diff --git a/app/(app)/create/screens/card/CommunicationMethodsScreen.tsx b/app/(app)/create/screens/card/CommunicationMethodsScreen.tsx
index c503919..bb925d0 100644
--- a/app/(app)/create/screens/card/CommunicationMethodsScreen.tsx
+++ b/app/(app)/create/screens/card/CommunicationMethodsScreen.tsx
@@ -740,24 +740,24 @@ export function CommunicationMethodsScreen() {
           className={CREATE_FLOW_CARD_STACK_AREA_MAX_CLASS}
           aria-busy={!recommendationsReady}
         >
-          {recommendationsReady ? (
-          <CardStack
-            cards={sampleCards}
-            selectedIds={selectedIds}
-            onCardSelect={handleCardClick}
-            expanded={expanded}
-            onToggleExpand={() => {
-              markCreateFlowInteraction();
-              setExpanded((prev) => !prev);
-            }}
-            hasMore={true}
-            toggleLabel={comm.page.seeAllLink}
-            compactRecommendedLimit={5}
-            compactCardIds={compactCardIds}
-            compactDesktopLayout="flexWrap"
-            headerLockupSize={mdUp ? "L" : "M"}
-          />
-          ) : null}
+          {recommendationsReady && (
+            <CardStack
+              cards={sampleCards}
+              selectedIds={selectedIds}
+              onCardSelect={handleCardClick}
+              expanded={expanded}
+              onToggleExpand={() => {
+                markCreateFlowInteraction();
+                setExpanded((prev) => !prev);
+              }}
+              hasMore={true}
+              toggleLabel={comm.page.seeAllLink}
+              compactRecommendedLimit={5}
+              compactCardIds={compactCardIds}
+              compactDesktopLayout="flexWrap"
+              headerLockupSize={mdUp ? "L" : "M"}
+            />
+          )}
         </div>
       </div>
 
diff --git a/app/(app)/create/screens/card/ConflictManagementScreen.tsx b/app/(app)/create/screens/card/ConflictManagementScreen.tsx
index e7aa661..e352cd1 100644
--- a/app/(app)/create/screens/card/ConflictManagementScreen.tsx
+++ b/app/(app)/create/screens/card/ConflictManagementScreen.tsx
@@ -739,24 +739,24 @@ export function ConflictManagementScreen() {
           className={CREATE_FLOW_CARD_STACK_AREA_MAX_CLASS}
           aria-busy={!recommendationsReady}
         >
-          {recommendationsReady ? (
-          <CardStack
-            cards={sampleCards}
-            selectedIds={selectedIds}
-            onCardSelect={handleCardClick}
-            expanded={expanded}
-            onToggleExpand={() => {
-              markCreateFlowInteraction();
-              setExpanded((prev) => !prev);
-            }}
-            hasMore={true}
-            toggleLabel={cm.page.seeAllLink}
-            compactRecommendedLimit={5}
-            compactCardIds={compactCardIds}
-            compactDesktopLayout="pyramidFive"
-            headerLockupSize={mdUp ? "L" : "M"}
-          />
-          ) : null}
+          {recommendationsReady && (
+            <CardStack
+              cards={sampleCards}
+              selectedIds={selectedIds}
+              onCardSelect={handleCardClick}
+              expanded={expanded}
+              onToggleExpand={() => {
+                markCreateFlowInteraction();
+                setExpanded((prev) => !prev);
+              }}
+              hasMore={true}
+              toggleLabel={cm.page.seeAllLink}
+              compactRecommendedLimit={5}
+              compactCardIds={compactCardIds}
+              compactDesktopLayout="pyramidFive"
+              headerLockupSize={mdUp ? "L" : "M"}
+            />
+          )}
         </div>
       </div>
 
diff --git a/app/(app)/create/screens/card/MembershipMethodsScreen.tsx b/app/(app)/create/screens/card/MembershipMethodsScreen.tsx
index d32df61..4c603af 100644
--- a/app/(app)/create/screens/card/MembershipMethodsScreen.tsx
+++ b/app/(app)/create/screens/card/MembershipMethodsScreen.tsx
@@ -732,24 +732,24 @@ export function MembershipMethodsScreen() {
           className={CREATE_FLOW_CARD_STACK_AREA_MAX_CLASS}
           aria-busy={!recommendationsReady}
         >
-          {recommendationsReady ? (
-          <CardStack
-            cards={sampleCards}
-            selectedIds={selectedIds}
-            onCardSelect={handleCardClick}
-            expanded={expanded}
-            onToggleExpand={() => {
-              markCreateFlowInteraction();
-              setExpanded((prev) => !prev);
-            }}
-            hasMore={true}
-            toggleLabel={mem.page.seeAllLink}
-            compactRecommendedLimit={5}
-            compactCardIds={compactCardIds}
-            compactDesktopLayout="pyramidFive"
-            headerLockupSize={mdUp ? "L" : "M"}
-          />
-          ) : null}
+          {recommendationsReady && (
+            <CardStack
+              cards={sampleCards}
+              selectedIds={selectedIds}
+              onCardSelect={handleCardClick}
+              expanded={expanded}
+              onToggleExpand={() => {
+                markCreateFlowInteraction();
+                setExpanded((prev) => !prev);
+              }}
+              hasMore={true}
+              toggleLabel={mem.page.seeAllLink}
+              compactRecommendedLimit={5}
+              compactCardIds={compactCardIds}
+              compactDesktopLayout="pyramidFive"
+              headerLockupSize={mdUp ? "L" : "M"}
+            />
+          )}
         </div>
       </div>
 
diff --git a/app/(app)/create/screens/right-rail/DecisionApproachesScreen.tsx b/app/(app)/create/screens/right-rail/DecisionApproachesScreen.tsx
index d2e7df7..db629be 100644
--- a/app/(app)/create/screens/right-rail/DecisionApproachesScreen.tsx
+++ b/app/(app)/create/screens/right-rail/DecisionApproachesScreen.tsx
@@ -766,37 +766,37 @@ export function DecisionApproachesScreen() {
         className="flex w-full min-w-0 flex-col items-stretch gap-6 py-0"
         aria-busy={!recommendationsReady}
       >
-        {recommendationsReady ? (
-        <CardStack
-          cards={sampleCards}
-          selectedIds={selectedIds}
-          onCardSelect={handleCardSelect}
-          expanded={expanded}
-          onToggleExpand={handleToggleExpand}
-          hasMore={true}
-          toggleLabel={da.cardStack.toggleSeeAll}
-          showLessLabel={da.cardStack.toggleShowLess}
-          title=""
-          description={
-            expanded ? (
-              <>
-                {da.cardStack.expandedStackDescriptionBefore}
-                <InlineTextButton onClick={handleOpenAddWizard}>
-                  {da.sidebar.descriptionLinkLabel}
-                </InlineTextButton>
-                {da.cardStack.expandedStackDescriptionAfter}
-              </>
-            ) : (
-              ""
-            )
-          }
-          layout="singleStack"
-          compactRecommendedLimit={5}
-          compactCardIds={compactCardIds}
-          className="w-full"
-          headerLockupSize={mdUp ? "L" : "M"}
-        />
-        ) : null}
+        {recommendationsReady && (
+          <CardStack
+            cards={sampleCards}
+            selectedIds={selectedIds}
+            onCardSelect={handleCardSelect}
+            expanded={expanded}
+            onToggleExpand={handleToggleExpand}
+            hasMore={true}
+            toggleLabel={da.cardStack.toggleSeeAll}
+            showLessLabel={da.cardStack.toggleShowLess}
+            title=""
+            description={
+              expanded ? (
+                <>
+                  {da.cardStack.expandedStackDescriptionBefore}
+                  <InlineTextButton onClick={handleOpenAddWizard}>
+                    {da.sidebar.descriptionLinkLabel}
+                  </InlineTextButton>
+                  {da.cardStack.expandedStackDescriptionAfter}
+                </>
+              ) : (
+                ""
+              )
+            }
+            layout="singleStack"
+            compactRecommendedLimit={5}
+            compactCardIds={compactCardIds}
+            className="w-full"
+            headerLockupSize={mdUp ? "L" : "M"}
+          />
+        )}
       </div>
 
       <Create
diff --git a/app/(app)/create/utils/prepareFreshCreateFlowEntry.ts b/app/(app)/create/utils/prepareFreshCreateFlowEntry.ts
index 6947bb0..8b917dc 100644
--- a/app/(app)/create/utils/prepareFreshCreateFlowEntry.ts
+++ b/app/(app)/create/utils/prepareFreshCreateFlowEntry.ts
@@ -11,6 +11,14 @@ import { isBackendSyncEnabled } from "../../../../lib/create/backendSyncEnabled"
  */
 export const FRESH_ENTRY_PENDING_KEY = "create:fresh-entry-pending";
 
+export type PrepareFreshCreateFlowEntryOptions = {
+  /**
+   * When `true`, and backend sync is on, also `DELETE /api/drafts/me`.
+   * Omit or pass `false` for guests — they have no server draft to clear.
+   */
+  signedIn?: boolean;
+};
+
 export function hasFreshEntryPending(): boolean {
   if (typeof window === "undefined") return false;
   try {
@@ -38,10 +46,17 @@ function clearFreshEntryPending(): void {
   }
 }
 
+function clearServerDraftWhenSignedIn(signedIn: boolean): void {
+  if (!signedIn || !isBackendSyncEnabled()) return;
+  setFreshEntryPending();
+  void deleteServerDraft().finally(clearFreshEntryPending);
+}
+
 /**
  * Call **before** navigating into `/create` from marketing or profile “new rule”
  * entry points so signed-in + sync matches an anonymous fresh start: wipe
- * `localStorage` draft keys and, when sync is on, `DELETE /api/drafts/me`.
+ * `localStorage` draft keys and, when sync is on and the user is signed in,
+ * `DELETE /api/drafts/me`.
  *
  * Synchronous variant: returns immediately after clearing local state and
  * scheduling the server draft delete in the background. Sets a sessionStorage
@@ -50,12 +65,13 @@ function clearFreshEntryPending(): void {
  *
  * Do **not** use for “Continue draft” — that path should load the server draft.
  */
-export function prepareFreshCreateFlowEntrySync(): void {
+export function prepareFreshCreateFlowEntrySync(
+  options: PrepareFreshCreateFlowEntryOptions = {},
+): void {
+  const signedIn = options.signedIn === true;
   clearAnonymousCreateFlowStorage();
   clearCoreValueDetailsLocalStorage();
-  if (!isBackendSyncEnabled()) return;
-  setFreshEntryPending();
-  void deleteServerDraft().finally(clearFreshEntryPending);
+  clearServerDraftWhenSignedIn(signedIn);
 }
 
 /**
@@ -63,10 +79,13 @@ export function prepareFreshCreateFlowEntrySync(): void {
  * before continuing (e.g. tests, programmatic reset flows). Most click handlers
  * should use {@link prepareFreshCreateFlowEntrySync} for instant navigation.
  */
-export async function prepareFreshCreateFlowEntry(): Promise<void> {
+export async function prepareFreshCreateFlowEntry(
+  options: PrepareFreshCreateFlowEntryOptions = {},
+): Promise<void> {
+  const signedIn = options.signedIn === true;
   clearAnonymousCreateFlowStorage();
   clearCoreValueDetailsLocalStorage();
-  if (!isBackendSyncEnabled()) return;
+  if (!signedIn || !isBackendSyncEnabled()) return;
   setFreshEntryPending();
   try {
     await deleteServerDraft();
diff --git a/app/(app)/profile/ProfilePageClient.tsx b/app/(app)/profile/ProfilePageClient.tsx
index 14eea43..765eb58 100644
--- a/app/(app)/profile/ProfilePageClient.tsx
+++ b/app/(app)/profile/ProfilePageClient.tsx
@@ -253,7 +253,7 @@ export default function ProfilePageClient() {
   }, [draft, router]);
 
   const handleStartNewCustomRule = useCallback(() => {
-    prepareFreshCreateFlowEntrySync();
+    prepareFreshCreateFlowEntrySync({ signedIn: true });
     router.push("/create/informational");
   }, [router]);
 
diff --git a/app/components/navigation/Top/Top.container.tsx b/app/components/navigation/Top/Top.container.tsx
index 2e56239..066d578 100644
--- a/app/components/navigation/Top/Top.container.tsx
+++ b/app/components/navigation/Top/Top.container.tsx
@@ -57,9 +57,9 @@ const TopContainer = memo<TopProps>(
      * (see {@link prepareFreshCreateFlowEntrySync}).
      */
     const handleCreateRuleClick = useCallback(() => {
-      prepareFreshCreateFlowEntrySync();
+      prepareFreshCreateFlowEntrySync({ signedIn: loggedIn });
       router.push("/create/informational");
-    }, [router]);
+    }, [loggedIn, router]);
 
     // Schema markup for site navigation
     const schemaData = {
diff --git a/tests/unit/prepareFreshCreateFlowEntry.test.ts b/tests/unit/prepareFreshCreateFlowEntry.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3653f73
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit/prepareFreshCreateFlowEntry.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
+import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
+import {
+  FRESH_ENTRY_PENDING_KEY,
+  hasFreshEntryPending,
+  prepareFreshCreateFlowEntry,
+  prepareFreshCreateFlowEntrySync,
+} from "../../app/(app)/create/utils/prepareFreshCreateFlowEntry";
+import { CREATE_FLOW_ANONYMOUS_KEY } from "../../app/(app)/create/utils/anonymousDraftStorage";
+
+const deleteServerDraft = vi.fn();
+const isBackendSyncEnabled = vi.fn();
+
+vi.mock("../../lib/create/api", () => ({
+  deleteServerDraft: (...args: unknown[]) => deleteServerDraft(...args),
+}));
+
+vi.mock("../../lib/create/backendSyncEnabled", () => ({
+  isBackendSyncEnabled: () => isBackendSyncEnabled(),
+}));
+
+describe("prepareFreshCreateFlowEntrySync", () => {
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    deleteServerDraft.mockReset();
+    deleteServerDraft.mockResolvedValue(undefined);
+    isBackendSyncEnabled.mockReturnValue(true);
+    window.localStorage.clear();
+    window.sessionStorage.clear();
+  });
+
+  afterEach(() => {
+    window.localStorage.clear();
+    window.sessionStorage.clear();
+  });
+
+  it("clears local draft storage for guests without calling deleteServerDraft", () => {
+    window.localStorage.setItem(
+      CREATE_FLOW_ANONYMOUS_KEY,
+      JSON.stringify({ title: "Stale" }),
+    );
+
+    prepareFreshCreateFlowEntrySync();
+
+    expect(window.localStorage.getItem(CREATE_FLOW_ANONYMOUS_KEY)).toBeNull();
+    expect(deleteServerDraft).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(hasFreshEntryPending()).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it("clears local draft storage and deletes the server draft when signed in", async () => {
+    prepareFreshCreateFlowEntrySync({ signedIn: true });
+
+    expect(deleteServerDraft).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+    expect(window.sessionStorage.getItem(FRESH_ENTRY_PENDING_KEY)).toBe("1");
+
+    await vi.waitFor(() => {
+      expect(hasFreshEntryPending()).toBe(false);
+    });
+  });
+
+  it("skips server draft delete when backend sync is disabled", () => {
+    isBackendSyncEnabled.mockReturnValue(false);
+
+    prepareFreshCreateFlowEntrySync({ signedIn: true });
+
+    expect(deleteServerDraft).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(hasFreshEntryPending()).toBe(false);
+  });
+});
+
+describe("prepareFreshCreateFlowEntry", () => {
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    deleteServerDraft.mockReset();
+    deleteServerDraft.mockResolvedValue(undefined);
+    isBackendSyncEnabled.mockReturnValue(true);
+    window.sessionStorage.clear();
+  });
+
+  afterEach(() => {
+    window.sessionStorage.clear();
+  });
+
+  it("awaits deleteServerDraft only when signed in", async () => {
+    await prepareFreshCreateFlowEntry();
+    expect(deleteServerDraft).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+
+    await prepareFreshCreateFlowEntry({ signedIn: true });
+    expect(deleteServerDraft).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+    expect(hasFreshEntryPending()).toBe(false);
+  });
+});