diff --git a/get-shit-done/workflows/update.md b/get-shit-done/workflows/update.md
index 77cf8988e..5a14cb199 100644
--- a/get-shit-done/workflows/update.md
+++ b/get-shit-done/workflows/update.md
@@ -486,10 +486,15 @@ const path = require('path');
 for (const relPath of custom_files) {
   const src = path.join(runtimeDir, relPath);
   const dst = path.join(backupDir, relPath);
-  if (fs.existsSync(src)) {
+  if (!fs.existsSync(src)) continue;
+
+  try {
     fs.mkdirSync(path.dirname(dst), { recursive: true });
     fs.copyFileSync(src, dst);
     console.log('  Backed up: ' + relPath);
+  } catch (err) {
+    const code = err && err.code ? String(err.code) : 'ERROR';
+    console.log('  Skipped (non-fatal): ' + relPath + ' [' + code + ']');
   }
 }
 JSEOF
diff --git a/tests/bug-3050-update-backup-eacces-nonfatal.test.cjs b/tests/bug-3050-update-backup-eacces-nonfatal.test.cjs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3bb4091b5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/bug-3050-update-backup-eacces-nonfatal.test.cjs
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+'use strict';
+
+const { test, describe } = require('node:test');
+const assert = require('node:assert/strict');
+const fs = require('node:fs');
+const path = require('node:path');
+
+describe('bug #3050: update backup skips unreadable files non-fatally', () => {
+  test('update workflow backup loop wraps copyFileSync in try/catch and logs non-fatal skip', () => {
+    const content = fs.readFileSync(
+      path.join(__dirname, '..', 'get-shit-done', 'workflows', 'update.md'),
+      'utf8',
+    );
+
+    const hasTryCatch = /try\s*\{[\s\S]*copyFileSync\([\s\S]*\}[\s\S]*catch\s*\(err\)/.test(content);
+    assert.ok(hasTryCatch, 'backup copy loop must catch per-file copy errors');
+
+    assert.ok(
+      content.includes('Skipped (non-fatal):'),
+      'workflow must log a non-fatal skip message for unreadable custom files',
+    );
+  });
+});