diff --git a/src/langbot/pkg/pipeline/config_coercion.py b/src/langbot/pkg/pipeline/config_coercion.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..649f9051
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/langbot/pkg/pipeline/config_coercion.py
@@ -0,0 +1,105 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import logging
+
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+# metadata type -> coercion function
+_COERCE_MAP = {
+    'integer': lambda v: int(v),
+    'number': lambda v: float(v),
+    'float': lambda v: float(v),
+}
+
+
+def _coerce_bool(v):
+    if isinstance(v, bool):
+        return v
+    if isinstance(v, str):
+        if v.lower() == 'true':
+            return True
+        if v.lower() == 'false':
+            return False
+        raise ValueError(f'Cannot convert string {v!r} to bool')
+    return bool(v)
+
+
+def _coerce_value(value, expected_type: str):
+    """Convert a single value to the expected type.
+
+    Returns the converted value, or the original value if no conversion needed.
+    """
+    if value is None:
+        return value
+
+    if expected_type == 'boolean':
+        if isinstance(value, bool):
+            return value
+        return _coerce_bool(value)
+
+    coerce_fn = _COERCE_MAP.get(expected_type)
+    if coerce_fn is None:
+        return value
+
+    # Already the correct type
+    if expected_type == 'integer' and isinstance(value, int) and not isinstance(value, bool):
+        return value
+    if expected_type in ('number', 'float') and isinstance(value, (int, float)) and not isinstance(value, bool):
+        return float(value)
+
+    return coerce_fn(value)
+
+
+def coerce_pipeline_config(
+    config: dict,
+    *metadata_list: dict,
+) -> None:
+    """Coerce pipeline config values according to metadata type definitions.
+
+    Walks each metadata dict (trigger, safety, ai, output) and converts
+    config values in-place so that strings coming from the JSON column are
+    cast to their declared types (integer, number/float, boolean).
+
+    Args:
+        config: The pipeline config dict to modify in-place.
+        *metadata_list: Metadata dicts loaded from the YAML templates.
+    """
+    for meta in metadata_list:
+        section_name = meta.get('name')
+        if not section_name or section_name not in config:
+            continue
+
+        section = config[section_name]
+        if not isinstance(section, dict):
+            continue
+
+        for stage_def in meta.get('stages', []):
+            stage_name = stage_def.get('name')
+            if not stage_name or stage_name not in section:
+                continue
+
+            stage_config = section[stage_name]
+            if not isinstance(stage_config, dict):
+                continue
+
+            for field_def in stage_def.get('config', []):
+                field_name = field_def.get('name')
+                field_type = field_def.get('type')
+                if not field_name or not field_type or field_name not in stage_config:
+                    continue
+
+                old_value = stage_config[field_name]
+                try:
+                    new_value = _coerce_value(old_value, field_type)
+                    if new_value is not old_value:
+                        stage_config[field_name] = new_value
+                except (ValueError, TypeError) as e:
+                    logger.warning(
+                        'Failed to coerce config %s.%s.%s (%r) to %s: %s',
+                        section_name,
+                        stage_name,
+                        field_name,
+                        old_value,
+                        field_type,
+                        e,
+                    )
diff --git a/src/langbot/pkg/pipeline/pipelinemgr.py b/src/langbot/pkg/pipeline/pipelinemgr.py
index d56f626c..5d0012d1 100644
--- a/src/langbot/pkg/pipeline/pipelinemgr.py
+++ b/src/langbot/pkg/pipeline/pipelinemgr.py
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import langbot_plugin.api.entities.builtin.platform.message as platform_message
 import langbot_plugin.api.entities.builtin.platform.events as platform_events
 import langbot_plugin.api.entities.events as events
 from ..utils import importutil
+from .config_coercion import coerce_pipeline_config
 
 import langbot_plugin.api.entities.builtin.provider.session as provider_session
 import langbot_plugin.api.entities.builtin.pipeline.query as pipeline_query
@@ -420,6 +421,14 @@ class PipelineManager:
         elif isinstance(pipeline_entity, dict):
             pipeline_entity = persistence_pipeline.LegacyPipeline(**pipeline_entity)
 
+        coerce_pipeline_config(
+            pipeline_entity.config,
+            getattr(self.ap, 'pipeline_config_meta_trigger', {'name': 'trigger', 'stages': []}),
+            getattr(self.ap, 'pipeline_config_meta_safety', {'name': 'safety', 'stages': []}),
+            getattr(self.ap, 'pipeline_config_meta_ai', {'name': 'ai', 'stages': []}),
+            getattr(self.ap, 'pipeline_config_meta_output', {'name': 'output', 'stages': []}),
+        )
+
         # initialize stage containers according to pipeline_entity.stages
         stage_containers: list[StageInstContainer] = []
         for stage_name in pipeline_entity.stages:
diff --git a/tests/unit_tests/pipeline/test_config_coercion.py b/tests/unit_tests/pipeline/test_config_coercion.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a23f54de
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit_tests/pipeline/test_config_coercion.py
@@ -0,0 +1,113 @@
+"""Unit tests for config_coercion module"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import pytest
+
+from langbot.pkg.pipeline.config_coercion import _coerce_value, coerce_pipeline_config
+
+
+class TestCoerceValue:
+    """Tests for _coerce_value function"""
+
+    def test_none_passthrough(self):
+        assert _coerce_value(None, 'integer') is None
+        assert _coerce_value(None, 'boolean') is None
+
+    def test_string_to_integer(self):
+        assert _coerce_value('120', 'integer') == 120
+        assert _coerce_value('0', 'integer') == 0
+        assert _coerce_value('-5', 'integer') == -5
+
+    def test_integer_passthrough(self):
+        assert _coerce_value(42, 'integer') == 42
+
+    def test_string_to_float(self):
+        assert _coerce_value('3.14', 'number') == 3.14
+        assert _coerce_value('3.14', 'float') == 3.14
+
+    def test_int_to_float(self):
+        assert _coerce_value(3, 'number') == 3.0
+        assert isinstance(_coerce_value(3, 'number'), float)
+
+    def test_float_passthrough(self):
+        assert _coerce_value(3.14, 'float') == 3.14
+
+    def test_string_to_bool(self):
+        assert _coerce_value('true', 'boolean') is True
+        assert _coerce_value('True', 'boolean') is True
+        assert _coerce_value('false', 'boolean') is False
+        assert _coerce_value('False', 'boolean') is False
+
+    def test_bool_passthrough(self):
+        assert _coerce_value(True, 'boolean') is True
+        assert _coerce_value(False, 'boolean') is False
+
+    def test_invalid_bool_string_raises(self):
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError):
+            _coerce_value('notabool', 'boolean')
+
+    def test_unknown_type_passthrough(self):
+        assert _coerce_value('hello', 'string') == 'hello'
+        assert _coerce_value('hello', 'unknown') == 'hello'
+
+    def test_invalid_integer_raises(self):
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError):
+            _coerce_value('abc', 'integer')
+
+
+class TestCoercePipelineConfig:
+    """Tests for coerce_pipeline_config function"""
+
+    def _make_meta(self, section_name: str, stage_name: str, fields: list[dict]) -> dict:
+        return {
+            'name': section_name,
+            'stages': [{'name': stage_name, 'config': fields}],
+        }
+
+    def test_coerce_integer_in_config(self):
+        config = {'trigger': {'misc': {'timeout': '120'}}}
+        meta = self._make_meta('trigger', 'misc', [{'name': 'timeout', 'type': 'integer'}])
+        coerce_pipeline_config(config, meta)
+        assert config['trigger']['misc']['timeout'] == 120
+
+    def test_coerce_boolean_in_config(self):
+        config = {'output': {'misc': {'at-sender': 'true'}}}
+        meta = self._make_meta('output', 'misc', [{'name': 'at-sender', 'type': 'boolean'}])
+        coerce_pipeline_config(config, meta)
+        assert config['output']['misc']['at-sender'] is True
+
+    def test_missing_section_skipped(self):
+        config = {'ai': {}}
+        meta = self._make_meta('trigger', 'misc', [{'name': 'x', 'type': 'integer'}])
+        coerce_pipeline_config(config, meta)  # should not raise
+
+    def test_missing_field_skipped(self):
+        config = {'trigger': {'misc': {}}}
+        meta = self._make_meta('trigger', 'misc', [{'name': 'nonexistent', 'type': 'integer'}])
+        coerce_pipeline_config(config, meta)  # should not raise
+
+    def test_invalid_value_logs_warning(self, caplog):
+        config = {'trigger': {'misc': {'timeout': 'abc'}}}
+        meta = self._make_meta('trigger', 'misc', [{'name': 'timeout', 'type': 'integer'}])
+        import logging
+
+        with caplog.at_level(logging.WARNING):
+            coerce_pipeline_config(config, meta)
+        assert config['trigger']['misc']['timeout'] == 'abc'  # unchanged
+        assert 'Failed to coerce' in caplog.text
+
+    def test_empty_metadata(self):
+        config = {'trigger': {'misc': {'timeout': '120'}}}
+        coerce_pipeline_config(config)  # no metadata args, should not raise
+
+    def test_multiple_metadata(self):
+        config = {
+            'trigger': {'misc': {'timeout': '120'}},
+            'output': {'misc': {'at-sender': 'false'}},
+        }
+        meta_trigger = self._make_meta('trigger', 'misc', [{'name': 'timeout', 'type': 'integer'}])
+        meta_output = self._make_meta('output', 'misc', [{'name': 'at-sender', 'type': 'boolean'}])
+        coerce_pipeline_config(config, meta_trigger, meta_output)
+        assert config['trigger']['misc']['timeout'] == 120
+        assert config['output']['misc']['at-sender'] is False
diff --git a/web/src/app/home/pipelines/components/pipeline-form/PipelineFormComponent.tsx b/web/src/app/home/pipelines/components/pipeline-form/PipelineFormComponent.tsx
index 517d0f76..392430d3 100644
--- a/web/src/app/home/pipelines/components/pipeline-form/PipelineFormComponent.tsx
+++ b/web/src/app/home/pipelines/components/pipeline-form/PipelineFormComponent.tsx
@@ -120,6 +120,8 @@ export default function PipelineFormComponent({
 
   // Track unsaved changes by comparing current form values against a saved snapshot
   const savedSnapshotRef = useRef<string>('');
+  // Track which dynamic form stages have completed their initial mount emission.
+  const initializedStagesRef = useRef<Set<string>>(new Set());
   const watchedValues = form.watch();
   const hasUnsavedChanges = useMemo(() => {
     if (!isEditMode || !savedSnapshotRef.current) return false;
@@ -160,6 +162,7 @@ export default function PipelineFormComponent({
           };
           form.reset(loadedValues);
           savedSnapshotRef.current = JSON.stringify(loadedValues);
+          initializedStagesRef.current.clear();
         });
     }
   }, []);
@@ -235,6 +238,33 @@ export default function PipelineFormComponent({
       });
   }
 
+  // Called from DynamicFormComponent/N8nAuthFormComponent onSubmit callbacks.
+  // On the first emission for a stage (mount-time default filling), the
+  // snapshot is synchronously re-captured so that hasUnsavedChanges stays false.
+  function handleDynamicFormEmit(
+    formName: keyof FormValues,
+    stageName: string,
+    values: object,
+  ) {
+    const stageKey = `${String(formName)}.${stageName}`;
+    const isFirstEmission = !initializedStagesRef.current.has(stageKey);
+
+    const currentValues =
+      // eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/no-explicit-any
+      (form.getValues(formName) as Record<string, any>) || {};
+    form.setValue(formName, {
+      ...currentValues,
+      [stageName]: values,
+    });
+
+    if (isFirstEmission) {
+      initializedStagesRef.current.add(stageKey);
+      // Synchronously re-capture snapshot so that the useMemo comparison
+      // in the same render cycle still returns false.
+      savedSnapshotRef.current = JSON.stringify(form.getValues());
+    }
+  }
+
   function renderDynamicForms(
     stage: PipelineConfigStage,
     formName: keyof FormValues,
@@ -264,13 +294,7 @@ export default function PipelineFormComponent({
                 {}
               }
               onSubmit={(values) => {
-                const currentValues =
-                  // eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/no-explicit-any
-                  (form.getValues(formName) as Record<string, any>) || {};
-                form.setValue(formName, {
-                  ...currentValues,
-                  [stage.name]: values,
-                });
+                handleDynamicFormEmit(formName, stage.name, values);
               }}
             />
           </div>
@@ -302,13 +326,7 @@ export default function PipelineFormComponent({
                 {}
               }
               onSubmit={(values) => {
-                const currentValues =
-                  // eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/no-explicit-any
-                  (form.getValues(formName) as Record<string, any>) || {};
-                form.setValue(formName, {
-                  ...currentValues,
-                  [stage.name]: values,
-                });
+                handleDynamicFormEmit(formName, stage.name, values);
               }}
             />
           </div>
@@ -333,13 +351,7 @@ export default function PipelineFormComponent({
             (form.watch(formName) as Record<string, any>)?.[stage.name] || {}
           }
           onSubmit={(values) => {
-            const currentValues =
-              // eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/no-explicit-any
-              (form.getValues(formName) as Record<string, any>) || {};
-            form.setValue(formName, {
-              ...currentValues,
-              [stage.name]: values,
-            });
+            handleDynamicFormEmit(formName, stage.name, values);
           }}
         />
       </div>