diff --git a/src/devx/ci/push_badges.py b/src/devx/ci/push_badges.py
index 1cb8205..e2d3d9b 100644
--- a/src/devx/ci/push_badges.py
+++ b/src/devx/ci/push_badges.py
@@ -93,8 +93,8 @@ def push_to_badges_branch(badges_dir: str) -> str:
     _run(["git", "config", "user.email", "actions@oblachno.fyi"])  # nosec B607
     _run(["git", "checkout", "--orphan", "badges"])  # nosec B607
     _run(["git", "rm", "-rf", "."])  # nosec B607
-    # Remove untracked files/dirs left behind (e.g. .badges/ from generate_badges)
-    _run(["git", "clean", "-fdx", "-e", ".git"])  # nosec B607
+    # Remove untracked files/dirs left behind, but preserve .badges/ for copy below
+    _run(["git", "clean", "-fdx", "-e", ".git", "-e", badges_dir])  # nosec B607
 
     # Copy badge files to root
     for svg in Path(badges_dir).glob("*.svg"):