diff --git a/.github/workflows/run-unit-tests.yml b/.github/workflows/run-unit-tests.yml
index 753846199..4b9fe7174 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/run-unit-tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/run-unit-tests.yml
@@ -279,6 +279,7 @@ jobs:
           python3 -B test/test_sensecap_bootloader_runtime.py -v
           python3 -B tools/mota/test_bootloader_migration.py -v
           python3 -B tools/mota/test_bootloader_migration_runtime.py -v
+          python3 -B test/test_bootloader_update_cli.py -v
 
       - name: Verify old-firmware compatibility in both OTA launchers
         run: python3 -B -m unittest discover -s tools/lora_ota -p test_lora_ota_bootloader_version.py -v
diff --git a/docs/nrf52_embedded_bootloader.md b/docs/nrf52_embedded_bootloader.md
index 5f446176e..7e1f67671 100644
--- a/docs/nrf52_embedded_bootloader.md
+++ b/docs/nrf52_embedded_bootloader.md
@@ -78,17 +78,19 @@ P1 image, not a recovery image.
    remote admin CLI:
 
    ```text
-   ota bootloader embedded status
-   ota bootloader embedded audit
-   ota bootloader embedded install HASH16
+   ota bootloader update
    ```
 
-   Replace `HASH16` with the image confirmation shown by `status`. Save the audit
-   before installation. The acknowledgment means armed; replacement waits for
-   the reply and queued/in-flight radio transmissions to drain.
-3. After reboot, check `get bootloader.ver` and repeat the audit. Confirm 2.4.12
-   and compare the application, filesystem, settings and SoftDevice hashes.
-   Check status before repeating a command whose reply was lost.
+   The command checks the installed bootloader and skips the update if a valid,
+   matching bootloader is already 2.4.12 or newer. Repeating the command while
+   it is armed is harmless. An `armed` reply means the update is queued until
+   the CLI reply and queued/in-flight radio transmissions drain.
+3. After reboot, check `get bootloader.ver`. Optional diagnostics are
+   `ota bootloader embedded status` and `ota bootloader embedded audit`; save an
+   audit before installation to compare the application, filesystem, settings
+   and SoftDevice hashes afterward. The older
+   `ota bootloader embedded install HASH16` command remains available with the
+   confirmation shown by `status`.
 
 The bridge validates the live application, candidate hash, installed identity,
 chip/layout, MBR addresses, watchdog and flash protection before copying. A
diff --git a/scripts/qualify_nrf52_embedded_bootloader.py b/scripts/qualify_nrf52_embedded_bootloader.py
index 8cf2e4250..216a74a13 100644
--- a/scripts/qualify_nrf52_embedded_bootloader.py
+++ b/scripts/qualify_nrf52_embedded_bootloader.py
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ def qualify(directory, manifest_path):
         "manifest_sha256": MANIFEST_SHA256,
         "legacy_sha256": metadata.get("legacy_sha256"),
         "app_offset": offset, "image_bytes": BOOT_SIZE,
-        "activation": "ota bootloader embedded install HASH16",
+        "activation": "ota bootloader update",
     }
     manifest_path.write_text(json.dumps(manifest, indent=2, sort_keys=True) + "\n")
     return manifest["embedded_bootloader"]
diff --git a/src/helpers/ota/BootloaderMigration.cpp b/src/helpers/ota/BootloaderMigration.cpp
index 96ec2f475..aaaa0ee8f 100644
--- a/src/helpers/ota/BootloaderMigration.cpp
+++ b/src/helpers/ota/BootloaderMigration.cpp
@@ -68,6 +68,15 @@ void hash_region(uint32_t address, uint32_t size, uint8_t output[32]) {
   hash.finalize(output, 32);
 }
 
+bool installed_up_to_date() {
+  OtaBootloaderIdentity installed;
+  return ota_bootloader_identity_from_image(
+             reinterpret_cast<const uint8_t *>(migration::BOOT_BASE), migration::BOOT_SIZE, installed) &&
+         migration::installed_up_to_date(installed, migration_board_id, migration_device_name,
+                                         migration_boot_version, mota_nrf52_app_base(),
+                                         migration_softdevice_fwid);
+}
+
 uint8_t retained_result() {
   if (result_is_current) return last_result;
   uint8_t enabled = 0;
@@ -186,20 +195,28 @@ void bootloader_migration_status(char *reply, size_t capacity) {
   char hash[17];
   hex8(migration_candidate_sha256, hash);
   snprintf(reply, capacity, "BL embedded 2.4.12: 40960 B; hash=%s; %s; last=%u", hash,
-           pending ? "armed" : already_installed ? "already installed" : "idle", retained_result());
+           pending ? "armed" : already_installed ? "already installed" :
+           installed_up_to_date() ? "up to date" : "idle", retained_result());
 }
 
 bool bootloader_migration_request(const char *confirmation, char *reply, size_t capacity) {
   char hash[17];
   hex8(migration_candidate_sha256, hash);
-  if (pending) {
-    snprintf(reply, capacity, "ERR bootloader migration is already armed");
-    return false;
-  }
-  if (strcmp(confirmation, hash) != 0) {
+  if (confirmation && strcmp(confirmation, hash) != 0) {
     snprintf(reply, capacity, "ERR confirm exact image: ota bootloader embedded install %s", hash);
     return false;
   }
+  if (pending) {
+    snprintf(reply, capacity, "OK bootloader update already armed");
+    return true;
+  }
+  if (installed_up_to_date()) {
+    already_installed = false;
+    last_result = 0;
+    result_is_current = true;
+    snprintf(reply, capacity, "OK bootloader already up to date");
+    return true;
+  }
   // Bootloader diagnostics already read this memory-mapped region while
   // SoftDevice runs. Detect a no-op before stopping it so BLE stays usable.
   uint8_t digest[32];
diff --git a/src/helpers/ota/BootloaderMigration.h b/src/helpers/ota/BootloaderMigration.h
index d02384398..e0d8bfe8b 100644
--- a/src/helpers/ota/BootloaderMigration.h
+++ b/src/helpers/ota/BootloaderMigration.h
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 namespace mesh {
 namespace ota {
 bool bootloader_migration_pending();
+// nullptr selects the pinned embedded image; a supplied hash must match exactly.
 bool bootloader_migration_request(const char *confirmation, char *reply, size_t capacity);
 void bootloader_migration_status(char *reply, size_t capacity);
 void bootloader_migration_audit(char *reply, size_t capacity);
diff --git a/src/helpers/ota/BootloaderMigrationPolicy.h b/src/helpers/ota/BootloaderMigrationPolicy.h
index 646b116f4..83f893832 100644
--- a/src/helpers/ota/BootloaderMigrationPolicy.h
+++ b/src/helpers/ota/BootloaderMigrationPolicy.h
@@ -101,6 +101,16 @@ inline bool installed_can_migrate(const OtaBootloaderIdentity &installed,
                                        140, fwid, app_base, 1) == OTA_BOOT_CONTINUITY_OK;
 }
 
+inline bool installed_up_to_date(const OtaBootloaderIdentity &installed,
+                                 uint32_t board_id, const char name[16],
+                                 uint32_t version, uint32_t app_base, uint16_t fwid) {
+  return installed.present && installed.crc_ok &&
+         installed.image_start == BOOT_BASE && installed.image_size == BOOT_SIZE &&
+         installed.board_id == board_id && memcmp(installed.device_name, name, 16) == 0 &&
+         ota_bootloader_continuity_matches_runtime(installed, 140, fwid, app_base, 1) &&
+         installed.boot_version >= version;
+}
+
 } // namespace migration
 } // namespace ota
 } // namespace mesh
diff --git a/src/helpers/ota/OtaCli.cpp b/src/helpers/ota/OtaCli.cpp
index 1e22b79d7..40116eba8 100644
--- a/src/helpers/ota/OtaCli.cpp
+++ b/src/helpers/ota/OtaCli.cpp
@@ -1031,6 +1031,17 @@ static __attribute__((noinline)) bool handle_control_command(
 
   } else if (is_cmd(a, "bootloader|blupdate", &rest)) {
 #if defined(OTA_BOOTLOADER_MIGRATION)
+    const char* update_args = nullptr;
+    if (is_cmd(rest, "update", &update_args)) {
+      if (*update_args) {
+        strcpy(reply, "ERR usage: ota bootloader update");
+      } else if (!c.embeddedBootloaderIdle()) {
+        strcpy(reply, "ERR another OTA operation is active");
+      } else {
+        bootloader_migration_request(nullptr, reply, 160);
+      }
+      return true;
+    }
     const char* embedded = nullptr;
     if (is_cmd(rest, "embedded", &embedded)) {
       if (*embedded == 0 || strcmp(embedded, "status") == 0) {
diff --git a/test/test_bootloader_update_cli.py b/test/test_bootloader_update_cli.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..fc09b0d12
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/test_bootloader_update_cli.py
@@ -0,0 +1,209 @@
+"""Run the production bootloader CLI branch with and without an embedded image."""
+
+import os
+from pathlib import Path
+import shutil
+import subprocess
+import tempfile
+import unittest
+
+from cpp_source import body
+
+
+ROOT = Path(__file__).resolve().parents[1]
+SOURCE = r'''
+#include <cassert>
+#include <cstdint>
+#include <cstdio>
+#include <cstring>
+#include <string>
+
+namespace mesh { struct Utils {
+  static bool fromHex(uint8_t* out, size_t size, const char* text) {
+    for (size_t i = 0; i < size; i++) {
+      unsigned value;
+      if (sscanf(text + i * 2, "%2x", &value) != 1) return false;
+      out[i] = value;
+    }
+    return true;
+  }
+  static void toHex(char* out, const uint8_t* bytes, size_t size) {
+    for (size_t i = 0; i < size; i++) sprintf(out + i * 2, "%02X", bytes[i]);
+  }
+}; }
+struct OtaBootloaderIdentity {
+  bool present = true, crc_ok = true;
+  uint32_t board_id = 0x12345678, crc32 = 0;
+  const char* device_name = "TEST_DFU";
+};
+struct OtaBlCaps { unsigned apply_abi = 3, storage_flags = 1; };
+static uint32_t ota_bootloader_target_id(const OtaBootloaderIdentity& id) { return id.board_id; }
+static bool ota_bootloader_self_update_caps_valid(const OtaBlCaps&) { return true; }
+struct MotaManifest {
+  uint8_t image_hash[8] = {};
+  bool is_bootloader() const { return true; }
+};
+struct OtaManager {
+  enum FetchState { IDLE, WANT_MANIFEST, FETCHING, COMPLETE, FAILED, PAUSED };
+  FetchState state = IDLE;
+  bool serve_jobs = false, manifest_jobs = false;
+  uint8_t mid[4] = {0x12, 0x34, 0x56, 0x78};
+  FetchState fetchState() const { return state; }
+  bool pendingServeJobs() const { return serve_jobs; }
+  bool pendingManifestJobs() const { return manifest_jobs; }
+  const uint8_t* fetchManifestId() const { return mid; }
+  bool fetched_is_bootloader() const { return true; }
+};
+struct OtaContext {
+  OtaManager manager;
+  struct Store { unsigned staged_size() const { return 100; } } fetch_store;
+  bool apply_pending = false, bootloader_apply_pending = false, fetch_to_folder = false;
+  bool sd_cache_fetching = false;
+  unsigned staged_installs = 0;
+  OtaBootloaderIdentity identity;
+  OtaBlCaps caps;
+  bool sdCacheFetching() const { return sd_cache_fetching; }
+  @IDLE@
+  const OtaBootloaderIdentity& bootloaderIdentity() const { return identity; }
+  const OtaBlCaps& bootloaderUpdateCaps() const { return caps; }
+  bool apply_fetched_bootloader(const uint8_t* mid, const uint8_t* hash, char* reply) {
+    assert(mid[0] == 0x12 && mid[3] == 0x78 && hash[0] == 0x01 && hash[7] == 0xEF);
+    staged_installs++;
+    strcpy(reply, "staged install");
+    return true;
+  }
+};
+static bool staged_manifest(OtaContext&, MotaManifest&) { return true; }
+static unsigned requests = 0, statuses = 0, audits = 0;
+static bool automatic = false;
+static std::string confirmation;
+static void bootloader_migration_status(char* out, size_t) { statuses++; strcpy(out, "STATUS"); }
+static void bootloader_migration_audit(char* out, size_t) { audits++; strcpy(out, "AUDIT"); }
+static bool bootloader_migration_request(const char* hash, char* out, size_t) {
+  requests++;
+  automatic = hash == nullptr;
+  confirmation = hash ? hash : "";
+  strcpy(out, automatic ? "AUTO" : "HASH");
+  return true;
+}
+@HELPERS@
+static bool command(const char* a, char* reply, OtaContext& c) {
+  const char* rest = nullptr;
+  @COMMAND@
+  else { return false; }
+  return true;
+}
+static void expect(const char* text, const char* expected, OtaContext& c) {
+  char reply[160] = {};
+  assert(command(text, reply, c));
+  if (strcmp(reply, expected)) {
+    fprintf(stderr, "%s: expected '%s', got '%s'\n", text, expected, reply);
+    assert(false);
+  }
+}
+int main() {
+  OtaContext c;
+#if defined(OTA_BOOTLOADER_MIGRATION)
+  expect("bootloader update ignored", "ERR usage: ota bootloader update", c);
+  assert(requests == 0);
+  expect("bootloader update", "AUTO", c);
+  assert(requests == 1 && automatic);
+  expect("blupdate   update   ", "AUTO", c);
+  assert(requests == 2 && automatic);
+  for (auto state : {OtaManager::IDLE, OtaManager::COMPLETE, OtaManager::FAILED}) {
+    c.manager.state = state;
+    expect("bootloader update", "AUTO", c);
+  }
+  for (auto state : {OtaManager::FETCHING, OtaManager::WANT_MANIFEST, OtaManager::PAUSED}) {
+    c.manager.state = state;
+    expect("bootloader update", "ERR another OTA operation is active", c);
+  }
+  c.manager.state = OtaManager::IDLE;
+  for (bool* flag : {&c.apply_pending, &c.bootloader_apply_pending, &c.manager.serve_jobs,
+                     &c.manager.manifest_jobs, &c.sd_cache_fetching}) {
+    *flag = true;
+    expect("bootloader update", "ERR another OTA operation is active", c);
+    expect("bootloader embedded install 0123456789ABCDEF",
+           "ERR another OTA operation is active", c);
+    *flag = false;
+  }
+  assert(requests == 5);
+  expect("bootloader embedded", "STATUS", c);
+  expect("bootloader embedded status", "STATUS", c);
+  expect("bootloader embedded audit", "AUDIT", c);
+  assert(statuses == 2 && audits == 1 && requests == 5);
+  expect("bootloader embedded install 0123456789ABCDEF", "HASH", c);
+  assert(requests == 6 && !automatic && confirmation == "0123456789ABCDEF");
+  expect("bootloader embedded install", "HASH", c);
+  assert(requests == 7 && !automatic && confirmation.empty());
+  expect("bootloader embedded install 0123456789ABCDEF extra", "HASH", c);
+  assert(requests == 8 && !automatic && confirmation == "0123456789ABCDEF extra");
+#else
+  // Ordinary images keep their existing staged-update command surface.
+#if defined(NRF52_PLATFORM) && !defined(OTA_SEEDER_ONLY) && defined(OTA_INTERNAL_BOOTLOADER_UPDATE)
+  expect("bootloader update", "ERR usage: ota bootloader install <MID8> <HASH16>", c);
+  expect("bootloader update ignored", "ERR usage: ota bootloader install <MID8> <HASH16>", c);
+#else
+  expect("bootloader update", "ERR this build cannot update its bootloader over LoRa", c);
+#endif
+  assert(requests == 0);
+#endif
+#if defined(NRF52_PLATFORM) && !defined(OTA_SEEDER_ONLY) && defined(OTA_INTERNAL_BOOTLOADER_UPDATE)
+  expect("bootloader updatejunk", "ERR usage: ota bootloader install <MID8> <HASH16>", c);
+  expect("bootloader install", "ERR usage: ota bootloader install <MID8> <HASH16>", c);
+  c.manager.state = OtaManager::COMPLETE;
+  expect("bootloader install 12345678 0123456789ABCDEF", "OK | staged install", c);
+  assert(c.staged_installs == 1);
+  expect("bootloader install 12345678 0123456789ABCDEF extra",
+         "ERR usage: ota bootloader install <MID8> <HASH16>", c);
+  assert(c.staged_installs == 1);
+#else
+  expect("bootloader install 12345678 0123456789ABCDEF",
+         "ERR this build cannot update its bootloader over LoRa", c);
+  assert(c.staged_installs == 0);
+#endif
+}
+'''
+
+
+def harness():
+    cli = (ROOT / "src/helpers/ota/OtaCli.cpp").read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+    context = (ROOT / "src/helpers/ota/OtaContext.h").read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+    return (SOURCE.replace("@IDLE@", body(context, "bool embeddedBootloaderIdle() const"))
+            .replace("@HELPERS@", "\n".join(body(cli, signature) for signature in (
+                "static bool is_cmd(", "static bool parse_hex_exact(")))
+            .replace("@COMMAND@", body(cli, 'if (is_cmd(a, "bootloader|blupdate", &rest))')))
+
+
+class BootloaderUpdateCliTest(unittest.TestCase):
+    def test_production_dispatch_keeps_embedded_and_staged_updates_separate(self):
+        compiler = shutil.which("g++") or shutil.which("clang++")
+        if compiler is None:
+            self.skipTest("a host C++17 compiler is required")
+        variants = {
+            "embedded": ("OTA_BOOTLOADER_MIGRATION", "NRF52_PLATFORM",
+                         "OTA_INTERNAL_BOOTLOADER_UPDATE", "OTA_SD_STORE"),
+            "staged": ("NRF52_PLATFORM", "OTA_INTERNAL_BOOTLOADER_UPDATE"),
+            "unsupported": (),
+            "seeder": ("NRF52_PLATFORM", "OTA_INTERNAL_BOOTLOADER_UPDATE", "OTA_SEEDER_ONLY"),
+        }
+        sanitize = [] if os.name == "nt" else [
+            "-fsanitize=address,undefined", "-fno-sanitize-recover=all", "-fno-pie", "-no-pie"]
+        with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory(prefix="bootloader-update-cli-") as directory:
+            source = Path(directory) / "cli.cpp"
+            source.write_text(harness(), encoding="ascii")
+            for name, macros in variants.items():
+                with self.subTest(variant=name):
+                    binary = Path(directory) / (name + (".exe" if os.name == "nt" else ""))
+                    built = subprocess.run([
+                        compiler, "-std=c++17", "-O1", "-g", "-Wall", "-Wextra", "-Werror",
+                        "-Wno-unused-function", "-Wno-unused-parameter", *sanitize,
+                        *["-D" + macro + "=1" for macro in macros], str(source), "-o", str(binary),
+                    ], capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=60)
+                    self.assertEqual(built.returncode, 0, built.stdout + built.stderr)
+                    tested = subprocess.run([str(binary)], capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=30)
+                    self.assertEqual(tested.returncode, 0, tested.stdout + tested.stderr)
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    unittest.main()
diff --git a/test/test_nrf52_embedded_variant.py b/test/test_nrf52_embedded_variant.py
index b3a93a7d8..9451a7aa3 100644
--- a/test/test_nrf52_embedded_variant.py
+++ b/test/test_nrf52_embedded_variant.py
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ class PackagedApplicationTests(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(result["release"], "2.4.12")
         self.assertEqual(result["profile"], self.profile["id"])
         self.assertEqual(result["candidate_sha256"], hashlib.sha256(self.candidate).hexdigest())
-        self.assertEqual(result["activation"], "ota bootloader embedded install HASH16")
+        self.assertEqual(result["activation"], "ota bootloader update")
         self.patches["select_profile"].assert_called_once_with(
             {"profiles": [self.profile]}, TARGET)
         self.patches["validate_candidate_zip"].assert_called_once_with(
diff --git a/tools/mota/test_bootloader_migration.py b/tools/mota/test_bootloader_migration.py
index ab79472fc..8aebd0139 100644
--- a/tools/mota/test_bootloader_migration.py
+++ b/tools/mota/test_bootloader_migration.py
@@ -100,7 +100,43 @@ int main(int argc,char **argv) {
     auto v7=identity(0x02040CFF,0x27000,0x123);
     assert(candidate_matches_resource(v7,0x239A0029,name,0x02040CFF,0x27000,0x123));
     assert(installed_can_migrate(installed,candidate,false,false,0x26000,0xB6));
-    if (!std::strcmp(argv[1],"monotonic")) {
+    if (!std::strcmp(argv[1],"up-to-date")) {
+      assert(!installed_up_to_date(installed,0x239A0029,name,0x02040CFF,0x26000,0xB6));
+      installed.boot_version=0x02040CFE; // Preview precedes the stable release.
+      assert(!installed_up_to_date(installed,0x239A0029,name,0x02040CFF,0x26000,0xB6));
+      installed.boot_version=0x02040CFF;
+      assert(installed_up_to_date(installed,0x239A0029,name,0x02040CFF,0x26000,0xB6));
+      installed.boot_version=0x02040D01; // Even a later preview must not be downgraded.
+      assert(installed_up_to_date(installed,0x239A0029,name,0x02040CFF,0x26000,0xB6));
+      bad=installed; bad.present=false;
+      assert(!installed_up_to_date(bad,0x239A0029,name,0x02040CFF,0x26000,0xB6));
+      bad=installed; bad.crc_ok=false;
+      assert(!installed_up_to_date(bad,0x239A0029,name,0x02040CFF,0x26000,0xB6));
+      bad=installed; bad.board_id^=1;
+      assert(!installed_up_to_date(bad,0x239A0029,name,0x02040CFF,0x26000,0xB6));
+      bad=installed; bad.device_name[0]='X';
+      assert(!installed_up_to_date(bad,0x239A0029,name,0x02040CFF,0x26000,0xB6));
+      bad=installed; bad.image_start+=4096;
+      assert(!installed_up_to_date(bad,0x239A0029,name,0x02040CFF,0x26000,0xB6));
+      bad=installed; --bad.image_size;
+      assert(!installed_up_to_date(bad,0x239A0029,name,0x02040CFF,0x26000,0xB6));
+      bad=installed; bad.continuity_present=false;
+      assert(!installed_up_to_date(bad,0x239A0029,name,0x02040CFF,0x26000,0xB6));
+      bad=installed; bad.softdevice_family=132;
+      assert(!installed_up_to_date(bad,0x239A0029,name,0x02040CFF,0x26000,0xB6));
+      bad=installed; bad.softdevice_fwid=0x123;
+      assert(!installed_up_to_date(bad,0x239A0029,name,0x02040CFF,0x26000,0xB6));
+      bad=installed; bad.app_base=0x27000;
+      assert(!installed_up_to_date(bad,0x239A0029,name,0x02040CFF,0x26000,0xB6));
+      bad=installed; bad.layout_abi=2;
+      assert(!installed_up_to_date(bad,0x239A0029,name,0x02040CFF,0x26000,0xB6));
+      bad=installed; bad.compat_flags=1;
+      assert(!installed_up_to_date(bad,0x239A0029,name,0x02040CFF,0x26000,0xB6));
+      bad=installed; bad.boot_version=0;
+      assert(!installed_up_to_date(bad,0x239A0029,name,0x02040CFF,0x26000,0xB6));
+      bad=installed; bad.boot_version=UINT32_MAX;
+      assert(!installed_up_to_date(bad,0x239A0029,name,0x02040CFF,0x26000,0xB6));
+    } else if (!std::strcmp(argv[1],"monotonic")) {
       installed.boot_version=candidate.boot_version;
       assert(!installed_can_migrate(installed,candidate,true,true,0x26000,0xB6));
       ++installed.boot_version;
@@ -159,6 +195,9 @@ class MigrationPolicyTests(unittest.TestCase):
     def test_modern_loader_requires_strictly_newer_candidate(self):
         self.scenario('monotonic')
 
+    def test_installed_version_noop_requires_exact_identity_and_platform(self):
+        self.scenario('up-to-date')
+
     def test_crc_exact_identity_and_runtime_platform(self):
         self.scenario('identity')
 
diff --git a/tools/mota/test_bootloader_migration_runtime.py b/tools/mota/test_bootloader_migration_runtime.py
index 15be44f60..df0ebaf89 100644
--- a/tools/mota/test_bootloader_migration_runtime.py
+++ b/tools/mota/test_bootloader_migration_runtime.py
@@ -2,9 +2,10 @@
 """Exercise the production migration arm/tick state machine with host stubs.
 
 The ARM SVC adapter is replaced by a failing trap, and the EndF stub refuses
-installation before hardware access. A controlled digest exercises the exact
-candidate no-op. This tests scheduling and cancellation, not cryptography,
-MBR copying or power-loss recovery; those require separate qualification.
+installation before hardware access. Real CRC-bound installed manifests test
+the version check; a controlled digest exercises the exact candidate no-op.
+This tests scheduling and cancellation, not cryptography, MBR copying or
+power-loss recovery; those require separate qualification.
 """
 import os
 from pathlib import Path
@@ -29,6 +30,7 @@ class MigrationRuntimeTests(unittest.TestCase):
         subprocess.run([
             os.environ.get('CXX', 'g++'), '-std=c++17', '-O2', '-Wall', '-Wextra',
             '-DOTA_BOOTLOADER_MIGRATION', '-DNRF52_PLATFORM', '-DENABLE_OTA',
+            '-DMOTA_NRF52_TEST_APP_BASE=0x26000',
             '-fsanitize=address,undefined', '-fno-sanitize-recover=all', '-fno-pie', '-no-pie',
             '-I', str(STUBS), '-I', str(ROOT / 'src'), '-I', str(ROOT / 'src/helpers/ota'),
             str(source), '-o', str(binary),
@@ -44,6 +46,24 @@ class MigrationRuntimeTests(unittest.TestCase):
     def test_already_installed_preserves_running_application(self):
         self.run_scenario('already-installed')
 
+    def test_easy_update_needs_no_hash_and_preserves_install_preflight(self):
+        self.run_scenario('easy-update')
+
+    def test_same_version_is_idle_before_and_after_repeated_requests(self):
+        self.run_scenario('same-version')
+
+    def test_newer_preview_is_idle_and_cannot_be_downgraded(self):
+        self.run_scenario('newer-version')
+
+    def test_older_preview_is_still_eligible_for_the_stable_update(self):
+        self.run_scenario('older-preview')
+
+    def test_version_noop_requires_valid_matching_identity_and_continuity(self):
+        for mutation in ('board', 'name', 'family', 'fwid', 'app', 'abi',
+                         'continuity', 'crc'):
+            with self.subTest(mutation=mutation):
+                self.run_scenario('invalid-version-' + mutation)
+
     def test_negative_control_noop_must_not_arm_or_stop_softdevice(self):
         driver = (ROOT / 'src/helpers/ota/BootloaderMigration.cpp').read_text()
         changed = driver.replace('if (memcmp(digest, migration_candidate_sha256, sizeof(digest)) == 0) {',
@@ -60,6 +80,21 @@ class MigrationRuntimeTests(unittest.TestCase):
             self.assertNotEqual(result.returncode, 0)
             self.assertIn('!bootloader_migration_pending()', result.stderr)
 
+    def test_negative_control_version_noop_must_not_queue_an_install(self):
+        driver = (ROOT / 'src/helpers/ota/BootloaderMigration.cpp').read_text()
+        changed = driver.replace('if (installed_up_to_date()) {', 'if (false) {')
+        self.assertNotEqual(driver, changed)
+        harness = (STUBS / 'runtime.cpp').read_text().replace(
+            '#include "helpers/ota/BootloaderMigration.cpp"', changed)
+        with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory(prefix='migration-version-negative-') as directory:
+            directory = Path(directory)
+            source = directory / 'runtime.cpp'
+            source.write_text(harness)
+            binary = self.compile(directory, source)
+            result = subprocess.run([str(binary), 'same-version'], capture_output=True, text=True)
+            self.assertNotEqual(result.returncode, 0)
+            self.assertIn('!bootloader_migration_pending()', result.stderr)
+
     def test_grace_and_radio_drain_are_both_required(self):
         self.run_scenario('grace-and-drain')
 
diff --git a/tools/mota/tests/migration_stubs/runtime.cpp b/tools/mota/tests/migration_stubs/runtime.cpp
index 37584c498..a5eef1dc2 100644
--- a/tools/mota/tests/migration_stubs/runtime.cpp
+++ b/tools/mota/tests/migration_stubs/runtime.cpp
@@ -1,6 +1,11 @@
 #include "Arduino.h"
 #include "BootloaderMigrationResource.h"
 #include "SHA256.h"
+// The test app-base override bypasses the target linker's declarations.
+namespace mesh { namespace ota {
+extern "C" uint32_t __flash_arduino_end[];
+extern "C" const uint8_t g_meshcore_internal_extrafs __attribute__((weak));
+} }
 #include "helpers/ota/OtaSelf.h"
 #include "nrf.h"
 #include "nrf_mbr.h"
@@ -119,6 +124,48 @@ using namespace mesh::ota;
 const char confirmation[] = "0123456789ABCDEF";
 char reply[160];
 
+void wr16(uint8_t *p, uint16_t value) {
+  p[0] = value;
+  p[1] = value >> 8;
+}
+
+void wr32(uint8_t *p, uint32_t value) {
+  wr16(p, value);
+  wr16(p + 2, value >> 16);
+}
+
+uint8_t *installed_manifest(uint32_t version) {
+  uint8_t *boot = reinterpret_cast<uint8_t *>(migration::BOOT_BASE);
+  std::memset(boot, 0xFF, migration::BOOT_SIZE);
+  uint8_t *p = boot + OTA_BOOT_CANDIDATE_MANIFEST_OFFSET;
+  wr32(p, OTA_BOOT_MANIFEST_MAGIC0);
+  wr32(p + 4, OTA_BOOT_MANIFEST_MAGIC1);
+  wr16(p + 8, 1);
+  wr16(p + 10, 44);
+  wr32(p + 12, migration::BOOT_BASE);
+  wr32(p + 16, migration::BOOT_SIZE);
+  wr32(p + 20, migration_board_id);
+  std::memcpy(p + 24, migration_device_name, 16);
+  wr32(p + 44, OTA_BOOT_CONTINUITY_MAGIC0);
+  wr32(p + 48, OTA_BOOT_CONTINUITY_MAGIC1);
+  wr16(p + 52, 2);
+  wr16(p + 54, 32);
+  wr32(p + 56, version);
+  wr16(p + 60, 140);
+  wr16(p + 62, migration_softdevice_fwid);
+  wr32(p + 64, migration_app_base);
+  wr16(p + 68, 1);
+  wr16(p + 70, 0);
+  wr32(p + 72, 0);
+  return p;
+}
+
+void seal_manifest(uint8_t *p) {
+  const uint8_t *boot = reinterpret_cast<const uint8_t *>(migration::BOOT_BASE);
+  wr32(p + 40, ota_boot_image_crc32(boot, migration::BOOT_SIZE,
+                                  OTA_BOOT_CANDIDATE_MANIFEST_OFFSET + 40));
+}
+
 void arm() {
   assert(bootloader_migration_request(confirmation, reply, sizeof(reply)));
   assert(bootloader_migration_pending());
@@ -162,6 +209,64 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv) {
     no_install();
     bootloader_migration_status(reply, sizeof(reply));
     assert(std::strstr(reply, "already installed"));
+  } else if (std::strcmp(scenario, "same-version") == 0 ||
+             std::strcmp(scenario, "newer-version") == 0) {
+    const uint32_t version = std::strcmp(scenario, "same-version") == 0
+                                 ? migration_boot_version : 0x02040D01;
+    seal_manifest(installed_manifest(version));
+    // Live status has to detect this before any request, as it would after reboot.
+    bootloader_migration_status(reply, sizeof(reply));
+    assert(std::strstr(reply, "up to date"));
+    assert(!bootloader_migration_pending());
+    assert(!bootloader_migration_request("0123456789ABCDE0", reply, sizeof(reply)));
+    assert(!bootloader_migration_pending());
+    softdevice_checks = 0; // Status may read the retained diagnostic result.
+    const char *tokens[] = {nullptr, confirmation};
+    for (const char *token : tokens) {
+      assert(bootloader_migration_request(token, reply, sizeof(reply)));
+      assert(!bootloader_migration_pending());
+      assert(std::strstr(reply, "up to date"));
+      now += 2000;
+      bootloader_migration_tick(true, true);
+      no_install();
+    }
+  } else if (std::strcmp(scenario, "easy-update") == 0 ||
+             std::strcmp(scenario, "older-preview") == 0) {
+    if (std::strcmp(scenario, "older-preview") == 0)
+      seal_manifest(installed_manifest(0x02040CFE));
+    assert(bootloader_migration_request(nullptr, reply, sizeof(reply)));
+    assert(bootloader_migration_pending());
+    assert(std::strstr(reply, "OK migration armed"));
+    now = 1499;
+    bootloader_migration_tick(true, true);
+    no_install();
+    ++now;
+    bootloader_migration_tick(true, true);
+    assert(endf_checks == 1);
+    assert(!bootloader_migration_pending());
+  } else if (std::strncmp(scenario, "invalid-version-", 16) == 0) {
+    uint8_t *p = installed_manifest(0x02040DFF);
+    const char *mutation = scenario + 16;
+    if (std::strcmp(mutation, "board") == 0) wr32(p + 20, migration_board_id ^ 1);
+    else if (std::strcmp(mutation, "name") == 0) p[24] = 'X';
+    else if (std::strcmp(mutation, "family") == 0) wr16(p + 60, 132);
+    else if (std::strcmp(mutation, "fwid") == 0) wr16(p + 62, 0x123);
+    else if (std::strcmp(mutation, "app") == 0) wr32(p + 64, 0x27000);
+    else if (std::strcmp(mutation, "abi") == 0) wr16(p + 68, 2);
+    else if (std::strcmp(mutation, "continuity") == 0) std::memset(p + 44, 0xFF, 32);
+    else assert(std::strcmp(mutation, "crc") == 0);
+    seal_manifest(p);
+    if (std::strcmp(mutation, "crc") == 0) p[40] ^= 1;
+    bootloader_migration_status(reply, sizeof(reply));
+    assert(!std::strstr(reply, "up to date"));
+    assert(bootloader_migration_request(nullptr, reply, sizeof(reply)));
+    assert(bootloader_migration_pending());
+    assert(!std::strstr(reply, "up to date"));
+    now = 1500;
+    bootloader_migration_tick(true, true);
+    // The production install preflight still runs, and the EndF stub refuses it.
+    assert(endf_checks == 1);
+    assert(!bootloader_migration_pending());
   } else if (std::strcmp(scenario, "wrong-confirmation") == 0) {
     assert(!bootloader_migration_request("0123456789ABCDE0", reply, sizeof(reply)));
     assert(!bootloader_migration_request("0123456789abcdef", reply, sizeof(reply)));
@@ -190,7 +295,11 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv) {
   } else if (std::strcmp(scenario, "duplicate-arm") == 0) {
     arm();
     now = 1499;
-    assert(!bootloader_migration_request(confirmation, reply, sizeof(reply)));
+    assert(!bootloader_migration_request("0123456789ABCDE0", reply, sizeof(reply)));
+    assert(bootloader_migration_pending());
+    assert(bootloader_migration_request(nullptr, reply, sizeof(reply)));
+    assert(std::strstr(reply, "OK bootloader update already armed"));
+    assert(bootloader_migration_request(confirmation, reply, sizeof(reply)));
     assert(std::strstr(reply, "already armed"));
     now = 1500;
     bootloader_migration_tick(true, true);