diff --git a/src/cli/commands/sync.ts b/src/cli/commands/sync.ts
index 7bd844a..d5b0e09 100644
--- a/src/cli/commands/sync.ts
+++ b/src/cli/commands/sync.ts
@@ -152,8 +152,8 @@ export async function pushApp(options: { quiet?: boolean, force?: boolean } = {}
     if (!ok) return
   }
 
-  // If server changed, abort unless --force
-  if (serverChanged && !options.force) {
+  // If server changed, abort unless --force (skip for new apps)
+  if (remoteManifest && serverChanged && !options.force) {
     console.error('Cannot push: server has changed since last sync')
     console.error('\nRun `toes pull` first, or `toes push --force` to overwrite')
     return