diff --git a/src/services/mcp-compatibility.ts b/src/services/mcp-compatibility.ts
index 12e38a9bfb..94e1d757c1 100644
--- a/src/services/mcp-compatibility.ts
+++ b/src/services/mcp-compatibility.ts
@@ -59,7 +59,10 @@ export function classifyMcpClientVersion(version: string | null | undefined): Mc
   const minimumComparison = compareMcpSemver(version, MINIMUM_SUPPORTED_MCP_VERSION);
   if (minimumComparison === null) return "unknown";
   if (minimumComparison < 0) return "incompatible";
-  return "current";
+  // A version at/above the minimum but below the latest recommended is supported-but-behind → "stale".
+  // (The flat "current" was correct only while MINIMUM === LATEST_RECOMMENDED; #745 reopened the gap.)
+  const latestComparison = compareMcpSemver(version, LATEST_RECOMMENDED_MCP_VERSION)!;
+  return latestComparison < 0 ? "stale" : "current";
 }
 
 function parseSemver(version: string) {
diff --git a/test/unit/mcp-compatibility.test.ts b/test/unit/mcp-compatibility.test.ts
index 346d0239da..131e317235 100644
--- a/test/unit/mcp-compatibility.test.ts
+++ b/test/unit/mcp-compatibility.test.ts
@@ -8,7 +8,12 @@ describe("MCP compatibility telemetry", () => {
     expect(classifyMcpClientVersion("0.2.1")).toBe("incompatible");
     expect(classifyMcpClientVersion("0.3.0")).toBe("incompatible");
     expect(classifyMcpClientVersion("0.4.0")).toBe("incompatible");
-    expect(classifyMcpClientVersion("0.5.0")).toBe("current");
+    // >= minimum (0.5.0) but < latest recommended (0.6.0) → supported-but-behind → "stale".
+    expect(classifyMcpClientVersion("0.5.0")).toBe("stale");
+    expect(classifyMcpClientVersion("0.5.9")).toBe("stale");
+    // At/above the latest recommended → "current".
+    expect(classifyMcpClientVersion("0.6.0")).toBe("current");
+    expect(classifyMcpClientVersion("0.7.1")).toBe("current");
     expect(classifyMcpClientVersion("not-a-version")).toBe("unknown");
     expect(classifyMcpClientVersion(undefined)).toBe("unknown");
   });
@@ -50,7 +55,7 @@ describe("MCP compatibility telemetry", () => {
       clientVersion: "0.5.0",
       metadata: {
         packageName: "@example/custom-mcp",
-        compatibilityStatus: "current",
+        compatibilityStatus: "stale",
       },
     });
   });
diff --git a/test/unit/mcp-server-telemetry.test.ts b/test/unit/mcp-server-telemetry.test.ts
index f8e6dc5960..be49e01d74 100644
--- a/test/unit/mcp-server-telemetry.test.ts
+++ b/test/unit/mcp-server-telemetry.test.ts
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ describe("MCP server telemetry", () => {
         clientVersion: "0.5.0",
         metadata: expect.objectContaining({
           toolName: "gittensory_local_status",
-          compatibilityStatus: "current",
+          compatibilityStatus: "stale",
         }),
       }),
     ]);