diff --git a/src/central/gui/routes.py b/src/central/gui/routes.py
index 1b8be2e..fca183e 100644
--- a/src/central/gui/routes.py
+++ b/src/central/gui/routes.py
@@ -266,11 +266,27 @@ async def setup_operator_form(
 ) -> HTMLResponse:
     """Render the setup operator form (step 1)."""
     templates = _get_templates()
+    pool = get_pool()
     csrf_token, signed_token = csrf_protect.generate_csrf_tokens()
+
+    # Check if operator already exists
+    existing_operator = None
+    async with pool.acquire() as conn:
+        row = await conn.fetchrow(
+            "SELECT username FROM config.operators ORDER BY id LIMIT 1"
+        )
+        if row:
+            existing_operator = {"username": row["username"]}
+
     response = templates.TemplateResponse(
         request=request,
         name="setup_operator.html",
-        context={"csrf_token": csrf_token, "error": None, "form_data": None},
+        context={
+            "csrf_token": csrf_token,
+            "error": None,
+            "form_data": None,
+            "existing_operator": existing_operator,
+        },
     )
     csrf_protect.set_csrf_cookie(signed_token, response)
     return response
@@ -291,6 +307,28 @@ async def setup_operator_submit(
     # Validate CSRF
     await csrf_protect.validate_csrf(request)
 
+    # Check if operator already exists (single-operator-per-install design)
+    async with pool.acquire() as conn:
+        count = await conn.fetchval("SELECT count(*) FROM config.operators")
+        if count > 0:
+            # Operator already exists — render confirmation page
+            existing = await conn.fetchrow(
+                "SELECT username FROM config.operators ORDER BY id LIMIT 1"
+            )
+            csrf_token, signed_token = csrf_protect.generate_csrf_tokens()
+            response = templates.TemplateResponse(
+                request=request,
+                name="setup_operator.html",
+                context={
+                    "csrf_token": csrf_token,
+                    "error": None,
+                    "form_data": None,
+                    "existing_operator": {"username": existing["username"]},
+                },
+            )
+            csrf_protect.set_csrf_cookie(signed_token, response)
+            return response
+
     # Validate input
     error = None
     if password != confirm_password:
@@ -310,6 +348,7 @@ async def setup_operator_submit(
                 "csrf_token": csrf_token,
                 "error": error,
                 "form_data": {"username": username},
+                "existing_operator": None,
             },
             status_code=200,
         )
diff --git a/src/central/gui/templates/setup_operator.html b/src/central/gui/templates/setup_operator.html
index f4e9277..36932b4 100644
--- a/src/central/gui/templates/setup_operator.html
+++ b/src/central/gui/templates/setup_operator.html
@@ -7,6 +7,17 @@
 {% include "_wizard_header.html" %}
 {% endwith %}
 
+{% if existing_operator %}
+<article>
+    <header>
+        <h1>Operator Already Configured</h1>
+    </header>
+    <p>The operator account <strong>{{ existing_operator.username }}</strong> has been created.</p>
+    <div style="display: flex; gap: 1rem; margin-top: 1rem;">
+        <a href="/setup/system" role="button">Next &rarr;</a>
+    </div>
+</article>
+{% else %}
 <article>
     <header>
         <h1>Create Operator Account</h1>
@@ -42,4 +53,5 @@
         <button type="submit">Create Operator &rarr;</button>
     </form>
 </article>
+{% endif %}
 {% endblock %}
diff --git a/tests/test_wizard.py b/tests/test_wizard.py
index e92c35c..f2b3c21 100644
--- a/tests/test_wizard.py
+++ b/tests/test_wizard.py
@@ -74,24 +74,64 @@ class TestSetupOperatorForm:
 
     @pytest.mark.asyncio
     async def test_get_returns_form(self):
-        """GET /setup/operator returns the form."""
+        """GET /setup/operator returns the form when no operator exists."""
         mock_request = MagicMock()
 
         mock_templates = MagicMock()
         mock_templates.TemplateResponse.return_value = MagicMock()
 
+        mock_conn = AsyncMock()
+        mock_conn.fetchrow.return_value = None  # No operator exists
+
+        mock_pool = MagicMock()
+        mock_pool.acquire.return_value.__aenter__.return_value = mock_conn
+        mock_pool.acquire.return_value.__aexit__.return_value = None
+
         mock_csrf = MagicMock()
         mock_csrf.generate_csrf_tokens.return_value = ("token", "signed")
         mock_csrf.set_csrf_cookie = MagicMock()
 
         with patch("central.gui.routes._get_templates", return_value=mock_templates):
-            result = await setup_operator_form(mock_request, mock_csrf)
+            with patch("central.gui.routes.get_pool", return_value=mock_pool):
+                result = await setup_operator_form(mock_request, mock_csrf)
 
         mock_templates.TemplateResponse.assert_called_once()
         call_args = mock_templates.TemplateResponse.call_args
         context = call_args.kwargs.get("context", call_args[1].get("context"))
         assert context["csrf_token"] == "token"
         assert context["error"] is None
+        assert context["existing_operator"] is None
+
+    @pytest.mark.asyncio
+    async def test_get_returns_confirmation_when_operator_exists(self):
+        """GET /setup/operator shows confirmation when operator already exists."""
+        mock_request = MagicMock()
+
+        mock_templates = MagicMock()
+        mock_response = MagicMock()
+        mock_response.body = b"Operator Already Configured"
+        mock_templates.TemplateResponse.return_value = mock_response
+
+        mock_conn = AsyncMock()
+        mock_conn.fetchrow.return_value = {"username": "admin"}  # Operator exists
+
+        mock_pool = MagicMock()
+        mock_pool.acquire.return_value.__aenter__.return_value = mock_conn
+        mock_pool.acquire.return_value.__aexit__.return_value = None
+
+        mock_csrf = MagicMock()
+        mock_csrf.generate_csrf_tokens.return_value = ("token", "signed")
+        mock_csrf.set_csrf_cookie = MagicMock()
+
+        with patch("central.gui.routes._get_templates", return_value=mock_templates):
+            with patch("central.gui.routes.get_pool", return_value=mock_pool):
+                result = await setup_operator_form(mock_request, mock_csrf)
+
+        mock_templates.TemplateResponse.assert_called_once()
+        call_args = mock_templates.TemplateResponse.call_args
+        context = call_args.kwargs.get("context", call_args[1].get("context"))
+        assert context["existing_operator"] == {"username": "admin"}
+        assert context["error"] is None
 
 
 class TestSetupOperatorSubmit:
@@ -104,7 +144,12 @@ class TestSetupOperatorSubmit:
         mock_templates = MagicMock()
         mock_templates.TemplateResponse.return_value = MagicMock()
 
+        mock_conn = AsyncMock()
+        mock_conn.fetchval.return_value = 0  # No existing operators
+
         mock_pool = MagicMock()
+        mock_pool.acquire.return_value.__aenter__.return_value = mock_conn
+        mock_pool.acquire.return_value.__aexit__.return_value = None
 
         mock_csrf = MagicMock()
         mock_csrf.validate_csrf = AsyncMock()
@@ -131,6 +176,7 @@ class TestSetupOperatorSubmit:
         mock_request = MagicMock()
 
         mock_conn = AsyncMock()
+        mock_conn.fetchval.return_value = 0  # No existing operators
         mock_conn.fetchrow.side_effect = [
             {"id": 1},  # INSERT RETURNING id
             {"session_lifetime_days": 90},  # system settings
@@ -159,6 +205,51 @@ class TestSetupOperatorSubmit:
         assert result.status_code == 302
         assert result.headers["location"] == "/setup/system"
 
+    @pytest.mark.asyncio
+    async def test_post_when_operator_exists_shows_confirmation(self):
+        """POST when operator exists returns 200 with confirmation, no insert."""
+        mock_request = MagicMock()
+
+        mock_templates = MagicMock()
+        mock_response = MagicMock()
+        mock_response.status_code = 200
+        mock_templates.TemplateResponse.return_value = mock_response
+
+        mock_conn = AsyncMock()
+        mock_conn.fetchval.return_value = 1  # Operator already exists
+        mock_conn.fetchrow.return_value = {"username": "existing_admin"}
+
+        mock_pool = MagicMock()
+        mock_pool.acquire.return_value.__aenter__.return_value = mock_conn
+        mock_pool.acquire.return_value.__aexit__.return_value = None
+
+        mock_csrf = MagicMock()
+        mock_csrf.validate_csrf = AsyncMock()
+        mock_csrf.generate_csrf_tokens.return_value = ("token", "signed")
+        mock_csrf.set_csrf_cookie = MagicMock()
+
+        with patch("central.gui.routes._get_templates", return_value=mock_templates):
+            with patch("central.gui.routes.get_pool", return_value=mock_pool):
+                with patch("central.gui.routes.write_audit", new_callable=AsyncMock) as mock_audit:
+                    result = await setup_operator_submit(
+                        mock_request,
+                        username="newadmin",
+                        password="password123",
+                        confirm_password="password123",
+                        csrf_protect=mock_csrf,
+                    )
+
+        # Should return 200, not 500 or redirect
+        assert result.status_code == 200
+
+        # Should render confirmation state
+        call_args = mock_templates.TemplateResponse.call_args
+        context = call_args.kwargs.get("context", call_args[1].get("context"))
+        assert context["existing_operator"] == {"username": "existing_admin"}
+
+        # Should NOT call write_audit (no insert happened)
+        mock_audit.assert_not_called()
+
 
 class TestSetupSystemForm:
     """Test system settings form (step 2)."""