diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index a366a08..eae86f0 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-1.2.74
+1.2.75
diff --git a/internal/waf/manager.go b/internal/waf/manager.go
index f35eddf..7caaee3 100644
--- a/internal/waf/manager.go
+++ b/internal/waf/manager.go
@@ -17,12 +17,22 @@ type DomainEngine struct {
 }
 
 // Manager holds per-domain Coraza engine instances. Engines are
-// created lazily on first Reload() and cached until the next reload.
+// rebuilt only when their configuration changes (UpdatedAt differs).
 // All public methods are safe for concurrent use.
 type Manager struct {
-	mu      sync.RWMutex
-	engines map[string]*DomainEngine // hostname → engine (nil entry = disabled)
-	crsDir  string
+	mu         sync.RWMutex
+	engines    map[string]*DomainEngine // hostname → engine (nil entry = disabled)
+	configKeys map[string]configKey     // hostname → last-seen config fingerprint
+	crsDir     string
+}
+
+// configKey identifies a specific WAF config snapshot so we only
+// rebuild the engine when something actually changed.
+type configKey struct {
+	enabled       bool
+	mode          string
+	paranoiaLevel int
+	updatedAt     int64 // unix nano
 }
 
 // NewManager creates an empty Manager with the given CRS directory.
@@ -31,8 +41,9 @@ func NewManager(crsDir string) *Manager {
 		crsDir = DefaultCRSDir
 	}
 	return &Manager{
-		engines: make(map[string]*DomainEngine),
-		crsDir:  crsDir,
+		engines:    make(map[string]*DomainEngine),
+		configKeys: make(map[string]configKey),
+		crsDir:     crsDir,
 	}
 }
 
@@ -42,30 +53,55 @@ type DomainConfig struct {
 	Config   models.WafConfig
 }
 
-// Reload rebuilds all engine instances from the given list. Domains
-// that are disabled get a nil entry so GetForHost returns quickly
-// without looking up a missing key.
+// Reload refreshes engines from the given list, rebuilding only when
+// the config has actually changed since the last call.
 func (m *Manager) Reload(domains []DomainConfig) error {
-	engines := make(map[string]*DomainEngine, len(domains))
+	m.mu.RLock()
+	prevEngines := m.engines
+	prevKeys := m.configKeys
+	m.mu.RUnlock()
+
+	newEngines := make(map[string]*DomainEngine, len(domains))
+	newKeys := make(map[string]configKey, len(domains))
+
 	for _, dc := range domains {
+		ck := configKey{
+			enabled:       dc.Config.Enabled,
+			mode:          dc.Config.Mode,
+			paranoiaLevel: dc.Config.ParanoiaLevel,
+			updatedAt:     dc.Config.UpdatedAt.UnixNano(),
+		}
+		newKeys[dc.Hostname] = ck
+
 		if !dc.Config.Enabled {
-			engines[dc.Hostname] = nil
+			newEngines[dc.Hostname] = nil
 			continue
 		}
+
+		// Reuse existing engine if config hasn't changed.
+		if prev, ok := prevKeys[dc.Hostname]; ok && prev == ck {
+			if existing := prevEngines[dc.Hostname]; existing != nil {
+				newEngines[dc.Hostname] = existing
+				continue
+			}
+		}
+
 		waf, err := BuildEngine(dc.Config, m.crsDir)
 		if err != nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("waf: build engine for %s: %w", dc.Hostname, err)
 		}
-		engines[dc.Hostname] = &DomainEngine{WAF: waf, Mode: dc.Config.Mode}
-		slog.Info("waf: engine loaded",
+		newEngines[dc.Hostname] = &DomainEngine{WAF: waf, Mode: dc.Config.Mode}
+		slog.Info("waf: engine (re)loaded",
 			"host", dc.Hostname,
 			"mode", dc.Config.Mode,
 			"paranoia_level", dc.Config.ParanoiaLevel,
 			"crs", crsAvailable(m.crsDir),
 		)
 	}
+
 	m.mu.Lock()
-	m.engines = engines
+	m.engines = newEngines
+	m.configKeys = newKeys
 	m.mu.Unlock()
 	return nil
 }