diff --git a/debian-live-config/config/hooks/normal/9999-wrolpi.hook.chroot b/debian-live-config/config/hooks/normal/9999-wrolpi.hook.chroot
index 8518c4fc..afd3c2e5 100644
--- a/debian-live-config/config/hooks/normal/9999-wrolpi.hook.chroot
+++ b/debian-live-config/config/hooks/normal/9999-wrolpi.hook.chroot
@@ -132,6 +132,10 @@ mkdir /media/wrolpi
 [[ -f /opt/wrolpi-blobs/map-overview.pmtiles && -s /opt/wrolpi-blobs/map-overview.pmtiles ]] || \
   (echo "ERROR: map-overview.pmtiles missing from /opt/wrolpi-blobs!" && exit 1)
 
+# Ship committed blobs (e.g. the default Zim served by Kiwix when the media dir
+# has no working zims) into /opt/wrolpi-blobs.
+cp /opt/wrolpi/wrolpi/blobs/* /opt/wrolpi-blobs/
+
 # Bake in the map toolchain (pmtiles CLI + tippecanoe) so first boot does not
 # need internet.  Shared with pi-gen and on-device upgrades via a single script
 # so versions/pins live in one place.  It is safe in the chroot: unlike
diff --git a/docker/zim/Dockerfile b/docker/zim/Dockerfile
index b390bac7..426d6b95 100644
--- a/docker/zim/Dockerfile
+++ b/docker/zim/Dockerfile
@@ -2,6 +2,11 @@ FROM debian:13
 ENV DOCKER=true
 
 RUN apt update && apt-get install -y kiwix kiwix-tools
+
+# Committed blobs (e.g. the default Zim served when the media directory has no
+# functioning zim files).
+COPY wrolpi/blobs/ /opt/wrolpi-blobs/
+
 COPY docker/zim/* /
 
 ENTRYPOINT ["/entrypoint.sh"]
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/docker/zim/entrypoint.sh b/docker/zim/entrypoint.sh
index e0df9a03..2e622bb4 100755
--- a/docker/zim/entrypoint.sh
+++ b/docker/zim/entrypoint.sh
@@ -1,10 +1,38 @@
 #! /usr/bin/env bash
-rm -f /library.xml
+set -u
 
-# Find all Zim files and import them.
-find /media/wrolpi -iname '*.zim' -exec /import_zim.sh {} \;
+LIBRARY=/library.xml
+# Default Zim baked into the image; served when no real zim is available.
+DEFAULT_ZIM="${DEFAULT_ZIM:-/opt/wrolpi-blobs/default.zim}"
+
+rm -f "${LIBRARY}"
+
+# Import every *.zim under the mounted media directory.  A corrupt or partial
+# zim is rejected by kiwix-manage; skip it so the remaining valid zims are
+# still served.  We scan the whole media mount, so any configured
+# `zims_destination` subdirectory is covered automatically -- no config read.
+added_zim=false
+while IFS= read -r -d '' zim; do
+  if /import_zim.sh "${zim}"; then
+    added_zim=true
+  else
+    echo "Skipping zim which could not be added (corrupt or incomplete?): ${zim}" >&2
+  fi
+done < <(find /media/wrolpi -iname '*.zim' -print0)
+
+# When no functioning zim was added, fall back to the default Zim so the user
+# sees a helpful placeholder instead of a blank Kiwix.
+if [ "${added_zim}" = false ] && [ -f "${DEFAULT_ZIM}" ]; then
+  echo "No usable Zim files found; serving the default WROLPi Zim: ${DEFAULT_ZIM}" >&2
+  /import_zim.sh "${DEFAULT_ZIM}" || echo "Failed to add the default Zim" >&2
+fi
+
+# Ensure a library file always exists so kiwix-serve can start regardless.
+if [ ! -f "${LIBRARY}" ]; then
+  printf '<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>\n<library version="20110515">\n</library>\n' > "${LIBRARY}"
+fi
 
 # Bind all interfaces by omitting --address: kiwix-serve defaults to all
 # interfaces, and trixie's kiwix-tools 3.7.0 rejects the literal
 # "--address 0.0.0.0" ("IP address is not available on this system").
-kiwix-serve --monitorLibrary --library /library.xml --port 80
+kiwix-serve --monitorLibrary --library "${LIBRARY}" --port 80
diff --git a/modules/zim/test/test_read_config_value.py b/modules/zim/test/test_read_config_value.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..41ce7f44
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/zim/test/test_read_config_value.py
@@ -0,0 +1,69 @@
+"""Tests for wrolpi/scripts/read_config_value.sh.
+
+The reader extracts a top-level scalar from wrolpi.yaml with zero dependencies
+so non-Python scripts (e.g. start_kiwix_serve.sh, the Docker Zim entrypoint) can
+read config values.  Exercised directly via bash.
+"""
+import os
+import pathlib
+import subprocess
+
+import pytest
+
+REPO_ROOT = pathlib.Path(__file__).parents[3]
+READER = REPO_ROOT / 'wrolpi' / 'scripts' / 'read_config_value.sh'
+
+
+def _read(media: pathlib.Path, key: str, default: str = '') -> str:
+    env = {**os.environ, 'MEDIA_DIRECTORY': str(media)}
+    result = subprocess.run(['bash', str(READER), key, default], env=env,
+                            capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=30)
+    assert result.returncode == 0, result.stderr
+    return result.stdout.strip('\n')
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def media_with_config(tmp_path):
+    media = tmp_path / 'media'
+    (media / 'config').mkdir(parents=True)
+
+    def write(text: str):
+        (media / 'config' / 'wrolpi.yaml').write_text(text)
+
+    return media, write
+
+
+def test_reads_scalar_value(media_with_config):
+    media, write = media_with_config
+    write('zims_destination: mycustomzims\nvideos_destination: videos\n')
+    assert _read(media, 'zims_destination', 'zims') == 'mycustomzims'
+
+
+def test_strips_surrounding_quotes(media_with_config):
+    media, write = media_with_config
+    write('videos_destination: "quoted videos"\n')
+    assert _read(media, 'videos_destination', 'x') == 'quoted videos'
+
+
+def test_missing_key_returns_default(media_with_config):
+    media, write = media_with_config
+    write('videos_destination: videos\n')
+    assert _read(media, 'zims_destination', 'zims') == 'zims'
+
+
+def test_empty_value_returns_default(media_with_config):
+    media, write = media_with_config
+    write('zims_destination:\n')
+    assert _read(media, 'zims_destination', 'zims') == 'zims'
+
+
+def test_missing_config_file_returns_default(tmp_path):
+    # No config directory/file at all (fresh install) -> default, no error.
+    assert _read(tmp_path / 'media', 'zims_destination', 'zims') == 'zims'
+
+
+def test_ignores_indented_nested_keys(media_with_config):
+    media, write = media_with_config
+    # A nested key with the same name must not be matched at the top level.
+    write('some_section:\n  zims_destination: nested\ntop: value\n')
+    assert _read(media, 'zims_destination', 'zims') == 'zims'
diff --git a/modules/zim/test/test_start_kiwix_serve.py b/modules/zim/test/test_start_kiwix_serve.py
index 4999e8d5..c9d13d67 100644
--- a/modules/zim/test/test_start_kiwix_serve.py
+++ b/modules/zim/test/test_start_kiwix_serve.py
@@ -3,9 +3,12 @@
 The script imports every *.zim in the Zim directory into a Kiwix library, then
 starts kiwix-serve.  These tests exercise the script directly with fake
 `kiwix-manage`/`kiwix-serve` binaries on PATH so they need no real Kiwix
-installation.  The key invariant: a single corrupt/incomplete zim must never
-prevent the remaining valid zims from being served, nor stop the server from
-starting.
+installation.  Key invariants:
+
+- A single corrupt/incomplete zim must never prevent the remaining valid zims
+  from being served, nor stop the server from starting.
+- The configured Zim directory (wrolpi.yaml `zims_destination`) is honored.
+- When no functioning zim is found, the default Zim is served as a fallback.
 """
 import os
 import pathlib
@@ -14,7 +17,8 @@ import subprocess
 
 import pytest
 
-SCRIPT = pathlib.Path(__file__).parents[3] / 'scripts' / 'start_kiwix_serve.sh'
+REPO_ROOT = pathlib.Path(__file__).parents[3]
+SCRIPT = REPO_ROOT / 'scripts' / 'start_kiwix_serve.sh'
 
 # Fake kiwix-manage: refuses any zim whose contents contain "CORRUPT" (mimicking
 # kiwix-manage's "Cannot add zim ..." rejection of partial/corrupt files),
@@ -55,6 +59,7 @@ def kiwix_env(tmp_path):
     media = tmp_path / 'media'
     zims = media / 'zims'
     zims.mkdir(parents=True)
+    (media / 'config').mkdir()
 
     bin_dir = tmp_path / 'bin'
     bin_dir.mkdir()
@@ -64,20 +69,34 @@ def kiwix_env(tmp_path):
         p.chmod(p.stat().st_mode | stat.S_IEXEC | stat.S_IXGRP | stat.S_IXOTH)
 
     started_marker = tmp_path / 'started'
+    # Points at a file that does not exist by default (so the fallback is a
+    # no-op); the fallback test creates it.
+    default_zim = tmp_path / 'blobs' / 'default.zim'
+
+    def write_config(text: str):
+        (media / 'config' / 'wrolpi.yaml').write_text(text)
 
     def run():
         env = {
             **os.environ,
             'MEDIA_DIRECTORY': str(media),
+            'PROJECT_DIR': str(REPO_ROOT),
+            'DEFAULT_ZIM': str(default_zim),
             'PATH': f'{bin_dir}:{os.environ["PATH"]}',
             'STARTED_MARKER': str(started_marker),
         }
         return subprocess.run(['bash', str(SCRIPT)], env=env, capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=60)
 
-    return dict(media=media, zims=zims, library=zims / 'library.xml', started_marker=started_marker, run=run)
+    def library_text():
+        lib = zims / 'library.xml'
+        return lib.read_text() if lib.exists() else ''
+
+    return dict(media=media, zims=zims, library=zims / 'library.xml', started_marker=started_marker,
+                default_zim=default_zim, write_config=write_config, library_text=library_text, run=run)
 
 
 def _write_zim(path: pathlib.Path, corrupt: bool = False):
+    path.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
     path.write_text('CORRUPT' if corrupt else 'ZIMDATA')
 
 
@@ -107,7 +126,7 @@ def test_corrupt_zim_does_not_prevent_serving_valid_zims(kiwix_env):
 
 
 def test_only_corrupt_zim_still_starts_server(kiwix_env):
-    """Even when the only zim is corrupt, kiwix must still start (empty library)."""
+    """Even when the only zim is corrupt, kiwix must still start."""
     _write_zim(kiwix_env['zims'] / 'sudan_broken.zim', corrupt=True)
 
     result = kiwix_env['run']()
@@ -123,3 +142,30 @@ def test_no_zims_still_starts_server(kiwix_env):
 
     assert result.returncode == 0, result.stderr
     assert kiwix_env['started_marker'].exists(), 'kiwix-serve was not started'
+
+
+def test_honors_configured_zims_destination(kiwix_env):
+    """A custom zims_destination in wrolpi.yaml is used instead of the default `zims`."""
+    kiwix_env['write_config']('zims_destination: mycustomzims\n')
+    _write_zim(kiwix_env['media'] / 'mycustomzims' / 'wikipedia.zim')
+
+    result = kiwix_env['run']()
+
+    assert result.returncode == 0, result.stderr
+    assert kiwix_env['started_marker'].exists(), 'kiwix-serve was not started'
+    # The library lives in the configured directory and references the zim there.
+    library = kiwix_env['media'] / 'mycustomzims' / 'library.xml'
+    assert library.exists()
+    assert 'mycustomzims/wikipedia.zim' in library.read_text()
+
+
+def test_falls_back_to_default_zim_when_no_usable_zim(kiwix_env):
+    """When no functioning zim is present, the default Zim is served."""
+    # No zims in the directory; create the default Zim the script should fall back to.
+    _write_zim(kiwix_env['default_zim'])
+
+    result = kiwix_env['run']()
+
+    assert result.returncode == 0, result.stderr
+    assert kiwix_env['started_marker'].exists(), 'kiwix-serve was not started'
+    assert 'default.zim' in kiwix_env['library'].read_text()
diff --git a/pi-gen/stage2/04-wrolpi/04-run-chroot.sh b/pi-gen/stage2/04-wrolpi/04-run-chroot.sh
index 6c5dbd8d..c1ca9a39 100755
--- a/pi-gen/stage2/04-wrolpi/04-run-chroot.sh
+++ b/pi-gen/stage2/04-wrolpi/04-run-chroot.sh
@@ -18,6 +18,10 @@ cp /opt/wrolpi/etc/raspberrypios/*desktop /etc/skel/Desktop
 [[ -f /opt/wrolpi-blobs/map-overview.pmtiles && -s /opt/wrolpi-blobs/map-overview.pmtiles ]] || \
   (echo "ERROR: map-overview.pmtiles missing from /opt/wrolpi-blobs!" && exit 1)
 
+# Ship committed blobs (e.g. the default Zim served by Kiwix when the media dir
+# has no working zims) into /opt/wrolpi-blobs.
+cp /opt/wrolpi/wrolpi/blobs/* /opt/wrolpi-blobs/
+
 # Install WROLPi Help.
 /opt/wrolpi/scripts/install_help_service.sh
 
diff --git a/scripts/start_kiwix_serve.sh b/scripts/start_kiwix_serve.sh
index 092b048a..b837d1e9 100755
--- a/scripts/start_kiwix_serve.sh
+++ b/scripts/start_kiwix_serve.sh
@@ -2,12 +2,19 @@
 # This file imports all *.zim files in the Zim media directory, then starts kiwix-serve.
 set -u
 
-# The media directory is overridable for testing; defaults to the production mount.
+# The media directory and project directory are overridable for testing;
+# they default to the production locations.
 MEDIA_DIRECTORY="${MEDIA_DIRECTORY:-/media/wrolpi}"
+PROJECT_DIR="${PROJECT_DIR:-/opt/wrolpi}"
+# Default Zim shipped in /opt/wrolpi-blobs; served when no real zim is available.
+DEFAULT_ZIM="${DEFAULT_ZIM:-/opt/wrolpi-blobs/default.zim}"
 
 [ ! -d "${MEDIA_DIRECTORY}" ] && echo "Cannot start kiwix without media directory mounted" && exit 1
 
-ZIM_DIRECTORY="${MEDIA_DIRECTORY}/zims"
+# Honor the configured Zim directory (wrolpi.yaml `zims_destination`, always
+# relative to the media directory), defaulting to `zims`.
+ZIMS_DEST="$(MEDIA_DIRECTORY="${MEDIA_DIRECTORY}" "${PROJECT_DIR}/wrolpi/scripts/read_config_value.sh" zims_destination zims)"
+ZIM_DIRECTORY="${MEDIA_DIRECTORY}/${ZIMS_DEST}"
 LIBRARY="${ZIM_DIRECTORY}/library.xml"
 
 # Wait up to 30 seconds for the zims directory to be mounted.
@@ -44,11 +51,20 @@ done < <(find "${ZIM_DIRECTORY}" -iname '*.zim' -print0)
 if [ "${found_zim}" = false ]; then
   echo "Could not find any Zim files to import"
 elif [ "${added_zim}" = false ]; then
-  echo "Found Zim files but none could be added (all corrupt or incomplete?); starting Kiwix with an empty library" >&2
+  echo "Found Zim files but none could be added (all corrupt or incomplete?)" >&2
+fi
+
+# When no functioning zim was added, fall back to the default Zim shipped in
+# /opt/wrolpi-blobs so the user sees a helpful placeholder ("download some Zim
+# files") instead of a blank Kiwix.  A single corrupt zim must never take down
+# the server.
+if [ "${added_zim}" = false ] && [ -f "${DEFAULT_ZIM}" ]; then
+  echo "No usable Zim files found; serving the default WROLPi Zim: ${DEFAULT_ZIM}" >&2
+  kiwix-manage "${LIBRARY}" add "${DEFAULT_ZIM}" || echo "Failed to add the default Zim" >&2
 fi
 
 # Ensure a library file always exists so kiwix-serve can start even when there
-# are no valid zims.  A single corrupt zim must never take down the server.
+# are no valid zims and the default Zim is missing.
 if [ ! -f "${LIBRARY}" ]; then
   printf '<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>\n<library version="20110515">\n</library>\n' > "${LIBRARY}"
 fi
diff --git a/wrolpi/blobs/default.zim b/wrolpi/blobs/default.zim
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6d00174f
Binary files /dev/null and b/wrolpi/blobs/default.zim differ
diff --git a/wrolpi/root_api.py b/wrolpi/root_api.py
index 631638be..55650815 100644
--- a/wrolpi/root_api.py
+++ b/wrolpi/root_api.py
@@ -223,6 +223,7 @@ async def update_settings(_: Request, body: schema.SettingsRequest):
     # Remove any keys with None values, then save the config.
     new_config = {k: v for k, v in body.__dict__.items() if v is not None}
     wrolpi_config = get_wrolpi_config()
+    old_zims_destination = wrolpi_config.zims_destination
 
     if not new_config:
         raise InvalidConfig()
@@ -300,6 +301,13 @@ async def update_settings(_: Request, body: schema.SettingsRequest):
     # Save config settings (hotspot control is now through Controller endpoints)
     wrolpi_config.update(new_config)
 
+    # If the Zim directory changed, restart Kiwix so it serves the new directory
+    # without waiting for a reboot.  Local import avoids a circular import
+    # (modules depend on wrolpi, not the reverse).
+    if wrolpi_config.zims_destination != old_zims_destination:
+        from modules.zim.lib import restart_kiwix_handler
+        restart_kiwix_handler.activate_switch()
+
     # Apply timezone to the system via Controller (native deployments only).
     if body.timezone is not None and not DOCKERIZED:
         timezone_value = new_config.get('timezone')
diff --git a/wrolpi/scripts/default_zim/build_default_zim.sh b/wrolpi/scripts/default_zim/build_default_zim.sh
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..2de45c60
--- /dev/null
+++ b/wrolpi/scripts/default_zim/build_default_zim.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+#! /usr/bin/env bash
+# Build the default fallback Zim that Kiwix serves when a WROLPi has no
+# functioning Zim files.  The output is committed to wrolpi/blobs/default.zim,
+# which every build copies into /opt/wrolpi-blobs.
+#
+# Reproducible via the openzim/zim-tools Docker image, so no host zim-tools
+# installation is required.  Re-run this only when src/ changes.
+set -euo pipefail
+
+HERE="$( cd -- "$( dirname -- "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}" )" &>/dev/null && pwd )"
+BLOBS="$( cd -- "${HERE}/../../blobs" &>/dev/null && pwd )"
+IMAGE="ghcr.io/openzim/zim-tools:latest"
+
+echo "Building default.zim from ${HERE}/src -> ${BLOBS}/default.zim ..."
+rm -f "${BLOBS}/default.zim"  # zimwriterfs refuses to overwrite an existing file.
+docker run --rm -v "${HERE}:/work" -v "${BLOBS}:/out" -w /work "${IMAGE}" \
+  zimwriterfs \
+    --welcome=index.html \
+    --illustration=favicon.png \
+    --language=eng \
+    --title="WROLPi" \
+    --description="Default WROLPi Zim. Download Zim files to replace this placeholder." \
+    --creator="WROLPi" \
+    --publisher="WROLPi" \
+    --name="wrolpi.default" \
+    src /out/default.zim
+
+echo "Validating default.zim ..."
+docker run --rm -v "${BLOBS}:/out" -w /out "${IMAGE}" zimcheck default.zim
+
+echo "Done: ${BLOBS}/default.zim"
diff --git a/wrolpi/scripts/default_zim/src/favicon.png b/wrolpi/scripts/default_zim/src/favicon.png
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d6c8a169
Binary files /dev/null and b/wrolpi/scripts/default_zim/src/favicon.png differ
diff --git a/wrolpi/scripts/default_zim/src/index.html b/wrolpi/scripts/default_zim/src/index.html
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b65d87e6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/wrolpi/scripts/default_zim/src/index.html
@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+<!DOCTYPE html>
+<html lang="en">
+<head>
+  <meta charset="utf-8">
+  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
+  <title>WROLPi — No Zim files yet</title>
+  <style>
+    body {
+      font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;
+      line-height: 1.6;
+      max-width: 40rem;
+      margin: 3rem auto;
+      padding: 0 1.25rem;
+      color: #222;
+    }
+    img.logo { width: 96px; height: 96px; }
+    h1 { font-size: 1.6rem; margin: 0.5rem 0 1rem; }
+    code {
+      background: #f2f2f2;
+      padding: 0.1rem 0.35rem;
+      border-radius: 4px;
+      font-size: 0.95em;
+    }
+    .hint {
+      background: #eef6ff;
+      border-left: 4px solid #2185d0;
+      padding: 0.75rem 1rem;
+      border-radius: 4px;
+      margin: 1.5rem 0;
+    }
+    footer { margin-top: 2rem; color: #777; font-size: 0.9rem; }
+  </style>
+</head>
+<body>
+  <img class="logo" src="favicon.png" alt="WROLPi">
+  <h1>This is the default WROLPi Zim</h1>
+
+  <p>
+    You are seeing this page because your WROLPi has <strong>no Zim files</strong> yet
+    (or the Zim files it found could not be read). This built-in placeholder keeps the
+    Kiwix viewer running until you download real content.
+  </p>
+
+  <div class="hint">
+    To add encyclopedias and reference libraries, open <strong>Zim</strong> in the WROLPi
+    menu and download what you want &mdash; Wikipedia, Wiktionary, StackExchange, iFixit,
+    medical and survival references, and more.
+  </div>
+
+  <p>
+    Downloaded Zim files are stored in your Zim directory (by default
+    <code>zims</code> inside your media directory). Once at least one working Zim file is
+    present, Kiwix will serve it here automatically and this page will disappear.
+  </p>
+
+  <footer>
+    WROLPi &mdash; your own off-grid library.
+  </footer>
+</body>
+</html>
diff --git a/wrolpi/scripts/lib.sh b/wrolpi/scripts/lib.sh
index 4630bd7b..13edc248 100755
--- a/wrolpi/scripts/lib.sh
+++ b/wrolpi/scripts/lib.sh
@@ -16,6 +16,11 @@ PROJECT_DIR=$( cd -- "$( dirname -- "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}" )" &> /dev/null && pwd )
 PROJECT_DIR=$(dirname "${PROJECT_DIR}")
 PROJECT_DIR=$(dirname "${PROJECT_DIR}")
 
+# Read a top-level scalar value from wrolpi.yaml.  Usage: config_value KEY [DEFAULT]
+function config_value {
+  "${PROJECT_DIR}/wrolpi/scripts/read_config_value.sh" "$@"
+}
+
 rpi=false
 debian12=false
 if (grep 'Raspberry Pi' /proc/cpuinfo >/dev/null); then
diff --git a/wrolpi/scripts/read_config_value.sh b/wrolpi/scripts/read_config_value.sh
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..57dfd60d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/wrolpi/scripts/read_config_value.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+#! /usr/bin/env bash
+# Read a single top-level scalar value from WROLPi's config (wrolpi.yaml).
+#
+# wrolpi.yaml is the source of truth for configuration, but scripts that run
+# outside the Python API (e.g. start_kiwix_serve.sh, or a minimal Docker
+# container) still need to read config values.  This reader has zero
+# dependencies -- no Python, no jq/yq -- so it runs identically everywhere.
+#
+# Usage: read_config_value.sh KEY [DEFAULT]
+#   Prints the value of the top-level scalar KEY, or DEFAULT (empty if omitted)
+#   when the config file or the key is missing/empty.
+#
+# Limitation: only top-level scalar keys are supported (sufficient for the
+# *_destination keys).  Nested keys, lists, and multi-line values are not
+# parsed.  wrolpi.yaml is written by PyYAML and is regular, so this is reliable
+# for the keys it is used with.
+set -u
+
+KEY="${1:?Usage: read_config_value.sh KEY [DEFAULT]}"
+DEFAULT="${2:-}"
+
+MEDIA_DIRECTORY="${MEDIA_DIRECTORY:-/media/wrolpi}"
+CONFIG="${MEDIA_DIRECTORY}/config/wrolpi.yaml"
+
+value=""
+if [ -f "${CONFIG}" ]; then
+  value=$(awk -v key="${KEY}" '
+    # Only consider unindented (top-level) "key:" lines.
+    /^[A-Za-z0-9_]+[[:space:]]*:/ {
+      idx = index($0, ":")
+      k = substr($0, 1, idx - 1)
+      gsub(/[[:space:]]+$/, "", k)
+      if (k == key) {
+        v = substr($0, idx + 1)
+        sub(/^[[:space:]]+/, "", v)        # leading whitespace
+        sub(/[[:space:]]+#.*$/, "", v)     # trailing inline comment
+        sub(/[[:space:]]+$/, "", v)        # trailing whitespace
+        # Strip a matching pair of surrounding quotes.
+        if (v ~ /^".*"$/ || v ~ /^'\''.*'\''$/)
+          v = substr(v, 2, length(v) - 2)
+        print v
+        exit
+      }
+    }
+  ' "${CONFIG}")
+fi
+
+if [ -z "${value}" ]; then
+  printf '%s\n' "${DEFAULT}"
+else
+  printf '%s\n' "${value}"
+fi
diff --git a/wrolpi/test/test_root_api.py b/wrolpi/test/test_root_api.py
index 1f22c275..25b7ebdf 100644
--- a/wrolpi/test/test_root_api.py
+++ b/wrolpi/test/test_root_api.py
@@ -84,6 +84,26 @@ async def test_daily_download_limit_settings(test_session, async_client):
     assert response.status_code == HTTPStatus.BAD_REQUEST
 
 
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_changing_zims_destination_restarts_kiwix(test_session, async_client):
+    """Changing zims_destination should activate the restart_kiwix switch so Kiwix serves the new
+    directory; an unrelated settings change should not."""
+    from modules.zim import lib as zim_lib
+
+    with mock.patch.object(zim_lib.restart_kiwix_handler, 'activate_switch') as mock_activate:
+        # An unrelated change does not restart Kiwix.
+        request, response = await async_client.patch('/api/settings', content=json.dumps({'log_level': 20}))
+        assert response.status_code == HTTPStatus.NO_CONTENT
+        mock_activate.assert_not_called()
+
+        # Changing the Zim directory does.
+        data = {'zims_destination': 'my_zims'}
+        request, response = await async_client.patch('/api/settings', content=json.dumps(data))
+        assert response.status_code == HTTPStatus.NO_CONTENT
+        assert get_wrolpi_config().zims_destination == 'my_zims'
+        mock_activate.assert_called_once()
+
+
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_log_level(async_client):
     """Log level must be between 0 and 40."""