diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index e61a3d6..69007b2 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,3 +1,19 @@
+# 0.1.23
+
+**Critical Bug Fix:**
+- Fix cleanup_folder to respect 'only' filter and prevent unintended deletions
+  - When force=true was used with an 'only' filter, cleanup_folder was deleting all files in the destination that weren't explicitly ignored, including unrelated folders not being managed by the mapping
+  - This caused data loss for folders like cabal/ and ghc/ that weren't in the only list
+  - The fix ensures only paths matching the inclusion filter are cleaned up, leaving unmanaged content intact
+
+**Test Coverage:**
+- Add comprehensive test coverage for the cleanup_folder bug fix
+- Test preserving unrelated folders when using force + only
+- Test only cleaning managed paths specified in only list
+- Test edge case with empty source and unmanaged dest content
+- Update existing test to reflect correct behavior
+- Total: 326 examples, 0 failures, 2 pending with 96.41% line coverage
+
 # 0.1.22
 
 **Testing & Quality:**
diff --git a/Gemfile.lock b/Gemfile.lock
index 5ddd4aa..5f090ec 100644
--- a/Gemfile.lock
+++ b/Gemfile.lock
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 PATH
   remote: .
   specs:
-    dotsync (0.1.22)
+    dotsync (0.1.23)
       fileutils (~> 1.7.3)
       find (~> 0.2.0)
       listen (~> 3.9.0)
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 6e8e970..fa959a8 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # Dotsync
 
 [![Gem Version](https://badge.fury.io/rb/dotsync.svg)](https://rubygems.org/gems/dotsync)
-[![Ruby Gem Test Status](https://github.com/dsaenztagarro/dotsync/actions/workflows/gem-push.yml/badge.svg)](https://github.com/dsaenztagarro/dotsync/actions)
+[![CI](https://github.com/dsaenztagarro/dotsync/actions/workflows/gem-push.yml/badge.svg)](https://github.com/dsaenztagarro/dotsync/actions)
 [![License: MIT](https://img.shields.io/badge/License-MIT-yellow.svg)](https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT)
 [![Ruby Version](https://img.shields.io/badge/ruby-%3E%3D%203.2-blue)](https://www.ruby-lang.org/)
 
diff --git a/lib/dotsync/utils/file_transfer.rb b/lib/dotsync/utils/file_transfer.rb
index 03a2bc1..f5e5dd0 100644
--- a/lib/dotsync/utils/file_transfer.rb
+++ b/lib/dotsync/utils/file_transfer.rb
@@ -144,10 +144,20 @@ def cleanup_folder(target_dir)
         Find.find(target_dir) do |path|
           next if path == target_dir
           abs_path = File.expand_path(path)
+
+          # Skip if ignored
           if @mapping.ignore?(abs_path)
             Find.prune if File.directory?(path)
             next
           end
+
+          # When inclusions (only) are specified, only clean up paths that match the inclusion filter
+          # This ensures we don't delete unrelated files/folders that aren't being managed
+          unless @mapping.include?(abs_path)
+            Find.prune if File.directory?(path)
+            next
+          end
+
           if File.file?(path)
             FileUtils.rm(path)
           elsif File.directory?(path) && Dir.empty?(path)
diff --git a/lib/dotsync/version.rb b/lib/dotsync/version.rb
index 6c50300..fac3d1b 100644
--- a/lib/dotsync/version.rb
+++ b/lib/dotsync/version.rb
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # frozen_string_literal: true
 
 module Dotsync
-  VERSION = "0.1.22"
+  VERSION = "0.1.23"
 end
diff --git a/spec/dotsync/utils/file_transfer_spec.rb b/spec/dotsync/utils/file_transfer_spec.rb
index 8828706..2f4ae1f 100644
--- a/spec/dotsync/utils/file_transfer_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/dotsync/utils/file_transfer_spec.rb
@@ -241,15 +241,94 @@
             expect(File.read(File.join(dest, "folder3", "subfolder2", "file4.txt"))).to eq("dest content")
             expect(File.read(File.join(dest, "file7.txt"))).to eq("dest content")
 
-            # Paths not included in "only" option
-            # expect(File.read(File.join(dest, "folder3", "subfolder3", "sub2folder2", "file6.txt"))).to eq("dest content")
-            expect(File.exist?(File.join(dest, "folder3", "subfolder3", "sub2folder2", "file6.txt"))).to be false
+            # Paths not included in "only" option should be preserved (not deleted)
+            expect(File.read(File.join(dest, "folder3", "subfolder3", "sub2folder2", "file6.txt"))).to eq("dest content")
 
             # Paths included in "only" option
             expect(File.read(File.join(dest, "folder1", "file1.txt"))).to eq("src content")
             expect(File.read(File.join(dest, "folder3", "subfolder1", "file3.txt"))).to eq("src content")
             expect(File.read(File.join(dest, "file8.txt"))).to eq("src content")
           end
+
+          context "with unrelated folders in destination" do
+            let(:only) { ["folder1", "file8.txt"] }
+            let(:ignore) { [] }
+
+            before do
+              # Create source files that match the 'only' filter
+              FileUtils.rm_rf(src)
+              FileUtils.mkdir_p(File.join(src, "folder1"))
+              File.write(File.join(src, "folder1", "file1.txt"), "new src content")
+              File.write(File.join(src, "file8.txt"), "new src content")
+
+              # Create unrelated folders in destination that should NOT be deleted
+              FileUtils.mkdir_p(File.join(dest, "cabal"))
+              File.write(File.join(dest, "cabal", "config"), "cabal config content")
+
+              FileUtils.mkdir_p(File.join(dest, "ghc"))
+              File.write(File.join(dest, "ghc", "ghci.conf"), "ghc config content")
+
+              # Create additional files in managed folders that should be cleaned up
+              FileUtils.mkdir_p(File.join(dest, "folder1"))
+              File.write(File.join(dest, "folder1", "old_file.txt"), "old content to remove")
+            end
+
+            it "does not delete unrelated folders that are not in the only list" do
+              subject.transfer
+
+              # Unrelated folders should be preserved
+              expect(File.exist?(File.join(dest, "cabal", "config"))).to be true
+              expect(File.read(File.join(dest, "cabal", "config"))).to eq("cabal config content")
+              expect(File.exist?(File.join(dest, "ghc", "ghci.conf"))).to be true
+              expect(File.read(File.join(dest, "ghc", "ghci.conf"))).to eq("ghc config content")
+
+              # Managed folders should be cleaned and synced
+              expect(File.exist?(File.join(dest, "folder1", "file1.txt"))).to be true
+              expect(File.read(File.join(dest, "folder1", "file1.txt"))).to eq("new src content")
+              expect(File.exist?(File.join(dest, "folder1", "old_file.txt"))).to be false
+
+              # Only included files should be transferred
+              expect(File.exist?(File.join(dest, "file8.txt"))).to be true
+              expect(File.read(File.join(dest, "file8.txt"))).to eq("new src content")
+            end
+
+            it "only cleans up files within the managed paths specified in only list" do
+              # Add more dest files not in the only list
+              FileUtils.mkdir_p(File.join(dest, "other_folder"))
+              File.write(File.join(dest, "other_folder", "other_file.txt"), "other content")
+              File.write(File.join(dest, "unmanaged.txt"), "unmanaged content")
+
+              subject.transfer
+
+              # Files not in the only list should be untouched
+              expect(File.exist?(File.join(dest, "other_folder", "other_file.txt"))).to be true
+              expect(File.read(File.join(dest, "other_folder", "other_file.txt"))).to eq("other content")
+              expect(File.exist?(File.join(dest, "unmanaged.txt"))).to be true
+              expect(File.read(File.join(dest, "unmanaged.txt"))).to eq("unmanaged content")
+            end
+          end
+
+          context "when source is empty and only filter is specified" do
+            let(:only) { ["folder1"] }
+            let(:ignore) { [] }
+
+            before do
+              FileUtils.rm_rf(src)
+              FileUtils.mkdir_p(src)
+
+              # Create dest with files that shouldn't be touched since nothing is in src
+              FileUtils.mkdir_p(File.join(dest, "unmanaged_folder"))
+              File.write(File.join(dest, "unmanaged_folder", "important_file.txt"), "important content")
+            end
+
+            it "does not delete unmanaged folders when source is empty" do
+              subject.transfer
+
+              # Unmanaged folders should be preserved
+              expect(File.exist?(File.join(dest, "unmanaged_folder", "important_file.txt"))).to be true
+              expect(File.read(File.join(dest, "unmanaged_folder", "important_file.txt"))).to eq("important content")
+            end
+          end
         end
       end
     end