diff --git a/neode-ui/src/types/api.ts b/neode-ui/src/types/api.ts
index 0d5db132..57c0ff3f 100644
--- a/neode-ui/src/types/api.ts
+++ b/neode-ui/src/types/api.ts
@@ -26,8 +26,10 @@ export interface ServerInfo {
   'lan-address': string | null
   'tor-address': string | null
   /** Live probe of the Tor daemon. NOT the same as `tor-address`, which is read
-   *  from the hidden-service hostname file and outlives a dead daemon. */
-  'tor-running': boolean
+   *  from the hidden-service hostname file and outlives a dead daemon.
+   *  Optional because daemons older than 2026-08-09 do not send it — consumers
+   *  must treat absent as "unknown", and only `=== true` as connected. */
+  'tor-running'?: boolean
   'node-address'?: string
   unread: number
   'wifi-ssids': string[]