume seed source: $source_path"; failed=1; break; }
+    jq -e --arg type "$selected_mount_type" '
+      type == "array" and length > 0
+      and all(.[]; . == "managed-volume" or . == "host-bind")
+      and index($type) != null' <<<"$mount_types" >/dev/null \
+      || { oci_log "Skipping image volume seed for $target: the selected mount type is not allowed"; continue; }
+    if [[ $selected_mount_type != managed-volume && $selected_mount_type != host-bind ]]; then
+      oci_log "Skipping image volume seed for $target: unsupported mount type ${selected_mount_type:-none}"
+      continue
+    fi
+    if [[ $selected_mount_type == managed-volume ]] && is_reused_managed_mount "$target"; then
+      oci_log "Keeping the reused persistent disk without seeding it: $target"
+      continue
+    fi
+    [[ ! -L "${rootfs}${source_path}" ]] \
+      || { oci_log "The image volume seed source must not be a link: $source_path"; failed=1; break; }
+    source=$(readlink -e -- "${rootfs}${source_path}") \
+      || { oci_log "The image volume seed source does not exist: $source_path"; failed=1; break; }
+    [[ $source == "${rootfs}"/* && -d $source ]] \
+      || { oci_log "The image volume seed source escapes the rootfs or is not a directory: $source_path"; failed=1; break; }
+    stage="${VOLUME_SEED_STAGE_ROOT}/${index}"
+    install -d -m 0700 "$stage" && cp -a -- "${source}/." "${stage}/" || { failed=1; break; }
+    VOLUME_SEED_TARGETS+=("$target")
+    VOLUME_SEED_STAGES+=("$stage")
+    VOLUME_SEED_MOUNT_TYPES+=("$selected_mount_type")
+    index=$((index + 1))
+  done < <(jq -r '.proxmox.installer_profile.volume_seeds[]? | @base64' "$TEMPLATE_FILE")
+
+  if (( mounted == 1 )); then
+    oci_quiet pct unmount "$VMID" || failed=1
+  fi
+  if (( failed != 0 )); then
+    oci_log "Could not capture the image data for a persistent volume"
+    die "$(translate "Could not apply the installer profile")"
+  fi
+  if (( ${#VOLUME_SEED_TARGETS[@]} == 0 )); then
+    cleanup_volume_seed_staging || die "$(translate "Could not apply the installer profile")"
+  fi
+}
+
+apply_volume_seeds() {
+  local rootfs="/var/lib/lxc/${VMID}/rootfs" index target stage mount_type destination existing failed=0
+  (( ${#VOLUME_SEED_TARGETS[@]} > 0 )) || return 0
+
+  for index in "${!VOLUME_SEED_TARGETS[@]}"; do
+    target=${VOLUME_SEED_TARGETS[$index]}
+    stage=${VOLUME_SEED_STAGES[$index]}
+    mount_type=${VOLUME_SEED_MOUNT_TYPES[$index]}
+    [[ -d $stage && ! -L $stage ]] \
+      || { oci_log "The prepared image data is not available for the persistent volume: $target"; failed=1; break; }
+    [[ ! -L "${rootfs}${target}" ]] \
+      || { oci_log "The persistent volume target must not be a link: $target"; failed=1; break; }
+    destination=$(readlink -e -- "${rootfs}${target}") \
+      || { oci_log "The persistent volume target does not exist: $target"; failed=1; break; }
+    [[ $destination == "${rootfs}"/* && -d $destination ]] \
+      || { oci_log "The persistent volume target escapes the rootfs or is not a directory: $target"; failed=1; break; }
+    existing=$(find "$destination" -mindepth 1 -maxdepth 1 ! -name lost+found -print -quit)
+    if [[ -n $existing ]]; then
+      if [[ $mount_type == host-bind ]]; then
+        oci_log "Keeping existing host data without seeding it: $target"
+        rm -rf -- "$stage" || { failed=1; break; }
+        continue
+      fi
+      oci_log "Refusing to seed a persistent volume that already contains data: $target"
+      failed=1
+      break
+    fi
+    cp -a -- "${stage}/." "${destination}/" \
+      || { oci_log "Could not seed the persistent volume from the image: $target"; failed=1; break; }
+    rm -rf -- "$stage" \
+      || { oci_log "Could not remove the temporary image data: $target"; failed=1; break; }
+    oci_log "Image data copied into the new persistent volume: $target"
+  done
+  cleanup_volume_seed_staging || { oci_log "Could not remove the temporary image-volume staging directory"; failed=1; }
+  (( failed == 0 ))
+}
+
 prepare_file_mount_target() {
   local requested_target=$1
   local rootfs="/var/lib/lxc/${VMID}/rootfs"
@@ -902,7 +1032,7 @@ apply_runtime_groups() {
 }
 
 apply_installer_profile() {
-  local generated_count preparation_count tls_count mounted=0 failed=0
+  local generated_count preparation_count tls_count seeded_volumes mounted=0 failed=0
   local rootfs="/var/lib/lxc/${VMID}/rootfs"
   local encoded item path mode owner destination target remove_lost_found owner_strategy
   local only_when_mount_type selected_mount_type
@@ -914,11 +1044,16 @@ apply_installer_profile() {
   generated_count=$(jq '.proxmox.installer_profile.generated_files? // [] | length' "$TEMPLATE_FILE")
   preparation_count=$(jq '.proxmox.installer_profile.volume_preparations? // [] | length' "$TEMPLATE_FILE")
   tls_count=$(jq 'if .proxmox.installer_profile.self_signed_tls? then 1 else 0 end' "$TEMPLATE_FILE")
-  if (( generated_count > 0 || preparation_count > 0 || tls_count > 0 )); then
+  seeded_volumes=${#VOLUME_SEED_TARGETS[@]}
+  if (( generated_count > 0 || preparation_count > 0 || tls_count > 0 || seeded_volumes > 0 )); then
     mount_ct_rootfs
     mounted=1
   fi
 
+  if (( seeded_volumes > 0 )); then
+    apply_volume_seeds || failed=1
+  fi
+
   while IFS= read -r encoded; do
     [[ -n $encoded ]] || continue
     item=$(printf '%s' "$encoded" | base64 -d)
@@ -1230,8 +1365,13 @@ INSTANCE_ID=$(python3 "${SCRIPT_DIR}/oci_instances.py" prepare "$VMID" \
   --template "$TEMPLATE_FILE" --deployment "$DEPLOYMENT_FILE")
 INSTANCE_CONTRACT="$INSTANCE_ROOT/$VMID/oci-compose.json"
 # The persisted contract is the source for the actual installation inputs.
-jq '.template' "$INSTANCE_CONTRACT" >"$TEMPLATE_FILE"
-jq '.deployment' "$INSTANCE_CONTRACT" >"$DEPLOYMENT_FILE"
+# Do not rewrite caller-owned files, notably a regular user's file in sticky /tmp.
+CANONICAL_INPUT_DIR=$(mktemp -d "/var/tmp/proxmenux-oci-inputs-${VMID}.XXXXXX") \
+  || die "$(translate "Could not prepare canonical installation inputs")"
+jq '.template' "$INSTANCE_CONTRACT" >"${CANONICAL_INPUT_DIR}/template.json"
+jq '.deployment' "$INSTANCE_CONTRACT" >"${CANONICAL_INPUT_DIR}/deployment.json"
+TEMPLATE_FILE="${CANONICAL_INPUT_DIR}/template.json"
+DEPLOYMENT_FILE="${CANONICAL_INPUT_DIR}/deployment.json"
 fi
 
 skopeo_transport_reference() {
@@ -1491,6 +1631,7 @@ if [[ $UNPRIVILEGED_FLAG == 0 ]]; then
     || die "$(translate "Could not enable the privileged profile before the first start")"
   msg_ok "$(translate "Container converted to privileged")"
 fi
+capture_volume_seeds
 MOUNT_INDEX=0
 CONTAINER_PUID=$(jq -r '[.environment[]? | select(.name == "PUID" or .name == "USER_ID" or .name == "UID") | .value] | last // "0"' "$DEPLOYMENT_FILE")
 CONTAINER_PGID=$(jq -r '[.environment[]? | select(.name == "PGID" or .name == "GROUP_ID" or .name == "GID") | .value] | last // "0"' "$DEPLOYMENT_FILE")
diff --git a/oci/tests/test_installer_canonical_inputs.py b/oci/tests/test_installer_canonical_inputs.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c9665b51
--- /dev/null
+++ b/oci/tests/test_installer_canonical_inputs.py
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+"""The installer must not need to rewrite files supplied by its caller."""
+
+from pathlib import Path
+import unittest
+
+
+ROOT = Path(__file__).resolve().parents[1]
+INSTALLER = ROOT / "remote" / "install_oci.sh"
+
+
+class CanonicalInstallerInputTests(unittest.TestCase):
+    def test_persisted_contract_uses_private_copies_not_caller_files(self):
+        installer = INSTALLER.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+
+        self.assertIn('mktemp -d "/var/tmp/proxmenux-oci-inputs-${VMID}.XXXXXX"', installer)
+        self.assertIn('TEMPLATE_FILE="${CANONICAL_INPUT_DIR}/template.json"', installer)
+        self.assertIn('DEPLOYMENT_FILE="${CANONICAL_INPUT_DIR}/deployment.json"', installer)
+        self.assertIn('cleanup_canonical_inputs || true', installer)
+        self.assertNotIn('jq \'.template\' "$INSTANCE_CONTRACT" >"$TEMPLATE_FILE"', installer)
+        self.assertNotIn('jq \'.deployment\' "$INSTANCE_CONTRACT" >"$DEPLOYMENT_FILE"', installer)
diff --git a/oci/tests/test_pocketbase_persistence.py b/oci/tests/test_pocketbase_persistence.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..667823de
--- /dev/null
+++ b/oci/tests/test_pocketbase_persistence.py
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+"""Regression coverage for PocketBase's native OCI data mount."""
+from pathlib import Path
+import sys
+import unittest
+
+
+ROOT = Path(__file__).resolve().parents[1]
+sys.path.insert(0, str(ROOT / "src"))
+INSTALLER = ROOT / "remote" / "install_oci.sh"
+
+from proxmenux_oci.catalog import Catalog
+
+
+class PocketBasePersistenceTests(unittest.TestCase):
+    def test_data_volume_uses_the_image_working_directory(self):
+        template = Catalog(ROOT).compose("pocketbase")
+        volumes = template["container_contract"]["volumes"]
+
+        self.assertEqual(len(volumes), 1)
+        self.assertEqual(volumes[0]["container_path"], "/pocketbase/pb_data")
+        self.assertTrue(volumes[0]["required"])
+        self.assertTrue(volumes[0]["managed_volume"]["backup"])
+
+    def test_first_install_seeds_only_the_new_managed_data_volume(self):
+        template = Catalog(ROOT).compose("pocketbase")
+        seeds = template["proxmox"]["installer_profile"]["volume_seeds"]
+
+        self.assertEqual(seeds, [{
+            "container_path": "/pocketbase/pb_data",
+            "source_path": "/pocketbase/pb_data",
+            "mount_types": ["managed-volume", "host-bind"],
+        }])
+
+    def test_seed_mechanism_is_opt_in_and_never_overwrites_existing_data(self):
+        installer = INSTALLER.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+
+        self.assertIn('and all(.[]; . == "managed-volume" or . == "host-bind")', installer)
+        self.assertIn('[[ $selected_mount_type == managed-volume ]] && is_reused_managed_mount "$target";', installer)
+        self.assertIn('Refusing to seed a persistent volume that already contains data:', installer)
+        self.assertIn('Keeping existing host data without seeding it:', installer)
+        self.assertIn('mktemp -d "/var/tmp/proxmenux-oci-seed-${VMID}.XXXXXX"', installer)
+        self.assertIn('cleanup_volume_seed_staging || true', installer)
+        self.assertLess(installer.index('capture_volume_seeds\nMOUNT_INDEX=0'),
+                        installer.index('while IFS=$\'\\t\' read -r TYPE TARGET'))
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    unittest.main()