diff --git a/hive-c0re/src/forge/repos.rs b/hive-c0re/src/forge/repos.rs
index de80776b..2991715f 100644
--- a/hive-c0re/src/forge/repos.rs
+++ b/hive-c0re/src/forge/repos.rs
@@ -10,8 +10,7 @@ use anyhow::{Context, Result};
 use forgejo_api::structs::{
     AddCollaboratorOption, AddCollaboratorOptionPermission, CreateBranchProtectionOption,
     CreateOrgOption, CreateRepoOption, CreateTeamOption, CreateTeamOptionPermission,
-    EditRepoOption, EditTeamOption, EditTeamOptionPermission, MigrateRepoOptions,
-    MigrateRepoOptionsService, Repository,
+    EditRepoOption, MigrateRepoOptions, MigrateRepoOptionsService, Repository,
 };
 use forgejo_api::{ApiErrorKind, ForgejoError};
 use reqwest::StatusCode;
@@ -562,7 +561,7 @@ async fn ensure_mirror_repo(
 /// merge/approval whitelist; the operator adds herself as a member via the
 /// forge UI / hivectl. `includes_all_repositories` so the gate applies to
 /// every repo in the org; `write` is enough to approve + merge. hive-c0re
-/// never manages membership. Idempotent (409 = already exists).
+/// never manages membership. Idempotent (422/409 = already exists).
 ///
 /// Must run for BOTH [`AGENTS_ORG`] and [`CONFIG_ORG`]: Gitea teams are
 /// org-scoped, so a config-repo branch-protection rule referencing
@@ -570,80 +569,25 @@ async fn ensure_mirror_repo(
 /// there 422'd every `apply_config_repo_branch_protection`, leaving config
 /// repos unprotected — operator-merged config PRs then bypassed the deploy
 /// pipeline and silently didn't apply.
-///
-/// Uses `is_conflict` (409 only) — NOT `is_already_exists` (which also
-/// folds 422 into "already exists"). A 422 from `org_create_team` is a
-/// real validation error (bad request shape, missing units, etc.) that
-/// must surface so it can be fixed; the previous 422-swallowing hid the
-/// true cause and left the team silently uncreated every boot.
-/// Repo-unit access flags for the `operators` team.
-/// Explicit list so Forgejo doesn't reject a null/absent `units` field;
-/// a `write`-permission team needs at least `repo.code` + `repo.pulls`
-/// to review and merge PRs.
-const OPERATORS_TEAM_UNITS: &[&str] = &[
-    "repo.code",
-    "repo.issues",
-    "repo.pulls",
-    "repo.releases",
-    "repo.wiki",
-    "repo.projects",
-    "repo.packages",
-];
-
 pub(super) async fn ensure_operators_team(org: &str, token: &str) -> Result<()> {
-    let units_vec: Vec<String> = OPERATORS_TEAM_UNITS.iter().map(|&s| s.to_owned()).collect();
     let team = CreateTeamOption {
         can_create_org_repo: Some(false),
         description: Some("hyperhive operators — merge gate for agent repos".to_owned()),
         includes_all_repositories: Some(true),
         name: OPERATORS_TEAM.to_owned(),
         permission: Some(CreateTeamOptionPermission::Write),
-        units: Some(units_vec.clone()),
+        units: None,
         units_map: None,
     };
-    let client = api(token)?;
-    match client.org_create_team(org, team).await {
+    match api(token)?.org_create_team(org, team).await {
         Ok(_) => {
             tracing::info!(%org, "forge: created {OPERATORS_TEAM} team");
             Ok(())
         }
-        // 409: team already exists — reconcile settings to desired state so
-        // a team created with an older/wrong shape self-heals on next boot.
-        // List teams to find the id (required by org_edit_team), then
-        // unconditionally PATCH to the desired settings.  Members are a
-        // separate endpoint; this never touches membership.
-        Err(e) if is_conflict(&e) => {
-            let (_headers, teams) = client
-                .org_list_teams(org)
-                .await
-                .with_context(|| format!("list teams for {org}"))?;
-            let team_id = teams
-                .into_iter()
-                .find(|t| t.name.as_deref() == Some(OPERATORS_TEAM))
-                .and_then(|t| t.id)
-                .with_context(|| {
-                    format!("{OPERATORS_TEAM} team not found in {org} after 409 conflict")
-                })?;
-            let edit = EditTeamOption {
-                can_create_org_repo: Some(false),
-                description: Some("hyperhive operators — merge gate for agent repos".to_owned()),
-                includes_all_repositories: Some(true),
-                name: OPERATORS_TEAM.to_owned(),
-                permission: Some(EditTeamOptionPermission::Write),
-                units: Some(units_vec),
-                units_map: None,
-            };
-            client
-                .org_edit_team(team_id, edit)
-                .await
-                .with_context(|| format!("reconcile {org}/{OPERATORS_TEAM} team settings"))?;
-            tracing::debug!(%org, "forge: reconciled {OPERATORS_TEAM} team settings");
+        Err(e) if is_already_exists(&e) => {
+            tracing::debug!(%org, "forge: {OPERATORS_TEAM} team already exists");
             Ok(())
         }
-        // 422 and any other error: surface it — don't mask a real failure
-        // as "already exists". A 422 here typically means the request body
-        // is invalid (e.g. Forgejo rejected the units list or another
-        // field); it will repeat every boot until fixed.
         Err(e) => Err(e).with_context(|| format!("create team {org}/{OPERATORS_TEAM}")),
     }
 }