diff --git a/apps/mergerfs/docker-bake.hcl b/apps/mergerfs/docker-bake.hcl
index 5659e9f87..cf5623f5f 100644
--- a/apps/mergerfs/docker-bake.hcl
+++ b/apps/mergerfs/docker-bake.hcl
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ variable "APP" {
 
 variable "VERSION" {
   // renovate: datasource=github-releases depName=trapexit/mergerfs
-  default = "2.41.1"
+  default = "2.42.0"
 }
 
 variable "LICENSE" {
diff --git a/apps/mergerfs/start.sh b/apps/mergerfs/start.sh
index 97ca362c2..5ec1a2e76 100755
--- a/apps/mergerfs/start.sh
+++ b/apps/mergerfs/start.sh
@@ -1 +1,6 @@
-exec mergerfs -f $@
+if [[ $# -eq 0 ]]; then
+	echo "mergerfs ready: no branches/mountpoint args provided; idling"
+	exec sleep 999999
+fi
+
+exec mergerfs -f "$@"