diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index e5ef88e..80a4592 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -124,9 +124,11 @@ Apply environment variables defined in `[variables]` and propagate them to syste
 ```bash
 curator env
 # then, to update this shell:
-eval "$(curator env --eval)"
+eval "$(curator env --eval-only)"
 ```
 
+Use `curator env --eval-only` in shell init files if you want each shell to export the current `[variables]` values without touching `environment.d` or systemd/DBus.
+
 ## Configuration
 
 ### inventory.toml
@@ -243,7 +245,7 @@ PAGER = "less -R"
 
 Notes:
 - Values are imported into the user systemd and DBus environments during `curator switch` or `curator env`.
-- To update a currently running shell, run `eval "$(curator env --eval)"` after applying.
+- To update a currently running shell, run `eval "$(curator env --eval-only)"` after applying.
 - Later shell init files (e.g., `.bashrc`, `.zshrc`) can still override these values.
 
 #### `[dotfiles]`
diff --git a/src/curator/cli.py b/src/curator/cli.py
index 865745e..8afb969 100644
--- a/src/curator/cli.py
+++ b/src/curator/cli.py
@@ -1146,18 +1146,20 @@ def apply_inline_updates(entry_args: list[str], add: bool) -> None:
         log_success(f"Updated section [{section}] in {curator_toml}")
 
 
-def env_command(eval_mode: bool = False) -> None:
+def env_command(eval_only: bool = False) -> None:
     curator_dir, curator_toml, _, _ = get_paths()
     if not curator_toml.exists():
         log_error("inventory.toml not found. Run 'curator init' first.")
         sys.exit(1)
 
     config = parse_config(curator_toml)
-    variables, removed_keys = apply_environment_variables(
-        config, curator_dir, quiet=eval_mode, propagate=True
-    )
+    if eval_only:
+        env_home = Path(os.environ.get("XDG_CONFIG_HOME", Path.home() / ".config")).expanduser()
+        env_file = env_home / "environment.d" / "20-curator.conf"
+        existing_keys = _read_environment_file_keys(env_file)
+        variables = {k.strip(): str(v) for k, v in config.variables.items() if k.strip()}
+        removed_keys = existing_keys - set(variables)
 
-    if eval_mode:
         exports: list[str] = []
         for key, value in sorted(variables.items()):
             exports.append(f"export {key}={_format_env_value(value)}")
@@ -1167,8 +1169,9 @@ def env_command(eval_mode: bool = False) -> None:
             print("\n".join(exports))
         return
 
+    apply_environment_variables(config, curator_dir, propagate=True)
     log_info("To update your current shell now, run:")
-    print('  eval "$(curator env --eval)"')
+    print('  eval "$(curator env --eval-only)"')
 
 
 def status_command() -> None:
@@ -1290,9 +1293,9 @@ def build_parser() -> argparse.ArgumentParser:
     remove_parser.add_argument("entries", nargs="+", help="Entries in the form section:value")
     env_parser = subparsers.add_parser("env", help="Apply environment variables immediately")
     env_parser.add_argument(
-        "--eval",
+        "--eval-only",
         action="store_true",
-        help='Print export/unset statements for the current shell (use with: eval "$(curator env --eval)")',
+        help='Print export/unset statements for the current shell only (use with: eval "$(curator env --eval-only)")',
     )
     subparsers.add_parser("status", help="Show current configuration status")
     subparsers.add_parser("help", help="Show help message")
@@ -1316,7 +1319,7 @@ def main(argv: list[str] | None = None) -> None:
     elif args.command == "remove":
         apply_inline_updates(args.entries, add=False)
     elif args.command == "env":
-        env_command(eval_mode=args.eval)
+        env_command(eval_only=args.eval_only)
     elif args.command == "status":
         status_command()
     elif args.command == "help":
diff --git a/tests/test_config.py b/tests/test_config.py
index 265a561..abea4db 100644
--- a/tests/test_config.py
+++ b/tests/test_config.py
@@ -239,21 +239,24 @@ def test_env_command_eval_outputs_exports(tmp_path: Path, monkeypatch, capsys) -
         """
 [variables]
 EDITOR = "nvim"
-OLD = "1"
         """.strip()
     )
+    env_home = tmp_path / "xdg"
+    env_dir = env_home / "environment.d"
+    env_dir.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+    env_conf = env_dir / "20-curator.conf"
+    env_conf.write_text("OLD=1\n")
+    monkeypatch.setenv("XDG_CONFIG_HOME", str(env_home))
 
     def fake_get_paths():
         return curator_dir, env_file, curator_dir / "last", curator_dir / "rollback"
 
-    def fake_apply_environment_variables(config, path, quiet=False, propagate=False):
-        assert quiet is True
-        assert propagate is True
-        return {"EDITOR": "nvim"}, {"OLD"}
+    def fail_apply_environment_variables(*_args, **_kwargs):
+        raise AssertionError("apply_environment_variables should not be called in eval-only mode")
 
     monkeypatch.setattr(cli, "get_paths", fake_get_paths)
-    monkeypatch.setattr(cli, "apply_environment_variables", fake_apply_environment_variables)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(cli, "apply_environment_variables", fail_apply_environment_variables)
 
-    cli.env_command(eval_mode=True)
+    cli.env_command(eval_only=True)
     out = capsys.readouterr().out.strip().splitlines()
     assert out == ["export EDITOR=nvim", "unset OLD"]