diff --git a/docs/roles-and-permissions-architecture.md b/docs/roles-and-permissions-architecture.md
index 0035a1e..216c6c9 100644
--- a/docs/roles-and-permissions-architecture.md
+++ b/docs/roles-and-permissions-architecture.md
@@ -2052,7 +2052,7 @@ Users and Members are separate entities that can be linked. Special rules:
 **Enforcement:**
 
 - **User side:** The User resource restricts the `update_user` action (which accepts the `member` argument for link/unlink) to admins only via `Mv.Authorization.Checks.ActorIsAdmin`. The UserLive.Form shows the Member-Linking UI and runs member link/unlink on save only when the current user is admin; non-admins use the `:update` action (email only) for profile edit.
-- **Member side:** Only admins may set or change the user–member link on **Member** create or update. When creating or updating a member, the `:user` argument (which links the member to a user account) is forbidden for non-admins. This is enforced by `Mv.Authorization.Checks.ForbidMemberUserLinkUnlessAdmin` in the Member resource policies (`forbid_if` before `authorize_if HasPermission`). Non-admins (e.g. normal_user / Kassenwart) can still create and update members as long as they do not pass the `:user` argument.
+- **Member side:** Only admins may set or change the user–member link on **Member** create or update. When creating or updating a member, the `:user` argument (which links the member to a user account) is forbidden for non-admins. This is enforced by `Mv.Authorization.Checks.ForbidMemberUserLinkUnlessAdmin` in the Member resource policies (`forbid_if` before `authorize_if HasPermission`). Non-admins can still create and update members as long as they do **not** pass the `:user` argument. The Member resource uses **`on_missing: :ignore`** for the `:user` relationship on update_member, so **omitting** `:user` from params does **not** change the link (no "unlink by omission"); unlink is only possible by explicitly passing `:user` (e.g. `user: nil`), which is admin-only.
 
 ### Approach: Separate Ash Actions
 
diff --git a/lib/membership/member.ex b/lib/membership/member.ex
index fc007ac..06dbf57 100644
--- a/lib/membership/member.ex
+++ b/lib/membership/member.ex
@@ -154,15 +154,13 @@ defmodule Mv.Membership.Member do
       change manage_relationship(:custom_field_values, on_match: :update, on_no_match: :create)
 
       # Manage the user relationship during member update
+      # on_missing: :ignore so that omitting :user does NOT unlink (security: only admins may
+      # change the link; unlink is explicit via user: nil, forbidden for non-admins by policy).
       change manage_relationship(:user, :user,
-               # Look up existing user and relate to it
                on_lookup: :relate,
-               # Error if user doesn't exist in database
                on_no_match: :error,
-               # Error if user is already linked to another member (prevents "stealing")
                on_match: :error,
-               # If no user provided, remove existing relationship (allows user removal)
-               on_missing: :unrelate
+               on_missing: :ignore
              )
 
       # Sync member email to user when email changes (Member → User)
diff --git a/lib/mv/authorization/checks/forbid_member_user_link_unless_admin.ex b/lib/mv/authorization/checks/forbid_member_user_link_unless_admin.ex
index ab4af9d..1e7cb77 100644
--- a/lib/mv/authorization/checks/forbid_member_user_link_unless_admin.ex
+++ b/lib/mv/authorization/checks/forbid_member_user_link_unless_admin.ex
@@ -6,16 +6,16 @@ defmodule Mv.Authorization.Checks.ForbidMemberUserLinkUnlessAdmin do
   **is present** (key in arguments, regardless of value), only admins may perform the action.
   This covers:
   - **Linking:** `user: %{id: user_id}` → only admin
-  - **Unlinking:** `user: nil` or `user: %{}` on update_member triggers `on_missing: :unrelate` → only admin
-  Non-admin users (e.g. normal_user / Kassenwart) can create and update members only when
-  they do **not** pass the `:user` argument at all.
+  - **Unlinking:** explicit `user: nil` or `user: %{}` on update_member → only admin
+  Non-admin users can create and update members only when they do **not** pass the
+  `:user` argument; omitting `:user` leaves the relationship unchanged.
 
-  ## Unlink via Member actions
+  ## Unlink semantics (update_member)
 
-  Unlink is intended via Member update_member: when `:user` is not provided in params,
-  manage_relationship uses `on_missing: :unrelate` and removes the link. Passing `user: nil`
-  or `user: %{}` explicitly is still "changing the link" and is forbidden for non-admins
-  (argument presence is checked, not value).
+  The Member resource uses `on_missing: :ignore` for the `:user` relationship on update.
+  So **omitting** `:user` from params does **not** change the link (no "unlink by omission").
+  Unlink is only possible by **explicitly** passing `:user` (e.g. `user: nil`), which this
+  check forbids for non-admins. Admins may link or unlink via the `:user` argument.
 
   ## Usage
 
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ defmodule Mv.Authorization.Checks.ForbidMemberUserLinkUnlessAdmin do
 
   - If the `:user` argument **key is not present** → does not forbid.
   - If `:user` is present (any value, including nil or %{}) and actor is not admin → forbids.
-  - If actor is nil → treated as non-admin (forbid when :user present); no crash.
+  - If actor is nil → treated as non-admin (forbid when :user present). `Actor.admin?(nil)` is defined and returns false.
   - If actor is admin (or system actor) → does not forbid.
   """
   use Ash.Policy.Check
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ defmodule Mv.Authorization.Checks.ForbidMemberUserLinkUnlessAdmin do
 
   @impl true
   def strict_check(actor, authorizer, _opts) do
-    # Defensive: nil actor → treat as non-admin (Actor.ensure_loaded(nil) and admin?(nil) are safe)
+    # Nil actor: treat as non-admin (Actor.admin?(nil) returns false; no crash)
     actor = if is_nil(actor), do: nil, else: Actor.ensure_loaded(actor)
 
     if user_argument_present?(authorizer) and not Actor.admin?(actor) do
@@ -53,10 +53,10 @@ defmodule Mv.Authorization.Checks.ForbidMemberUserLinkUnlessAdmin do
   end
 
   # Forbid when :user was passed at all (link, unlink via nil/empty, or invalid value).
-  # Check argument key presence, not value, to avoid bypass via user: nil or user: %{}.
+  # Check argument key presence (atom or string) for defense-in-depth.
   defp user_argument_present?(authorizer) do
-    args = get_arguments(authorizer)
-    Map.has_key?(args || %{}, :user)
+    args = get_arguments(authorizer) || %{}
+    Map.has_key?(args, :user) or Map.has_key?(args, "user")
   end
 
   defp get_arguments(authorizer) do
diff --git a/test/mv/membership/member_policies_test.exs b/test/mv/membership/member_policies_test.exs
index d9ab95c..f2d3084 100644
--- a/test/mv/membership/member_policies_test.exs
+++ b/test/mv/membership/member_policies_test.exs
@@ -505,6 +505,35 @@ defmodule Mv.Membership.MemberPoliciesTest do
                Membership.update_member(linked_member, %{user: nil}, actor: normal_user)
     end
 
+    test "normal_user update linked member without :user keeps link", %{
+      normal_user: normal_user,
+      admin: admin,
+      unlinked_member: unlinked_member
+    } do
+      # Admin links member to a user
+      link_target =
+        Mv.Fixtures.user_with_role_fixture("own_data")
+        |> Mv.Authorization.Actor.ensure_loaded()
+
+      {:ok, linked_member} =
+        Membership.update_member(
+          unlinked_member,
+          %{user: %{id: link_target.id}},
+          actor: admin
+        )
+
+      # normal_user updates only first_name (no :user) – link must remain (on_missing: :ignore)
+      {:ok, updated} =
+        Membership.update_member(linked_member, %{first_name: "Updated"}, actor: normal_user)
+
+      assert updated.first_name == "Updated"
+
+      {:ok, user} =
+        Ash.get(Mv.Accounts.User, link_target.id, domain: Mv.Accounts, actor: admin)
+
+      assert user.member_id == updated.id
+    end
+
     test "admin can create member with :user argument", %{admin: admin} do
       link_target =
         Mv.Fixtures.user_with_role_fixture("own_data")