diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 9711540..1c02e1a 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -13,6 +13,20 @@ The format is based on [Keep a Changelog][keepachangelog] and adheres to [Semant
 ### Deprecated
 
 ### Fixed
+## [0.63.1] - 2025-11-10
+
+### Added
+\n
+### Changed
+- Increased the default minimum cluster size for database environments from 1 to 3.
+
+### Deprecated
+
+### Removed
+
+### Fixed
+- Prevented unnecessary cluster recovery attempts when a node starts up as the first node (fresh bootstrap).
+
 ## [0.63.0] - 2025-11-10
 
 ### Added
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index e05452f..91d8f51 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ test-e2e:
 
 .PHONY: build clean test run-node run-node2 run-node3 run-example deps tidy fmt vet lint clear-ports install-hooks kill
 
-VERSION := 0.63.0
+VERSION := 0.63.1
 COMMIT  ?= $(shell git rev-parse --short HEAD 2>/dev/null || echo unknown)
 DATE    ?= $(shell date -u +%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ)
 LDFLAGS := -X 'main.version=$(VERSION)' -X 'main.commit=$(COMMIT)' -X 'main.date=$(DATE)'
diff --git a/pkg/environments/templates/bootstrap.yaml b/pkg/environments/templates/bootstrap.yaml
index 9b13905..aa3eb60 100644
--- a/pkg/environments/templates/bootstrap.yaml
+++ b/pkg/environments/templates/bootstrap.yaml
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ database:
   rqlite_join_address: ""
   cluster_sync_interval: "30s"
   peer_inactivity_limit: "24h"
-  min_cluster_size: 1
+  min_cluster_size: 3
   ipfs:
     cluster_api_url: "http://localhost:{{.ClusterAPIPort}}"
     api_url: "http://localhost:{{.IPFSAPIPort}}"
diff --git a/pkg/environments/templates/node.yaml b/pkg/environments/templates/node.yaml
index 2ac9551..bc72840 100644
--- a/pkg/environments/templates/node.yaml
+++ b/pkg/environments/templates/node.yaml
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ database:
   rqlite_join_address: "{{.RQLiteJoinAddress}}"
   cluster_sync_interval: "30s"
   peer_inactivity_limit: "24h"
-  min_cluster_size: 1
+  min_cluster_size: 3
   ipfs:
     cluster_api_url: "http://localhost:{{.ClusterAPIPort}}"
     api_url: "http://localhost:{{.IPFSAPIPort}}"
diff --git a/pkg/rqlite/rqlite.go b/pkg/rqlite/rqlite.go
index a2cb00c..679d627 100644
--- a/pkg/rqlite/rqlite.go
+++ b/pkg/rqlite/rqlite.go
@@ -826,9 +826,12 @@ func (r *RQLiteManager) performPreStartClusterDiscovery(ctx context.Context, rql
 		time.Sleep(2 * time.Second)
 	}
 
-	if discoveredPeers == 0 {
-		r.logger.Warn("No peers discovered during pre-start discovery window, will attempt solo recovery")
-		// Continue anyway - might be the only node left
+	// CRITICAL FIX: Skip recovery if no peers were discovered (other than ourselves)
+	// Only ourselves in the cluster means this is a fresh bootstrap, not a recovery scenario
+	if discoveredPeers <= 1 {
+		r.logger.Info("No peers discovered during pre-start discovery window - skipping recovery (fresh bootstrap)",
+			zap.Int("discovered_peers", discoveredPeers))
+		return nil
 	}
 
 	// Trigger final sync to ensure peers.json is up to date with latest discovered peers