diff --git a/docs/openbao.md b/docs/openbao.md
index 8977d8e..fffbe8b 100644
--- a/docs/openbao.md
+++ b/docs/openbao.md
@@ -187,9 +187,9 @@ configuration:
 make openbao-configure-initial
 ```
 
-The target prompts for a token, enables file audit, enables the `platform/` KV
-v2 mount, enables Kubernetes auth, configures Kubernetes auth from the in-pod
-service account, and loads:
+The target prompts for a token, enables file audit when API-managed audit is
+available, enables the `platform/` KV v2 mount, enables Kubernetes auth,
+configures Kubernetes auth from the in-pod service account, and loads:
 
 - `openbao/policies/platform-admin.hcl`
 - `openbao/policies/platform-readonly.hcl`
@@ -198,6 +198,12 @@ It does not print or store the token. You may also set
 `OPENBAO_TOKEN_FILE=/path/to/token-file` for an operator-local, uncommitted
 token file.
 
+Current OpenBao releases may reject API-managed audit setup with a message that
+audit devices must be configured declaratively. In that case the helper exits
+successfully with a warning after applying the other bootstrap configuration.
+Treat declarative audit configuration in the OpenBao server config/Helm values
+as mandatory before production secrets move in.
+
 After the helper succeeds, create a non-root admin token:
 
 ```bash
diff --git a/scripts/openbao-apply-initial-config.sh b/scripts/openbao-apply-initial-config.sh
index d37b166..370b7cc 100755
--- a/scripts/openbao-apply-initial-config.sh
+++ b/scripts/openbao-apply-initial-config.sh
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ usage() {
 Usage: scripts/openbao-apply-initial-config.sh [--dry-run]
 
 Applies the first post-unseal OpenBao configuration:
-  - file audit device
+  - file audit device when API-managed audit is available
   - platform KV v2 mount
   - Kubernetes auth mount and in-cluster config
   - platform-admin and platform-readonly policies
@@ -47,6 +47,12 @@ while [ "$#" -gt 0 ]; do
 done
 
 pod="${OPENBAO_RELEASE}-0"
+WARNINGS=0
+
+warn() {
+  WARNINGS=$((WARNINGS + 1))
+  printf 'WARN: %s\n' "$*" >&2
+}
 
 read_token() {
   if [ -n "$TOKEN_FILE" ]; then
@@ -102,6 +108,51 @@ write_policy() {
     sh -c 'read -r BAO_TOKEN; export BAO_TOKEN; bao policy write "$1" -' sh "$name"
 }
 
+enable_file_audit() {
+  local token="$1"
+  local output status
+  if output="$(remote_bao "$token" audit enable file file_path=/openbao/audit/openbao-audit.log 2>&1)"; then
+    printf '%s\n' "$output"
+    return 0
+  fi
+
+  status=$?
+  printf '%s\n' "$output" >&2
+  case "$output" in
+    *"cannot enable audit device via API"*)
+      warn "OpenBao rejected API-managed audit enable. Configure audit devices declaratively in the OpenBao server config/Helm values."
+      return 0
+      ;;
+    *"path is already in use"*)
+      warn "OpenBao file audit device already appears to be enabled."
+      return 0
+      ;;
+    *)
+      warn "OpenBao audit enable failed with exit code $status."
+      return 0
+      ;;
+  esac
+}
+
+show_audit_list() {
+  local token="$1"
+  local output status
+  if output="$(remote_bao "$token" audit list 2>&1)"; then
+    printf '%s\n' "$output"
+    return 0
+  fi
+
+  status=$?
+  printf '%s\n' "$output" >&2
+  if printf '%s\n' "$output" | grep -qi "No audit devices are enabled"; then
+    warn "No API-visible audit devices are enabled. Treat declarative audit configuration as a follow-up before production secrets."
+    return 0
+  fi
+
+  warn "OpenBao audit list failed with exit code $status."
+  return 0
+}
+
 token="$(read_token)"
 if [ -z "$token" ]; then
   echo "ERROR: empty token" >&2
@@ -110,7 +161,7 @@ fi
 
 remote_bao "$token" status
 
-remote_bao "$token" audit enable file file_path=/openbao/audit/openbao-audit.log || true
+enable_file_audit "$token"
 remote_bao "$token" secrets enable -path=platform kv-v2 || true
 remote_bao "$token" auth enable kubernetes || true
 
@@ -122,7 +173,7 @@ remote_sh "$token" 'bao write auth/kubernetes/config \
 write_policy "$token" platform-admin "$POLICY_DIR/platform-admin.hcl"
 write_policy "$token" platform-readonly "$POLICY_DIR/platform-readonly.hcl"
 
-remote_bao "$token" audit list
+show_audit_list "$token"
 remote_bao "$token" secrets list
 remote_bao "$token" auth list
 remote_bao "$token" policy list
@@ -137,3 +188,10 @@ Next manual steps:
   3. Revoke or tightly escrow the initial root token.
   4. Run the raft snapshot and restore drill before moving live secrets.
 NEXT
+
+if [ "$WARNINGS" -gt 0 ]; then
+  cat <<NEXT
+
+Completed with $WARNINGS warning(s). Resolve warnings before production trust.
+NEXT
+fi