diff --git a/k8s/railiance/externalsecret.yaml b/k8s/railiance/externalsecret.yaml
index 3eef170..f007cbb 100644
--- a/k8s/railiance/externalsecret.yaml
+++ b/k8s/railiance/externalsecret.yaml
@@ -26,6 +26,14 @@ spec:
     name: openbao-target-revenue
     kind: ClusterSecretStore
   target:
+    # Explicit target metadata prevents ESO copying source last-applied annotations.
+    template:
+      metadata:
+        labels:
+          app.kubernetes.io/name: target-revenue
+          app.kubernetes.io/part-of: target-revenue
+        annotations:
+          argocd.argoproj.io/sync-wave: '0'
     name: target-revenue-runtime
     creationPolicy: Owner
   data: