diff --git a/modules/backup/mysql-restore-to-sql.sh b/modules/backup/mysql-restore-to-sql.sh
index ebdd69a..21f83f8 100755
--- a/modules/backup/mysql-restore-to-sql.sh
+++ b/modules/backup/mysql-restore-to-sql.sh
@@ -264,6 +264,7 @@ check_innodb_errors() {
 show_recovery_options() {
     local datadir="$1"
     local current_recovery="${2:-0}"
+    local selected_database="${3:-}"  # The database user wants to restore
 
     print_banner "Recovery Options"
 
@@ -273,10 +274,26 @@ show_recovery_options() {
     local corruption_detected=""
     local redo_incompatible=""
     local memory_issue=""
+    local missing_from_selected_db=""
+    local missing_from_other_dbs=""
 
     if [ -f "$error_log" ]; then
         if grep -qE "Cannot open tablespace|Tablespace.*missing|Tablespace.*was not found|Unable to open" "$error_log"; then
             missing_files="yes"
+
+            # Check if missing files are from the selected database or other databases
+            if [ -n "$selected_database" ]; then
+                if grep -q "was not found at \./$selected_database/" "$error_log"; then
+                    missing_from_selected_db="yes"
+                fi
+                # Check if any missing files are NOT from the selected database
+                while IFS= read -r line; do
+                    if ! echo "$line" | grep -q "\./$selected_database/"; then
+                        missing_from_other_dbs="yes"
+                        break
+                    fi
+                done < <(grep "was not found at" "$error_log")
+            fi
         fi
         if grep -qE "Corrupted|Database page corruption" "$error_log"; then
             corruption_detected="yes"
@@ -291,6 +308,27 @@ show_recovery_options() {
 
     # Provide targeted guidance based on error type
     if [ -n "$missing_files" ]; then
+        # Smart detection: if missing files are ONLY from other databases (not the selected one)
+        if [ -z "$missing_from_selected_db" ] && [ -n "$missing_from_other_dbs" ] && [ -n "$selected_database" ]; then
+            print_warning "SMART DETECTION: Missing files are from OTHER databases, not '$selected_database'"
+            echo ""
+            print_success "Your selected database '$selected_database' appears to have all files!"
+            echo ""
+            print_warning "RECOMMENDED ACTION: Use Force Recovery Level 1"
+            echo ""
+            echo "The ibdata1 file contains references to databases you didn't restore."
+            echo "Force Recovery Level 1 will:"
+            echo "  ✓ Ignore missing databases (safe - you don't have them anyway)"
+            echo "  ✓ Start MySQL successfully"
+            echo "  ✓ Allow you to dump '$selected_database' with NO data loss"
+            echo ""
+            echo "This is the CORRECT approach for selective database restoration."
+            echo ""
+            print_info "Re-run this script and select Force Recovery Level 1 in Step 4"
+            echo ""
+            return 0
+        fi
+
         print_error "DIAGNOSIS: Missing or unopenable tablespace files"
         echo ""
 
@@ -1431,8 +1469,8 @@ step5_create_dump() {
         print_error "Failed to start second MySQL instance"
         echo ""
 
-        # Provide intelligent recovery guidance
-        show_recovery_options "$TEMP_DATADIR" "$FORCE_RECOVERY"
+        # Provide intelligent recovery guidance (pass selected database name)
+        show_recovery_options "$TEMP_DATADIR" "$FORCE_RECOVERY" "$DATABASE_NAME"
 
         press_enter
         return 1