diff --git a/clean-local.sh b/clean-local.sh
index 1e83eec..2efe478 100755
--- a/clean-local.sh
+++ b/clean-local.sh
@@ -57,8 +57,28 @@ uninstall_local() {
         # Remove Python modules
         rm -rf "${LOCAL_PREFIX}/lib/python"*/site-packages/cthulhu*
         
-        # Remove data files
-        rm -rf "${LOCAL_PREFIX}/share/cthulhu"
+        # Remove data files but preserve user settings
+        if [[ -d "${LOCAL_PREFIX}/share/cthulhu" ]]; then
+            # Backup user settings if they exist
+            if [[ -f "${LOCAL_PREFIX}/share/cthulhu/user-settings.conf" ]]; then
+                cp "${LOCAL_PREFIX}/share/cthulhu/user-settings.conf" /tmp/cthulhu-user-settings.backup
+            fi
+            if [[ -f "${LOCAL_PREFIX}/share/cthulhu/cthulhu-customizations.py" ]]; then
+                cp "${LOCAL_PREFIX}/share/cthulhu/cthulhu-customizations.py" /tmp/cthulhu-customizations.backup
+            fi
+            
+            # Remove the directory
+            rm -rf "${LOCAL_PREFIX}/share/cthulhu"
+            
+            # Recreate directory and restore user files
+            mkdir -p "${LOCAL_PREFIX}/share/cthulhu"
+            if [[ -f /tmp/cthulhu-user-settings.backup ]]; then
+                mv /tmp/cthulhu-user-settings.backup "${LOCAL_PREFIX}/share/cthulhu/user-settings.conf"
+            fi
+            if [[ -f /tmp/cthulhu-customizations.backup ]]; then
+                mv /tmp/cthulhu-customizations.backup "${LOCAL_PREFIX}/share/cthulhu/cthulhu-customizations.py"
+            fi
+        fi
         
         # Remove docs
         rm -rf "${LOCAL_PREFIX}/share/help/*/cthulhu"