diff --git a/bin/ssr-mackup b/bin/ssr-mackup
index 6a64f5e..09af2d4 100755
--- a/bin/ssr-mackup
+++ b/bin/ssr-mackup
@@ -90,11 +90,12 @@ cmd_scan() {
     local -a labels=()
     local -a cfg_paths=()
 
-    local it app_name desired existing cfg_file
+    local it app_name desired existing cfg_file paths_block
     for it in "${items[@]:-}"; do
         app_name="$(_ssr_mackup_cfg_name "$it")"
         cfg_file="$cfg_dir/${app_name}.cfg"
-        desired="$(printf '[application]\nname = %s\n\n[configuration_files]\n%s\n' "$app_name" "$it")"
+        paths_block="$(_ssr_mackup_resolve_paths "$it")"
+        desired="$(printf '[application]\nname = %s\n\n[configuration_files]\n%s\n' "$app_name" "$paths_block")"
         if [[ -f "$cfg_file" ]]; then
             existing="$(cat "$cfg_file")"
             if [[ "$existing" == "$desired" ]]; then
@@ -123,8 +124,17 @@ cmd_scan() {
             local path="${cfg_paths[$i]##*/}"
             local colour
             [[ "$label" == "NEW" ]] && colour="\033[32m" || colour="\033[33m"
-            printf "  ${colour}%s\033[0m  %-38s  (%s)\n" \
-                "$label" "~/.mackup/$path" "${to_write[$i]}"
+            # Show resolved paths (selective or whole dir).
+            local resolved; resolved="$(_ssr_mackup_resolve_paths "${to_write[$i]}")"
+            local line_count; line_count="$(printf '%s\n' "$resolved" | wc -l | tr -d ' ')"
+            local paths_hint
+            if [[ "$line_count" -eq 1 && "$resolved" == "${to_write[$i]}" ]]; then
+                paths_hint="${to_write[$i]}/"   # whole directory
+            else
+                paths_hint="$line_count sub-path(s) of ${to_write[$i]}/"
+            fi
+            printf "  ${colour}%s\033[0m  %-38s  %s\n" \
+                "$label" "~/.mackup/$path" "$paths_hint"
         done
     fi
 
diff --git a/config/ssr.conf.example b/config/ssr.conf.example
index 59249bb..f6af8f9 100644
--- a/config/ssr.conf.example
+++ b/config/ssr.conf.example
@@ -26,6 +26,11 @@ SSR_MACKUP_AUTODISCOVER=true
 # Built-in defaults: .claude/debug .cursor/logs .vscode/logs .npm/_logs
 # SSR_MACKUP_PRECLEAN_PATHS=".my-app/tmp .other-app/run"
 
+# Selective sub-path overrides — back up only listed sub-paths for a dir
+# instead of the whole directory (avoids sockets/debug symlinks in volatile dirs).
+# Format: ".dir=subpath1,subpath2"  Built-in defaults cover .claude, .cursor, etc.
+# SSR_MACKUP_SELECTIVE_PATHS=".my-app=config.json,themes"
+
 # Extra paths (relative to $HOME) to always include, space-separated.
 # Example: ".easymcp .my-tool .config/my-cli"
 # SSR_MACKUP_EXTRA_PATHS=""
diff --git a/lib/mackup.sh b/lib/mackup.sh
index 01584c7..5e77173 100644
--- a/lib/mackup.sh
+++ b/lib/mackup.sh
@@ -24,6 +24,23 @@ _SSR_MACKUP_CURATED=(
     bin              # personal ~/bin scripts
 )
 
+# Selective sub-path overrides.
+# When a directory contains volatile/problematic files (sockets, debug
+# symlinks), list only the STABLE sub-paths here instead of the whole dir.
+# Format: "dir=subpath1,subpath2,subpath3"  (paths relative to the dir)
+#
+# Example: .claude has a debug/ dir with dangling symlinks → list only the
+# config files we actually need.  Extend via SSR_MACKUP_SELECTIVE_PATHS
+# (same format, space-separated entries) in ssr.conf.
+_SSR_MACKUP_SELECTIVE=(
+    ".claude=settings.json,CLAUDE.md,skills,plugins,agents,commands"
+    ".cursor=settings.json,keybindings.json,snippets,rules"
+    ".codex=auth.json,config.toml"
+    ".vscode=settings.json,keybindings.json,snippets"
+    ".vscode-insiders=settings.json,keybindings.json,snippets"
+    ".factory=settings.json,droids"
+)
+
 # Dot-dirs/files to never auto-include.
 # Covers: caches, generated state, credentials, large build artefacts.
 _SSR_MACKUP_SKIP=(
@@ -52,17 +69,56 @@ _ssr_mackup_cfg_name() {
     printf 'ssr-%s' "$name"
 }
 
+# Resolve the list of [configuration_files] entries for an item.
+# If a selective override exists for the item, expand sub-paths that are
+# present on disk.  Falls back to the item itself (whole directory).
+#
+# Outputs one path per line.
+_ssr_mackup_resolve_paths() {
+    local item="$1"
+    local -a all_selective=("${_SSR_MACKUP_SELECTIVE[@]}")
+    # Merge user-defined selectives from ssr.conf.
+    local entry
+    for entry in ${SSR_MACKUP_SELECTIVE_PATHS:-}; do
+        all_selective+=("$entry")
+    done
+
+    for entry in "${all_selective[@]}"; do
+        local key="${entry%%=*}"
+        local val="${entry#*=}"
+        if [[ "$key" == "$item" ]]; then
+            # Split comma-separated sub-paths; only include those that exist.
+            local sub
+            local IFS=','
+            for sub in $val; do
+                IFS=' '
+                local full="$item/$sub"
+                # List the path even if it doesn't exist yet — it may be created later.
+                printf '%s\n' "$full"
+            done
+            return 0
+        fi
+    done
+
+    # No selective entry — back up the whole directory.
+    printf '%s\n' "$item"
+}
+
 # Write a single ~/.mackup/<name>.cfg for one dot-path.
-# Skips writing if the file already exists and its content matches
-# (idempotent on repeated syncs).
+# Uses selective sub-paths when a matching entry exists in _SSR_MACKUP_SELECTIVE.
+# Skips writing if content is unchanged (idempotent).
 _ssr_mackup_write_cfg() {
     local cfg_dir="$1" item="$2"
     local app_name; app_name="$(_ssr_mackup_cfg_name "$item")"
     local cfg_file="$cfg_dir/${app_name}.cfg"
 
+    # Build [configuration_files] block.
+    local paths_block
+    paths_block="$(_ssr_mackup_resolve_paths "$item")"
+
     local desired
     desired="$(printf '[application]\nname = %s\n\n[configuration_files]\n%s\n' \
-        "$app_name" "$item")"
+        "$app_name" "$paths_block")"
 
     if [[ -f "$cfg_file" ]] && [[ "$(cat "$cfg_file")" == "$desired" ]]; then
         return 0   # already up-to-date