diff --git a/docs/routes.md b/docs/routes.md
index 0602f6c..5c32276 100644
--- a/docs/routes.md
+++ b/docs/routes.md
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ Routes carry the same role-based visibility levels as channels — `community`,
 
 Both operators and admins can create routes. A user may never scope a route above their own role (e.g. an operator cannot create an `admin`-visibility route) — this is enforced on the write endpoints and prevents a user from creating a route they could then never see or modify.
 
-**Ownership-based editing:** Each route records the user who created it (`created_by`). Operators can edit and delete only the routes they created. Admins can edit and delete any route, and take ownership when they edit a route they did not create (the `created_by` field updates to the admin's user ID). Routes created before ownership tracking was introduced have a `NULL` `created_by` and are admin-only. The creator's display name is shown on each route card when available. Attempting to modify a route above the caller's visibility tier returns `404`; modifying a visible route the caller does not own returns `403`.
+**Ownership-based editing:** Each route records the user who created it (`created_by`). Operators can edit and delete only the routes they created. Admins can edit and delete any route; they claim ownership of legacy (unowned) routes — those with a `NULL` `created_by` — when they edit them, but do not displace an existing creator. Routes created before ownership tracking was introduced have a `NULL` `created_by` and are admin-only. The creator's display name is shown on each route card when available. Attempting to modify a route above the caller's visibility tier returns `404`; modifying a visible route the caller does not own returns `403`.
 
 ## Defining routes
 
diff --git a/src/meshcore_hub/api/routes/routes.py b/src/meshcore_hub/api/routes/routes.py
index 9d3c8f5..a64d0d6 100644
--- a/src/meshcore_hub/api/routes/routes.py
+++ b/src/meshcore_hub/api/routes/routes.py
@@ -647,7 +647,8 @@ def update_route(
     """Update a route (operator or admin).
 
     Operators may only modify routes they created; admins can modify any
-    route and take ownership on edit.
+    route. Admins claim ownership of legacy (unowned) routes on edit but
+    do not displace an existing creator.
     """
     user_id, _ = caller
     route = session.execute(
@@ -657,10 +658,10 @@ def update_route(
         raise HTTPException(status_code=404, detail="Route not found")
     _assert_route_modifiable(request, route)
 
-    # Admin edits transfer ownership to the admin
-    if resolve_user_role(request) == "admin" and route.created_by != user_id:
+    # Admin claims ownership of legacy (unowned) routes on edit
+    if resolve_user_role(request) == "admin" and route.created_by is None:
         route.created_by = user_id
-        logger.info("Admin %s took ownership of route %s", user_id, route.id)
+        logger.info("Admin %s claimed ownership of legacy route %s", user_id, route.id)
 
     if body.from_label is not None or body.to_label is not None:
         new_from = body.from_label if body.from_label is not None else route.from_label
diff --git a/tests/test_api/test_routes.py b/tests/test_api/test_routes.py
index 90d382a..86dae7f 100644
--- a/tests/test_api/test_routes.py
+++ b/tests/test_api/test_routes.py
@@ -1324,7 +1324,8 @@ class TestRouteOperatorPermissions:
 
     Ownership model (PR #337):
     - Operators can edit/delete only routes they created.
-    - Admins can edit/delete any route and take ownership on edit.
+    - Admins can edit/delete any route; they claim ownership of legacy
+      (unowned) routes on edit but do not displace an existing creator.
     - Routes with NULL ``created_by`` (legacy) are admin-only.
     """
 
@@ -1601,12 +1602,14 @@ class TestRouteOperatorPermissions:
         assert resp.status_code == 200
         assert resp.json()["created_by"] == "test-operator"
 
-    # ── Admin ownership transfer ──────────────────────────────────────
+    # ── Admin ownership semantics ─────────────────────────────────────
 
-    def test_admin_edit_transfers_ownership(self, client_no_auth, api_db_session):
-        """Admin editing a route takes ownership (created_by changes)."""
+    def test_admin_edit_preserves_existing_ownership(
+        self, client_no_auth, api_db_session
+    ):
+        """Admin editing an operator-created route does NOT take ownership."""
         route = Route(
-            from_label="Transfer",
+            from_label="Preserve",
             to_label="End",
             visibility="operator",
             created_by="test-operator",
@@ -1616,19 +1619,20 @@ class TestRouteOperatorPermissions:
 
         resp = client_no_auth.put(
             f"/api/v1/routes/{route.id}",
-            json={"description": "admin took over"},
+            json={"description": "admin tweaked it"},
             headers=ADMIN_HEADERS,
         )
         assert resp.status_code == 200
-        assert resp.json()["created_by"] == "test-admin"
+        # Ownership stays with the original creator
+        assert resp.json()["created_by"] == "test-operator"
 
-        # Original operator can no longer edit
+        # Original operator can still edit
         resp2 = client_no_auth.put(
             f"/api/v1/routes/{route.id}",
-            json={"description": "try again"},
+            json={"description": "operator still owns it"},
             headers=OPERATOR_HEADERS,
         )
-        assert resp2.status_code == 403
+        assert resp2.status_code == 200
 
     def test_admin_edit_adopts_null_created_by(self, client_no_auth, api_db_session):
         """Admin editing a legacy route (NULL created_by) takes ownership."""