diff --git a/scripts/lib/alpine.sh b/scripts/lib/alpine.sh
index 51e4ac4..9910753 100644
--- a/scripts/lib/alpine.sh
+++ b/scripts/lib/alpine.sh
@@ -240,8 +240,8 @@ function alpine_aggressive_cleanup() {
     log_info "Removing static libraries"
     find "${initramfs_dir}" -name "*.a" -type f -delete 2>/dev/null || true
     
-    # Clean APK cache and databases but keep directories for apk update capability
-    log_info "Cleaning APK cache and databases (keeping directories for apk update)"
+    # Clean APK cache but preserve essential database files for apk update capability
+    log_info "Cleaning APK cache and non-essential databases (preserving apk update capability)"
     
     # Clean cache files but keep directory structure
     if [[ -d "${initramfs_dir}/var/cache/apk" ]]; then
@@ -249,16 +249,21 @@ function alpine_aggressive_cleanup() {
         log_info "✓ Cleaned APK cache files (directory preserved)"
     fi
     
-    # Clean database files but keep directories for apk functionality
+    # Only remove specific database files, not the core ones needed for apk to function
     if [[ -d "${initramfs_dir}/lib/apk/db" ]]; then
-        find "${initramfs_dir}/lib/apk/db" -type f -delete 2>/dev/null || true
-        log_info "✓ Cleaned APK database files (directory preserved)"
+        # Remove only download cache and backup files, keep essential database structure
+        find "${initramfs_dir}/lib/apk/db" -name "*.tar.gz" -delete 2>/dev/null || true
+        find "${initramfs_dir}/lib/apk/db" -name "*.old" -delete 2>/dev/null || true
+        log_info "✓ Cleaned APK cache archives (essential database preserved)"
     fi
     
-    # Remove old backup files
-    find "${initramfs_dir}/var/lib/apk" -name "*.old" -delete 2>/dev/null || true
+    # Clean old backup files in var/lib/apk but preserve world file
+    if [[ -d "${initramfs_dir}/var/lib/apk" ]]; then
+        find "${initramfs_dir}/var/lib/apk" -name "*.old" -delete 2>/dev/null || true
+        log_info "✓ Cleaned APK backup files (world file preserved)"
+    fi
     
-    log_info "APK directories preserved for 'apk update' functionality"
+    log_info "APK database preserved for 'apk update' functionality"
     
     # Remove kernel source and headers if present
     log_info "Removing kernel development files"