diff --git a/scripts/verify-stale-scan.ts b/scripts/verify-stale-scan.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2d1b027
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/verify-stale-scan.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+import { mkdir, rm, writeFile } from 'fs/promises'
+import { join } from 'path'
+import { prisma } from '@/lib/prisma'
+import { scanCoursesDirectory } from '@/lib/scanner'
+
+function assert(condition: unknown, message: string) {
+  if (!condition) throw new Error(message)
+}
+
+async function main() {
+  const root = '/tmp/offlineacademy-stale-scan'
+  const coursesRoot = join(root, 'My_Courses')
+  const coursePath = join(coursesRoot, 'Stale Course', '01 - Module')
+
+  await rm(root, { recursive: true, force: true })
+  await mkdir(coursePath, { recursive: true })
+  await writeFile(join(coursePath, '01 - Lesson.mp4'), '')
+
+  await prisma.setting.upsert({
+    where: { key: 'coursesRoot' },
+    update: { value: coursesRoot },
+    create: { key: 'coursesRoot', value: coursesRoot },
+  })
+
+  await scanCoursesDirectory({ maxConcurrency: 1, maxLessonsPerCourse: 10, maxModulesPerCourse: 5 })
+
+  const before = await prisma.course.count()
+  assert(before === 1, `expected 1 course before delete, got ${before}`)
+
+  await rm(join(coursesRoot, 'Stale Course'), { recursive: true, force: true })
+
+  await scanCoursesDirectory({ maxConcurrency: 1, maxLessonsPerCourse: 10, maxModulesPerCourse: 5 })
+
+  const after = await prisma.course.count()
+  assert(after === 0, `expected 0 courses after delete, got ${after}`)
+
+  console.log('stale course deletion verification passed')
+}
+
+main()
+  .catch((error) => {
+    console.error(error)
+    process.exitCode = 1
+  })
+  .finally(async () => {
+    await prisma.$disconnect()
+  })