diff --git a/winnow/diversity.py b/winnow/diversity.py
index 3c6ad8d..6961f56 100644
--- a/winnow/diversity.py
+++ b/winnow/diversity.py
@@ -517,9 +517,10 @@ def _cluster_aware_selection(
     emb_normed = emb_matrix / np.maximum(norms, 1e-8)
 
     # Build confidence weight array for hard example boosting.
-    # Default to 0.5 for faces with no confidence score so they receive a
-    # moderate diversity boost rather than being treated as high-confidence.
-    conf_array = np.full(n, 0.5)
+    # Default to 1.0 for faces with no confidence score: treat as high-confidence
+    # (no boost) rather than hard-example territory. A missing score field should
+    # not cause these images to beat genuinely high-confidence detections in FPS.
+    conf_array = np.ones(n)
     if confidence_scores:
         for i, c in enumerate(confidence_scores):
             if c is not None:
@@ -586,8 +587,7 @@ def _cluster_aware_selection(
         1 for i in selected
         if confidence_scores
         and i < len(confidence_scores)
-        and confidence_scores[i] is not None
-        and confidence_scores[i] < 0.85
+        and (confidence_scores[i] is None or confidence_scores[i] < 0.85)
     )
     logger.info("Selection complete: %s images (%s hard examples with confidence < 0.85).", len(selected), hard_count)
 
diff --git a/winnow/executor.py b/winnow/executor.py
index 07b72b6..52b7401 100644
--- a/winnow/executor.py
+++ b/winnow/executor.py
@@ -396,8 +396,8 @@ def upload_to_frigate(jobs: list[dict]) -> None:
 
                     # Pre-upload Frigate score — clean measurement (image not yet in training set).
                     # Called for all below-cap uploads (seeds frigate_scores for future at-cap
-                    # replacement) and for at-cap uploads when scores already exist. Skipped on
-                    # skipped when has_frigate_model is False (effective_count was 0 before the loop).
+                    # replacement) and for at-cap uploads when scores already exist.
+                    # Skipped when has_frigate_model is False (effective_count was 0 before the loop).
                     # recognize_face returns (face_name, score); we only use the score when the
                     # best match is for the correct person. Mismatches (or "unknown") are treated
                     # as None so a wrong-person score never drives a ceiling skip or replacement.
@@ -539,11 +539,14 @@ def upload_to_frigate(jobs: list[dict]) -> None:
                                             person_has_fscores = True
                                     # Always record for reconcile so the Frigate filename→asset_id
                                     # mapping is created even when the tracker write fails.
-                                    # Trade-off: if mark_uploaded failed, this asset_id is not in
-                                    # the upload set, so it may be re-selected next run (Frigate
-                                    # duplicate). The alternative — not appending — leaves the file
-                                    # permanently unmapped, breaking quality-replacement scoring.
-                                    # Frigate duplicate is the lesser consequence.
+                                    # Trade-off: if mark_uploaded failed, asset_id is absent from
+                                    # asset_ids and scores. Consequences: (1) re-selected next run
+                                    # → Frigate duplicate; (2) excluded from quality-replacement
+                                    # candidates (_pick_mapped_file requires a scores entry);
+                                    # (3) counted toward MAX_AUTO_IMAGES cap (via frigate_files).
+                                    # The alternative — not appending — leaves the file permanently
+                                    # unmapped (reconcile never creates the frigate_files entry),
+                                    # making (2) and (3) permanent. Frigate duplicate is lesser.
                                     actually_uploaded.append((fname, asset_id))
 
                                 break
diff --git a/winnow/upload_tracker.py b/winnow/upload_tracker.py
index 4e29abf..6997b6a 100644
--- a/winnow/upload_tracker.py
+++ b/winnow/upload_tracker.py
@@ -442,7 +442,7 @@ def reset_person(person_name: str) -> None:
             data["by_person"] = by_person
             flat_key = _flat_key(filename)
             person_ids = set(_get_ids(tracker_entry))
-            if flat_key in data and not isinstance(data[flat_key], list):
+            if person_ids and flat_key in data and not isinstance(data[flat_key], list):
                 logger.warning(
                     "reset_person: %s has unexpected type for %s (%s) — skipping flat-list cleanup",
                     filename, flat_key, type(data[flat_key]).__name__,