diff --git a/neode-ui/mock-backend.js b/neode-ui/mock-backend.js
index 262ac4cd..7f0c8c1f 100755
--- a/neode-ui/mock-backend.js
+++ b/neode-ui/mock-backend.js
@@ -2543,17 +2543,22 @@ app.post('/rpc/v1', (req, res) => {
       }
 
       case 'federation.invite': {
+        // trust level threads through the invite (backend parity):
+        // "Invite a Peer" sends observer, "Link Your Nodes" trusted.
+        const trust = params?.trust_level === 'observer' ? 'observer' : 'trusted'
         const mockCode = 'fed1:' + Buffer.from(JSON.stringify({
           did: 'did:key:z6MkTest228NodeInvite',
           onion: 'self228abc2def3ghi4jkl5mno6pqr7stu8vwx.onion',
           pubkey: 'aabbccdd',
           token: 'mock-invite-token-' + Date.now(),
+          trust,
         })).toString('base64url')
         return res.json({
           result: {
             code: mockCode,
             did: 'did:key:z6MkTest228NodeInvite',
             onion: 'self228abc2def3ghi4jkl5mno6pqr7stu8vwx.onion',
+            trust_level: trust,
           },
         })
       }