diff --git a/bincio/extract/metrics.py b/bincio/extract/metrics.py
index 08d0b35..67ef765 100644
--- a/bincio/extract/metrics.py
+++ b/bincio/extract/metrics.py
@@ -377,16 +377,21 @@ def _elevation(
 
     # Some devices (e.g. Apple Watch) record exactly 0.0 for the initial samples
     # while waiting for barometric/GPS lock, then jump to the real altitude.
-    # Detect this by checking for a leading near-zero run followed by a large
-    # jump: skip those zeros and seed the accumulator from the first real value.
-    # Safety: if the activity genuinely stays near sea level, no value in the
-    # series will exceed `threshold`, so `start` stays 0 — unchanged behaviour.
+    # Only activate when there are at least 2 consecutive near-zero leading
+    # values — a single 0.0 is a legitimate sea-level starting point.
     start = 0
     if abs(elevations[0]) < 0.5:
-        for i, e in enumerate(elevations):
-            if abs(e) > threshold:
-                start = i
+        n_leading = 0
+        for e in elevations:
+            if abs(e) < 0.5:
+                n_leading += 1
+            else:
                 break
+        if n_leading > 1:
+            for i, e in enumerate(elevations):
+                if abs(e) > threshold:
+                    start = i
+                    break
 
     gain = loss = 0.0
     committed = elevations[start]
diff --git a/tests/test_writer.py b/tests/test_writer.py
index 410788e..84fc0f0 100644
--- a/tests/test_writer.py
+++ b/tests/test_writer.py
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ def _dummy_metrics(**overrides):
         elevation_gain_m=100.0, elevation_loss_m=95.0,
         avg_speed_kmh=10.0, max_speed_kmh=20.0,
         avg_hr_bpm=None, max_hr_bpm=None,
-        avg_cadence_rpm=None, avg_power_w=None, max_power_w=None,
+        avg_cadence_rpm=None, avg_power_w=None, np_power_w=None, max_power_w=None,
         bbox=None, start_latlng=None, end_latlng=None,
         mmp=None, best_efforts=None, best_climb_m=None,
     )
@@ -208,6 +208,7 @@ def test_build_summary_required_fields():
         max_hr_bpm=None,
         avg_cadence_rpm=None,
         avg_power_w=None,
+        np_power_w=None,
         max_power_w=None,
         bbox=None,
         start_latlng=None,