diff --git a/manifests/nearle/kustomization.yaml b/manifests/nearle/kustomization.yaml
index c25213e..fc97cd4 100644
--- a/manifests/nearle/kustomization.yaml
+++ b/manifests/nearle/kustomization.yaml
@@ -12,6 +12,10 @@ resources:
   - jupiter-cors-proxy.yaml
   - nearle-atlantis.yaml
   - nearle-titan.yaml
-  - nearle-ariane.yaml
+  # nearle-ariane.yaml intentionally excluded - it was never actually
+  # running on the cluster before Flux tried to deploy it for the first
+  # time, and it crash-loops. Not a GitOps regression, a pre-existing
+  # dormant/broken manifest. Revisit separately from the alaska/nearle
+  # rollout.
   - nearle-gateway.yaml
   - nearle-reference-grant.yaml