diff --git a/crates/ecstore/src/bucket/bucket_target_sys.rs b/crates/ecstore/src/bucket/bucket_target_sys.rs
index dca41cf72..db4e80f29 100644
--- a/crates/ecstore/src/bucket/bucket_target_sys.rs
+++ b/crates/ecstore/src/bucket/bucket_target_sys.rs
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ use rustfs_utils::http::{
     insert_header,
 };
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
-use std::collections::HashMap;
+use std::collections::{HashMap, HashSet};
 use std::error::Error;
 use std::fmt;
 use std::str::FromStr as _;
@@ -376,6 +376,11 @@ pub struct BucketTargetSys {
     /// [`SsecPassthroughCapability`]; reset alongside `arn_remotes_map`.
     ssec_passthrough_map: Arc<RwLock<HashMap<String, SsecPassthroughRecord>>>,
     pub targets_map: Arc<RwLock<HashMap<String, Vec<BucketTarget>>>>,
+    /// Buckets whose persisted `bucket-targets.json` exists but cannot be
+    /// decoded (rustfs/backlog#2282). Written under the bucket's update mutex
+    /// alongside `targets_map`, and read before it so an unreadable
+    /// configuration surfaces as a typed error instead of an empty target set.
+    unreadable_targets: Arc<RwLock<HashSet<String>>>,
     pub h_mutex: Arc<RwLock<HashMap<String, EpHealth>>>,
     target_h_mutex: Arc<RwLock<HashMap<String, EpHealth>>>,
     pub hc_client: Arc<HttpClient>,
@@ -419,6 +424,7 @@ impl BucketTargetSys {
             arn_remotes_map: Arc::new(RwLock::new(HashMap::new())),
             ssec_passthrough_map: Arc::new(RwLock::new(HashMap::new())),
             targets_map: Arc::new(RwLock::new(HashMap::new())),
+            unreadable_targets: Arc::new(RwLock::new(HashSet::new())),
             h_mutex: Arc::new(RwLock::new(HashMap::new())),
             target_h_mutex: Arc::new(RwLock::new(HashMap::new())),
             hc_client: Arc::new(build_health_check_client()),
@@ -628,30 +634,40 @@ impl BucketTargetSys {
         health_map.clone()
     }
 
-    pub async fn list_targets(&self, bucket: &str, arn_type: &str) -> Vec<BucketTarget> {
+    /// Targets of one bucket, or of every bucket when `bucket` is empty.
+    ///
+    /// A bucket that simply has no targets yields an empty list; a bucket
+    /// whose persisted configuration cannot be decoded is an error, so an
+    /// admin listing reports the fault instead of an empty list that reads as
+    /// "replication is not configured" (rustfs/backlog#2282).
+    pub async fn list_targets(&self, bucket: &str, arn_type: &str) -> Result<Vec<BucketTarget>, BucketTargetError> {
         let health_stats = self.target_health_stats().await;
         let mut targets = Vec::new();
 
         if !bucket.is_empty() {
-            if let Ok(bucket_targets) = self.list_bucket_targets(bucket).await {
-                for mut target in bucket_targets.targets {
-                    if arn_type.is_empty() || target.target_type.to_string() == arn_type {
-                        if let Some(health) = health_stats.get(&target.arn) {
-                            target.total_downtime = health.offline_duration;
-                            target.online = health.online;
-                            target.last_online = health.last_online;
-                            target.latency = target::LatencyStat {
-                                curr: health.latency.curr,
-                                avg: health.latency.avg,
-                                max: health.latency.peak,
-                            };
-                            target.offline_count = health.offline_count;
+            match self.list_bucket_targets(bucket).await {
+                Ok(bucket_targets) => {
+                    for mut target in bucket_targets.targets {
+                        if arn_type.is_empty() || target.target_type.to_string() == arn_type {
+                            if let Some(health) = health_stats.get(&target.arn) {
+                                target.total_downtime = health.offline_duration;
+                                target.online = health.online;
+                                target.last_online = health.last_online;
+                                target.latency = target::LatencyStat {
+                                    curr: health.latency.curr,
+                                    avg: health.latency.avg,
+                                    max: health.latency.peak,
+                                };
+                                target.offline_count = health.offline_count;
+                            }
+                            targets.push(target);
                         }
-                        targets.push(target);
                     }
                 }
+                Err(BucketTargetError::BucketRemoteTargetNotFound { .. }) => {}
+                Err(err) => return Err(err),
             }
-            return targets;
+            return Ok(targets);
         }
 
         let targets_map = self.targets_map.read().await;
@@ -674,10 +690,16 @@ impl BucketTargetSys {
             }
         }
 
-        targets
+        Ok(targets)
     }
 
     pub async fn list_bucket_targets(&self, bucket: &str) -> Result<BucketTargets, BucketTargetError> {
+        if self.unreadable_targets.read().await.contains(bucket) {
+            return Err(BucketTargetError::BucketRemoteTargetsUnreadable {
+                bucket: bucket.to_string(),
+            });
+        }
+
         let targets_map = self.targets_map.read().await;
         if let Some(targets) = targets_map.get(bucket) {
             Ok(BucketTargets {
@@ -690,13 +712,30 @@ impl BucketTargetSys {
         }
     }
 
+    /// Record that this bucket's persisted targets configuration exists but
+    /// cannot be decoded (rustfs/backlog#2282).
+    ///
+    /// Any snapshot published from an earlier readable load is deliberately
+    /// left in place: withdrawing it would produce exactly the silent "no
+    /// targets configured" state this marker exists to prevent. The marker is
+    /// cleared by the next successful publish, which is what makes a repaired
+    /// configuration take effect without a restart.
+    pub async fn mark_targets_unreadable(&self, bucket: &str) {
+        let update_mutex = self.target_update_mutex(bucket).await;
+        let _update_guard = update_mutex.lock().await;
+
+        self.unreadable_targets.write().await.insert(bucket.to_string());
+    }
+
     pub async fn delete(&self, bucket: &str) {
         let update_mutex = self.target_update_mutex(bucket).await;
         let _update_guard = update_mutex.lock().await;
 
-        // Lock order: targets_map, then arn_remotes_map, then target_h_mutex,
-        // then ssec_passthrough_map (always last; also taken standalone by the
-        // capability accessors).
+        // Lock order: unreadable_targets, then targets_map, then
+        // arn_remotes_map, then target_h_mutex, then ssec_passthrough_map
+        // (always last; also taken standalone by the capability accessors).
+        self.unreadable_targets.write().await.remove(bucket);
+
         let mut targets_map = self.targets_map.write().await;
         let mut arn_remotes_map = self.arn_remotes_map.write().await;
         let mut health_map = self.target_h_mutex.write().await;
@@ -1093,6 +1132,11 @@ impl BucketTargetSys {
     /// Keeping persisted-config reads under the same mutex prevents a stale
     /// reload from overwriting a concurrent credential rotation.
     async fn update_all_targets_locked(&self, bucket: &str, targets: Option<&BucketTargets>) {
+        // Reaching here means the persisted configuration decoded, so the
+        // unreadable marker (if any) is stale. Cleared before the maps below
+        // so `unreadable_targets` stays the outermost of this module's locks.
+        self.unreadable_targets.write().await.remove(bucket);
+
         let mut clients = Vec::new();
         if let Some(new_targets) = targets {
             for target in &new_targets.targets {
@@ -1100,9 +1144,9 @@ impl BucketTargetSys {
             }
         }
 
-        // Lock order: targets_map, then arn_remotes_map, then target_h_mutex,
-        // then ssec_passthrough_map (always last; also taken standalone by the
-        // capability accessors).
+        // Lock order: unreadable_targets (above), then targets_map, then
+        // arn_remotes_map, then target_h_mutex, then ssec_passthrough_map
+        // (always last; also taken standalone by the capability accessors).
         let mut targets_map = self.targets_map.write().await;
         let mut arn_remotes_map = self.arn_remotes_map.write().await;
         let mut health_map = self.target_h_mutex.write().await;
@@ -1161,6 +1205,11 @@ impl BucketTargetSys {
     }
 
     pub async fn set(&self, bucket: &str, meta: &BucketMetadata) {
+        if meta.bucket_targets_unreadable() {
+            self.mark_targets_unreadable(bucket).await;
+            return;
+        }
+
         let Some(config) = &meta.bucket_target_config else {
             return;
         };
@@ -2276,6 +2325,13 @@ pub enum BucketTargetError {
     BucketRemoteTargetNotFound {
         bucket: String,
     },
+    /// The bucket's persisted targets configuration exists but cannot be
+    /// decoded. Distinct from `BucketRemoteTargetNotFound`, which means the
+    /// bucket genuinely has no targets: callers must not degrade this one to
+    /// an empty target set (rustfs/backlog#2282).
+    BucketRemoteTargetsUnreadable {
+        bucket: String,
+    },
     BucketRemoteArnTypeInvalid {
         bucket: String,
     },
@@ -2309,6 +2365,9 @@ impl fmt::Display for BucketTargetError {
             BucketTargetError::BucketRemoteTargetNotFound { bucket } => {
                 write!(f, "Remote target not found for bucket: {bucket}")
             }
+            BucketTargetError::BucketRemoteTargetsUnreadable { bucket } => {
+                write!(f, "Persisted replication target configuration is unreadable for bucket: {bucket}")
+            }
             BucketTargetError::BucketRemoteArnTypeInvalid { bucket } => {
                 write!(f, "Invalid ARN type for bucket: {bucket}")
             }
@@ -3256,7 +3315,7 @@ mod tests {
             }],
         );
 
-        let targets = sys.list_targets("", "").await;
+        let targets = sys.list_targets("", "").await.expect("listing every bucket's targets");
 
         assert_eq!(targets.len(), 1);
         assert!(!targets[0].online);
diff --git a/crates/ecstore/src/bucket/lifecycle/bucket_lifecycle_ops.rs b/crates/ecstore/src/bucket/lifecycle/bucket_lifecycle_ops.rs
index 7649e3ac9..dbb5dd154 100644
--- a/crates/ecstore/src/bucket/lifecycle/bucket_lifecycle_ops.rs
+++ b/crates/ecstore/src/bucket/lifecycle/bucket_lifecycle_ops.rs
@@ -584,33 +584,173 @@ impl ExpiryOp for FreeVersionTask {
     }
 }
 
+#[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, Eq, PartialEq)]
+enum TransitionDeleteVersionPlan {
+    Direct { version_id_exact: bool },
+    ProbeLegacyUnknown,
+}
+
+fn legacy_transition_version_state_missing(oi: &ObjectInfo) -> Result<bool, std::io::Error> {
+    use rustfs_utils::http::metadata_compat::{
+        SUFFIX_TRANSITIONED_VERSION_ID, SUFFIX_TRANSITIONED_VERSION_STATE, contains_key_str, get_consistent_str,
+    };
+
+    if !contains_key_str(&oi.user_defined, SUFFIX_TRANSITIONED_VERSION_STATE) {
+        let version_key_present = contains_key_str(&oi.user_defined, SUFFIX_TRANSITIONED_VERSION_ID);
+        if version_key_present {
+            if oi.transitioned_object.version_id.is_empty() {
+                let has_non_empty_version = oi.user_defined.iter().any(|(key, value)| {
+                    rustfs_utils::http::metadata_compat::strip_internal_prefix_preserving_case(key)
+                        .is_some_and(|suffix| suffix.eq_ignore_ascii_case(SUFFIX_TRANSITIONED_VERSION_ID))
+                        && !value.is_empty()
+                });
+                if !has_non_empty_version {
+                    // MinIO writes the transitioned-versionID key with an empty value
+                    // for unversioned tier objects. The backend probe remains the proof.
+                    return Ok(true);
+                }
+            } else if get_consistent_str(&oi.user_defined, SUFFIX_TRANSITIONED_VERSION_ID)
+                == Some(oi.transitioned_object.version_id.as_str())
+            {
+                return Ok(true);
+            }
+            return Err(std::io::Error::new(
+                std::io::ErrorKind::InvalidData,
+                "legacy remote tier version metadata is conflicting or malformed",
+            ));
+        }
+        if !oi.transitioned_object.version_id.is_empty() {
+            return Err(std::io::Error::new(
+                std::io::ErrorKind::InvalidData,
+                "legacy remote tier version metadata is missing or inconsistent",
+            ));
+        }
+        return Ok(true);
+    }
+    let persisted = get_consistent_str(&oi.user_defined, SUFFIX_TRANSITIONED_VERSION_STATE).ok_or_else(|| {
+        std::io::Error::new(
+            std::io::ErrorKind::InvalidData,
+            "remote tier object has conflicting transition version state metadata",
+        )
+    })?;
+    if persisted != oi.transition_version_state.as_str() {
+        return Err(std::io::Error::new(
+            std::io::ErrorKind::InvalidData,
+            "remote tier object transition version state metadata changed during decoding",
+        ));
+    }
+    Ok(false)
+}
+
+fn transition_remote_version_delete_plan(oi: &ObjectInfo) -> Result<TransitionDeleteVersionPlan, std::io::Error> {
+    match oi.transition_version_state {
+        rustfs_filemeta::TransitionVersionState::Unknown => {
+            if legacy_transition_version_state_missing(oi)? {
+                Ok(TransitionDeleteVersionPlan::ProbeLegacyUnknown)
+            } else {
+                validate_transition_remote_version(oi)
+                    .map(|version_id_exact| TransitionDeleteVersionPlan::Direct { version_id_exact })
+            }
+        }
+        _ => validate_transition_remote_version(oi)
+            .map(|version_id_exact| TransitionDeleteVersionPlan::Direct { version_id_exact }),
+    }
+}
+
+#[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, Eq, PartialEq)]
+struct ResolvedTransitionDeleteVersion {
+    version_id_exact: bool,
+    remote_already_missing: bool,
+}
+
 async fn acquire_free_version_tier_lease(
     oi: &ObjectInfo,
     tier_config_mgr: &Arc<RwLock<TierConfigMgr>>,
-) -> Result<(TierOperationLease, bool), std::io::Error> {
-    let version_id_exact = validate_transition_remote_version(oi)?;
+) -> Result<(TierOperationLease, TransitionDeleteVersionPlan), std::io::Error> {
+    let delete_plan = transition_remote_version_delete_plan(oi)?;
     let identity = tier_destination_id_from_metadata(&oi.user_defined)?
         .ok_or_else(|| std::io::Error::other("tier free-version has no durable backend identity"))?;
     let lease =
         TierConfigMgr::acquire_operation_lease_for_backend_identity(tier_config_mgr, &oi.transitioned_object.tier, identity)
             .await
             .map_err(std::io::Error::other)?;
-    Ok((lease, version_id_exact))
+    Ok((lease, delete_plan))
+}
+
+async fn resolve_transition_delete_version_plan(
+    oi: &ObjectInfo,
+    lease: &TierOperationLease,
+    delete_plan: TransitionDeleteVersionPlan,
+) -> Result<ResolvedTransitionDeleteVersion, std::io::Error> {
+    match delete_plan {
+        TransitionDeleteVersionPlan::Direct { version_id_exact } => Ok(ResolvedTransitionDeleteVersion {
+            version_id_exact,
+            remote_already_missing: false,
+        }),
+        TransitionDeleteVersionPlan::ProbeLegacyUnknown => {
+            let expected_version = oi.transitioned_object.version_id.as_str();
+            if expected_version.is_empty() {
+                return Err(std::io::Error::new(
+                    std::io::ErrorKind::WouldBlock,
+                    "remote tier cannot safely delete a legacy object without an exact version ID",
+                ));
+            }
+            let probe = lease
+                .probe_transition_version(&oi.transitioned_object.name, expected_version)
+                .await?;
+            match (expected_version, probe) {
+                (expected, crate::services::tier::warm_backend::TransitionCandidateProbe::VersionedPresent(actual))
+                    if expected == actual =>
+                {
+                    lease.validate_remote_version_id(expected)?;
+                    Ok(ResolvedTransitionDeleteVersion {
+                        version_id_exact: true,
+                        remote_already_missing: false,
+                    })
+                }
+                (_, crate::services::tier::warm_backend::TransitionCandidateProbe::Missing) => {
+                    Ok(ResolvedTransitionDeleteVersion {
+                        version_id_exact: false,
+                        remote_already_missing: true,
+                    })
+                }
+                (_, crate::services::tier::warm_backend::TransitionCandidateProbe::Unsupported) => Err(std::io::Error::new(
+                    std::io::ErrorKind::Unsupported,
+                    "remote tier cannot prove legacy transition delete state",
+                )),
+                _ => Err(std::io::Error::new(
+                    std::io::ErrorKind::WouldBlock,
+                    "remote tier object version state is unknown",
+                )),
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+async fn execute_resolved_transition_delete(
+    oi: &ObjectInfo,
+    lease: &TierOperationLease,
+    resolved: ResolvedTransitionDeleteVersion,
+) -> Result<(), std::io::Error> {
+    if !resolved.remote_already_missing {
+        delete_object_from_remote_tier_with_lease_idempotent(
+            &oi.transitioned_object.name,
+            &oi.transitioned_object.version_id,
+            lease,
+            resolved.version_id_exact,
+        )
+        .await?;
+    }
+    Ok(())
 }
 
 async fn delete_free_version_remote_object_with_lease(
     oi: &ObjectInfo,
     lease: &TierOperationLease,
-    version_id_exact: bool,
+    delete_plan: TransitionDeleteVersionPlan,
 ) -> Result<(), std::io::Error> {
-    delete_object_from_remote_tier_with_lease_idempotent(
-        &oi.transitioned_object.name,
-        &oi.transitioned_object.version_id,
-        lease,
-        version_id_exact,
-    )
-    .await?;
-    Ok(())
+    let resolved = resolve_transition_delete_version_plan(oi, lease, delete_plan).await?;
+    execute_resolved_transition_delete(oi, lease, resolved).await
 }
 
 fn free_version_physical_topology_generation(api: &ECStore) -> String {
@@ -641,6 +781,16 @@ fn free_version_remote_tuple_matches(candidate: &ObjectInfo, expected: &ObjectIn
     if candidate.transition_version_state == rustfs_filemeta::TransitionVersionState::Unknown
         || expected.transition_version_state == rustfs_filemeta::TransitionVersionState::Unknown
     {
+        let candidate_legacy_missing = legacy_transition_version_state_missing(candidate)?;
+        let expected_legacy_missing = legacy_transition_version_state_missing(expected)?;
+        if candidate.transition_version_state == rustfs_filemeta::TransitionVersionState::Unknown
+            && expected.transition_version_state == rustfs_filemeta::TransitionVersionState::Unknown
+            && candidate_legacy_missing
+            && expected_legacy_missing
+            && candidate.transitioned_object.version_id == expected.transitioned_object.version_id
+        {
+            return Ok(true);
+        }
         return Err(std::io::Error::new(
             std::io::ErrorKind::WouldBlock,
             "tier free-version remote version state is unknown",
@@ -716,7 +866,7 @@ async fn cleanup_free_version_exact(api: Arc<ECStore>, oi: &ObjectInfo, cancel:
         .acquire_bucket_lifecycle_read_lock(&oi.bucket)
         .await
         .map_err(std::io::Error::other)?;
-    let (lease, version_id_exact) = acquire_free_version_tier_lease(oi, &api.tier_config_mgr()).await?;
+    let (lease, delete_plan) = acquire_free_version_tier_lease(oi, &api.tier_config_mgr()).await?;
     let local_object = encode_dir_object(&oi.name);
     let object_guards = api
         .acquire_all_physical_object_write_locks("tier_free_version_cleanup", &oi.bucket, &local_object)
@@ -734,16 +884,30 @@ async fn cleanup_free_version_exact(api: Arc<ECStore>, oi: &ObjectInfo, cancel:
             "tier free-version cleanup fence is invalid before remote delete",
         ));
     }
+    let resolved = tokio::select! {
+        _ = cancel.cancelled() => {
+            return Err(std::io::Error::new(std::io::ErrorKind::Interrupted, "tier free-version cleanup was cancelled"));
+        }
+        result = tokio::time::timeout_at(deadline, resolve_transition_delete_version_plan(oi, &lease, delete_plan)) => {
+            result.map_err(|_| {
+                std::io::Error::new(std::io::ErrorKind::TimedOut, "tier free-version remote probe timed out")
+            })??
+        }
+    };
+    if !free_version_cleanup_fences_current(&topology_generation, &api, &bucket_guard, &object_guards, &lease, cancel, deadline) {
+        return Err(std::io::Error::new(
+            std::io::ErrorKind::WouldBlock,
+            "tier free-version cleanup fence changed after remote probe",
+        ));
+    }
     tokio::select! {
         _ = cancel.cancelled() => {
             return Err(std::io::Error::new(std::io::ErrorKind::Interrupted, "tier free-version cleanup was cancelled"));
         }
-        result = tokio::time::timeout_at(
-            deadline,
-            delete_free_version_remote_object_with_lease(oi, &lease, version_id_exact),
-        ) => {
-            result
-                .map_err(|_| std::io::Error::new(std::io::ErrorKind::TimedOut, "tier free-version remote delete timed out"))??;
+        result = tokio::time::timeout_at(deadline, execute_resolved_transition_delete(oi, &lease, resolved)) => {
+            result.map_err(|_| {
+                std::io::Error::new(std::io::ErrorKind::TimedOut, "tier free-version remote delete timed out")
+            })??;
         }
     }
     if !free_version_cleanup_fences_current(&topology_generation, &api, &bucket_guard, &object_guards, &lease, cancel, deadline) {
@@ -791,8 +955,8 @@ async fn delete_free_version_remote_object(
     oi: &ObjectInfo,
     tier_config_mgr: &Arc<RwLock<TierConfigMgr>>,
 ) -> Result<(), std::io::Error> {
-    let (lease, version_id_exact) = acquire_free_version_tier_lease(oi, tier_config_mgr).await?;
-    delete_free_version_remote_object_with_lease(oi, &lease, version_id_exact).await
+    let (lease, delete_plan) = acquire_free_version_tier_lease(oi, tier_config_mgr).await?;
+    delete_free_version_remote_object_with_lease(oi, &lease, delete_plan).await
 }
 
 #[allow(
@@ -808,8 +972,8 @@ where
     F: FnOnce() -> Fut,
     Fut: std::future::Future<Output = T>,
 {
-    let (lease, version_id_exact) = acquire_free_version_tier_lease(oi, tier_config_mgr).await?;
-    delete_free_version_remote_object_with_lease(oi, &lease, version_id_exact).await?;
+    let (lease, delete_plan) = acquire_free_version_tier_lease(oi, tier_config_mgr).await?;
+    delete_free_version_remote_object_with_lease(oi, &lease, delete_plan).await?;
     let result = delete_local().await;
     drop(lease);
     Ok(result)
@@ -4688,6 +4852,39 @@ fn validate_transition_remote_version(oi: &ObjectInfo) -> Result<bool, std::io::
     }
 }
 
+#[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, Eq, PartialEq)]
+enum TransitionReadVersionPlan {
+    Direct,
+    ProbeLegacyUnversioned,
+}
+
+const LEGACY_TRANSITION_READ_PROBE_TIMEOUT: StdDuration = StdDuration::from_secs(30);
+
+fn transition_remote_version_read_plan(oi: &ObjectInfo) -> Result<TransitionReadVersionPlan, std::io::Error> {
+    let version = oi.transitioned_object.version_id.as_str();
+    match oi.transition_version_state {
+        rustfs_filemeta::TransitionVersionState::Unknown => {
+            if !legacy_transition_version_state_missing(oi)? {
+                return validate_transition_remote_version(oi).map(|_| TransitionReadVersionPlan::Direct);
+            }
+            if version.is_empty() {
+                Ok(TransitionReadVersionPlan::ProbeLegacyUnversioned)
+            } else {
+                Ok(TransitionReadVersionPlan::Direct)
+            }
+        }
+        rustfs_filemeta::TransitionVersionState::KnownDisabled if version.is_empty() => Ok(TransitionReadVersionPlan::Direct),
+        rustfs_filemeta::TransitionVersionState::SuspendedNull if version == "null" => Ok(TransitionReadVersionPlan::Direct),
+        rustfs_filemeta::TransitionVersionState::Exact if !version.is_empty() && version != "null" => {
+            Ok(TransitionReadVersionPlan::Direct)
+        }
+        _ => Err(std::io::Error::new(
+            std::io::ErrorKind::InvalidData,
+            "remote tier object version state conflicts with its version ID",
+        )),
+    }
+}
+
 // The resolver joins the tier manager as the second injected port this read
 // needs; grouping the request half into a struct would churn every call site of
 // a bug fix.
@@ -4702,7 +4899,12 @@ pub(crate) async fn get_transitioned_object_reader_with_tier_manager(
     tier_config_mgr: &Arc<RwLock<TierConfigMgr>>,
     resolver: Option<&dyn ObjectEncryptionResolver>,
 ) -> Result<GetObjectReader, std::io::Error> {
-    validate_transition_remote_version(oi)?;
+    let read_plan = transition_remote_version_read_plan(oi)?;
+    // Reject invalid ranges and encryption requests before a compatibility
+    // probe can amplify them into remote listing work.
+    let plan = ReadPlan::build_for_request(rs.clone(), oi, opts, h, resolver)
+        .await
+        .map_err(|err| std::io::Error::other(format!("building the read plan for {bucket}/{object} failed: {err}")))?;
     let expected_identity = tier_destination_id_from_metadata(&oi.user_defined)?;
     let lease = match expected_identity {
         Some(identity) => {
@@ -4716,7 +4918,36 @@ pub(crate) async fn get_transitioned_object_reader_with_tier_manager(
         Err(err) => return Err(std::io::Error::other(err)),
     };
 
-    tgt_client.validate_remote_version_id(&oi.transitioned_object.version_id)?;
+    match read_plan {
+        TransitionReadVersionPlan::Direct => {
+            tgt_client.validate_remote_version_id(&oi.transitioned_object.version_id)?;
+        }
+        TransitionReadVersionPlan::ProbeLegacyUnversioned => {
+            // RUSTFS_COMPAT_TODO(backlog#2203): remove operation-time probing
+            // after an admin reconcile can persist every proven legacy state.
+            let probe = tokio::time::timeout(
+                LEGACY_TRANSITION_READ_PROBE_TIMEOUT,
+                tgt_client.probe_transition_candidate(&oi.transitioned_object.name),
+            )
+            .await
+            .map_err(|_| std::io::Error::new(std::io::ErrorKind::TimedOut, "legacy remote tier version probe timed out"))??;
+            match probe {
+                crate::services::tier::warm_backend::TransitionCandidateProbe::UnversionedPresent => {}
+                crate::services::tier::warm_backend::TransitionCandidateProbe::Unsupported => {
+                    return Err(std::io::Error::new(
+                        std::io::ErrorKind::Unsupported,
+                        "remote tier cannot prove legacy unversioned transition state",
+                    ));
+                }
+                _ => {
+                    return Err(std::io::Error::new(
+                        std::io::ErrorKind::InvalidData,
+                        "remote tier object version state is unknown",
+                    ));
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    }
 
     // The same read plan the local path uses, so the tier fetch is positioned in
     // the object's *stored* coordinate system and the stream is handed the same
@@ -4724,9 +4955,6 @@ pub(crate) async fn get_transitioned_object_reader_with_tier_manager(
     // through a plaintext-coordinate range and skipping the transform is how a
     // transitioned SSE object used to come back as silently corrupt bytes of the
     // right length (rustfs/rustfs#6025).
-    let plan = ReadPlan::build_for_request(rs.clone(), oi, opts, h, resolver)
-        .await
-        .map_err(|err| std::io::Error::other(format!("building the read plan for {bucket}/{object} failed: {err}")))?;
     let (off, length) = (plan.storage_offset() as i64, plan.storage_length());
     let mut gopts = WarmBackendGetOpts::default();
 
@@ -5599,11 +5827,13 @@ mod tests {
     use crate::layout::endpoints::{EndpointServerPools, Endpoints, PoolEndpoints};
     use crate::object_api::{ObjectInfo, ObjectOptions, PutObjReader};
     #[cfg(feature = "test-util")]
+    use crate::services::tier::test_util::MockWarmOp;
+    #[cfg(feature = "test-util")]
     use crate::services::tier::test_util::register_mock_tier;
     #[cfg(feature = "test-util")]
     use crate::services::tier::tier::TierConfigMgr;
     #[cfg(feature = "test-util")]
-    use crate::services::tier::warm_backend::WarmBackend as _;
+    use crate::services::tier::warm_backend::{TransitionCandidateProbe, WarmBackend as _};
     use crate::set_disk::{MultipartCommitBarrier, MultipartCommitPause};
     use crate::set_disk::{RUSTFS_MULTIPART_BUCKET_KEY, RUSTFS_MULTIPART_OBJECT_KEY};
     use crate::storage_api_contracts::namespace::NamespaceLocking as _;
@@ -6299,7 +6529,75 @@ mod tests {
 
     #[cfg(feature = "test-util")]
     #[tokio::test]
-    async fn transitioned_get_rejects_unknown_version_state_before_backend_io() {
+    async fn transitioned_get_allows_legacy_unknown_exact_version_for_non_destructive_read() {
+        let manager = TierConfigMgr::new();
+        let tier = format!("COLDTIER{}", &Uuid::new_v4().simple().to_string()[..8]).to_uppercase();
+        let backend = register_mock_tier(&manager, &tier).await;
+        let remote_object = format!("remote/{}", Uuid::new_v4());
+        let body = Bytes::from_static(b"legacy transitioned object body");
+        let remote_version = backend
+            .put(
+                &remote_object,
+                ReaderImpl::Body(body.clone()),
+                i64::try_from(body.len()).expect("body length should fit"),
+            )
+            .await
+            .expect("mock remote object should be stored");
+        let mut user_defined = HashMap::new();
+        insert_legacy_transition_version_id(&mut user_defined, &remote_version);
+        let object_info = ObjectInfo {
+            bucket: "bucket".to_string(),
+            name: "object".to_string(),
+            size: i64::try_from(body.len()).expect("body length should fit"),
+            transitioned_object: TransitionedObject {
+                name: remote_object,
+                version_id: remote_version,
+                status: crate::bucket::lifecycle::lifecycle::TRANSITION_COMPLETE.to_string(),
+                tier: tier.clone(),
+                ..Default::default()
+            },
+            transition_version_state: rustfs_filemeta::TransitionVersionState::Unknown,
+            user_defined: user_defined.into(),
+            ..Default::default()
+        };
+
+        let range = Some(crate::storage_api_contracts::range::HTTPRangeSpec {
+            is_suffix_length: false,
+            start: 7,
+            end: 18,
+        });
+        let mut reader = get_transitioned_object_reader_with_tier_manager(
+            &object_info.bucket,
+            &object_info.name,
+            &range,
+            &HeaderMap::new(),
+            &object_info,
+            &ObjectOptions::default(),
+            &manager,
+            None,
+        )
+        .await
+        .expect("legacy unknown state should still allow a non-destructive read");
+        let mut got = Vec::new();
+        reader
+            .stream
+            .read_to_end(&mut got)
+            .await
+            .expect("transitioned reader should drain");
+
+        assert_eq!(got, &body.as_ref()[7..=18]);
+        assert_eq!(backend.get_count().await, 1);
+        assert_eq!(backend.remove_count().await, 0);
+        assert_eq!(
+            TierConfigMgr::active_operation_lease_count(&manager, &tier).await,
+            0,
+            "tier generation lease should release after EOF"
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[cfg(feature = "test-util")]
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn transitioned_get_rejects_explicit_unknown_version_state_before_backend_io() {
         let manager = TierConfigMgr::new();
         let tier = format!("COLDTIER{}", &Uuid::new_v4().simple().to_string()[..8]).to_uppercase();
         let backend = register_mock_tier(&manager, &tier).await;
@@ -6315,6 +6613,181 @@ mod tests {
                 ..Default::default()
             },
             transition_version_state: rustfs_filemeta::TransitionVersionState::Unknown,
+            user_defined: user_defined_with_transition_version_state(rustfs_filemeta::TransitionVersionState::Unknown).into(),
+            ..Default::default()
+        };
+
+        let err = match get_transitioned_object_reader_with_tier_manager(
+            &object_info.bucket,
+            &object_info.name,
+            &None,
+            &HeaderMap::new(),
+            &object_info,
+            &ObjectOptions::default(),
+            &manager,
+            None,
+        )
+        .await
+        {
+            Ok(_) => panic!("explicit unknown remote version state must fail before backend IO"),
+            Err(err) => err,
+        };
+
+        assert_eq!(err.kind(), std::io::ErrorKind::InvalidData);
+        assert_eq!(backend.op_log().await, Vec::<MockWarmOp>::new());
+        assert_eq!(backend.get_count().await, 0);
+    }
+
+    #[cfg(feature = "test-util")]
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn transitioned_get_rejects_present_but_invalid_legacy_version_metadata() {
+        let manager = TierConfigMgr::new();
+        let tier = format!("COLDTIER{}", &Uuid::new_v4().simple().to_string()[..8]).to_uppercase();
+        let backend = register_mock_tier(&manager, &tier).await;
+
+        for persisted_version in [
+            Uuid::nil().to_string(),
+            "\u{fffd}".to_string(),
+            "bad\u{0001}version".to_string(),
+        ] {
+            let mut user_defined = HashMap::new();
+            insert_legacy_transition_version_id(&mut user_defined, &persisted_version);
+            let object_info = ObjectInfo {
+                bucket: "bucket".to_string(),
+                name: "object".to_string(),
+                size: 1,
+                transitioned_object: TransitionedObject {
+                    name: "remote/object".to_string(),
+                    version_id: String::new(),
+                    status: crate::bucket::lifecycle::lifecycle::TRANSITION_COMPLETE.to_string(),
+                    tier: tier.clone(),
+                    ..Default::default()
+                },
+                transition_version_state: rustfs_filemeta::TransitionVersionState::Unknown,
+                user_defined: user_defined.into(),
+                ..Default::default()
+            };
+
+            let err = match get_transitioned_object_reader_with_tier_manager(
+                &object_info.bucket,
+                &object_info.name,
+                &None,
+                &HeaderMap::new(),
+                &object_info,
+                &ObjectOptions::default(),
+                &manager,
+                None,
+            )
+            .await
+            {
+                Ok(_) => panic!("present but invalid legacy version metadata must fail before backend IO"),
+                Err(err) => err,
+            };
+
+            assert_eq!(err.kind(), std::io::ErrorKind::InvalidData);
+        }
+
+        assert_eq!(backend.op_log().await, Vec::<MockWarmOp>::new());
+    }
+
+    #[cfg(feature = "test-util")]
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn transitioned_get_probes_legacy_empty_unknown_state_before_unversioned_read() {
+        let manager = TierConfigMgr::new();
+        let tier = format!("COLDTIER{}", &Uuid::new_v4().simple().to_string()[..8]).to_uppercase();
+        let backend = register_mock_tier(&manager, &tier).await;
+        backend.set_put_remote_version(Some(String::new())).await;
+        let remote_object = format!("remote/{}", Uuid::new_v4());
+        let body = Bytes::from_static(b"legacy unversioned transitioned object body");
+        let remote_version = backend
+            .put(
+                &remote_object,
+                ReaderImpl::Body(body.clone()),
+                i64::try_from(body.len()).expect("body length should fit"),
+            )
+            .await
+            .expect("mock remote object should be stored");
+        assert!(remote_version.is_empty());
+        let object_info = ObjectInfo {
+            bucket: "bucket".to_string(),
+            name: "object".to_string(),
+            size: i64::try_from(body.len()).expect("body length should fit"),
+            transitioned_object: TransitionedObject {
+                name: remote_object.clone(),
+                version_id: String::new(),
+                status: crate::bucket::lifecycle::lifecycle::TRANSITION_COMPLETE.to_string(),
+                tier: tier.clone(),
+                ..Default::default()
+            },
+            transition_version_state: rustfs_filemeta::TransitionVersionState::Unknown,
+            user_defined: HashMap::from([("x-minio-internal-transitioned-versionID".to_string(), String::new())]).into(),
+            ..Default::default()
+        };
+
+        let mut reader = get_transitioned_object_reader_with_tier_manager(
+            &object_info.bucket,
+            &object_info.name,
+            &None,
+            &HeaderMap::new(),
+            &object_info,
+            &ObjectOptions::default(),
+            &manager,
+            None,
+        )
+        .await
+        .expect("probe-proven legacy unversioned state should allow a non-destructive read");
+        let mut got = Vec::new();
+        reader
+            .stream
+            .read_to_end(&mut got)
+            .await
+            .expect("transitioned reader should drain");
+
+        assert_eq!(got, body.as_ref());
+        assert_eq!(backend.remove_count().await, 0);
+        assert_eq!(
+            backend.op_log().await,
+            vec![
+                MockWarmOp::Put {
+                    object: remote_object.clone()
+                },
+                MockWarmOp::Probe {
+                    object: remote_object.clone()
+                },
+                MockWarmOp::Get { object: remote_object },
+            ]
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            TierConfigMgr::active_operation_lease_count(&manager, &tier).await,
+            0,
+            "tier generation lease should release after EOF"
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[cfg(feature = "test-util")]
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn transitioned_get_rejects_ambiguous_empty_unknown_state_without_backend_get() {
+        let manager = TierConfigMgr::new();
+        let tier = format!("COLDTIER{}", &Uuid::new_v4().simple().to_string()[..8]).to_uppercase();
+        let backend = register_mock_tier(&manager, &tier).await;
+        let remote_object = format!("remote/{}", Uuid::new_v4());
+        backend
+            .set_transition_candidate_probe_override(Some(TransitionCandidateProbe::VersionedPresent(
+                "versioned-candidate".to_string(),
+            )))
+            .await;
+        let object_info = ObjectInfo {
+            bucket: "bucket".to_string(),
+            name: "object".to_string(),
+            size: 1,
+            transitioned_object: TransitionedObject {
+                name: remote_object.clone(),
+                version_id: String::new(),
+                status: crate::bucket::lifecycle::lifecycle::TRANSITION_COMPLETE.to_string(),
+                tier,
+                ..Default::default()
+            },
+            transition_version_state: rustfs_filemeta::TransitionVersionState::Unknown,
             ..Default::default()
         };
 
@@ -6330,19 +6803,28 @@ mod tests {
         )
         .await
         {
-            Ok(_) => panic!("unknown remote version state must fail before backend IO"),
+            Ok(_) => panic!("versioned legacy unknown state without stored version must fail before backend GET"),
             Err(err) => err,
         };
 
         assert_eq!(err.kind(), std::io::ErrorKind::InvalidData);
+        assert_eq!(backend.op_log().await, vec![MockWarmOp::Probe { object: remote_object }]);
         assert_eq!(backend.get_count().await, 0);
+        assert_eq!(backend.remove_count().await, 0);
     }
 
     #[cfg(feature = "test-util")]
     #[tokio::test]
-    async fn free_version_delete_rejects_unknown_version_state_before_backend_io() {
+    async fn free_version_delete_rejects_explicit_unknown_before_backend_io() {
         let manager = TierConfigMgr::new();
         let backend = register_mock_tier(&manager, "WARM").await;
+        let identity = test_tier_destination_identity(&manager, "WARM").await;
+        let mut user_defined = user_defined_with_tier_destination_identity(identity);
+        rustfs_utils::http::metadata_compat::insert_str(
+            &mut user_defined,
+            rustfs_utils::http::metadata_compat::SUFFIX_TRANSITIONED_VERSION_STATE,
+            rustfs_filemeta::TransitionVersionState::Unknown.as_str().to_string(),
+        );
         let object_info = ObjectInfo {
             transitioned_object: TransitionedObject {
                 name: "remote/object".to_string(),
@@ -6351,17 +6833,251 @@ mod tests {
                 ..Default::default()
             },
             transition_version_state: rustfs_filemeta::TransitionVersionState::Unknown,
+            user_defined: user_defined.into(),
             ..Default::default()
         };
 
         let err = super::delete_free_version_remote_object(&object_info, &manager)
             .await
-            .expect_err("unknown remote version state must fail before backend IO");
+            .expect_err("explicit unknown cleanup must fail before backend IO");
 
         assert_eq!(err.kind(), std::io::ErrorKind::InvalidData);
+        assert!(err.to_string().contains("version state is unknown"));
+        assert_eq!(backend.op_log().await, Vec::<MockWarmOp>::new());
         assert_eq!(backend.remove_count().await, 0);
     }
 
+    #[cfg(feature = "test-util")]
+    async fn test_tier_destination_identity(
+        manager: &Arc<tokio::sync::RwLock<TierConfigMgr>>,
+        tier: &str,
+    ) -> crate::services::tier::tier::TierDestinationId {
+        TierConfigMgr::acquire_operation_lease(manager, tier)
+            .await
+            .expect("test tier lease should be available")
+            .backend_identity()
+    }
+
+    #[cfg(feature = "test-util")]
+    fn user_defined_with_tier_destination_identity(
+        identity: crate::services::tier::tier::TierDestinationId,
+    ) -> HashMap<String, String> {
+        let mut user_defined = HashMap::new();
+        rustfs_utils::http::metadata_compat::insert_str(
+            &mut user_defined,
+            rustfs_utils::http::metadata_compat::SUFFIX_TRANSITION_TIER_DESTINATION_ID,
+            rustfs_utils::crypto::hex(identity),
+        );
+        user_defined
+    }
+
+    #[cfg(feature = "test-util")]
+    fn user_defined_with_transition_version_state(state: rustfs_filemeta::TransitionVersionState) -> HashMap<String, String> {
+        let mut user_defined = HashMap::new();
+        rustfs_utils::http::metadata_compat::insert_str(
+            &mut user_defined,
+            rustfs_utils::http::metadata_compat::SUFFIX_TRANSITIONED_VERSION_STATE,
+            state.as_str().to_string(),
+        );
+        user_defined
+    }
+
+    #[cfg(feature = "test-util")]
+    fn insert_legacy_transition_version_id(user_defined: &mut HashMap<String, String>, version_id: &str) {
+        rustfs_utils::http::metadata_compat::insert_str(
+            user_defined,
+            rustfs_utils::http::metadata_compat::SUFFIX_TRANSITIONED_VERSION_ID,
+            version_id.to_string(),
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[cfg(feature = "test-util")]
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn free_version_tuple_rejects_mixed_legacy_missing_and_explicit_unknown() {
+        let manager = TierConfigMgr::new();
+        register_mock_tier(&manager, "WARM").await;
+        let identity = test_tier_destination_identity(&manager, "WARM").await;
+        let mut legacy_metadata = user_defined_with_tier_destination_identity(identity);
+        insert_legacy_transition_version_id(&mut legacy_metadata, "legacy-version");
+        let mut explicit_metadata = legacy_metadata.clone();
+        rustfs_utils::http::metadata_compat::insert_str(
+            &mut explicit_metadata,
+            rustfs_utils::http::metadata_compat::SUFFIX_TRANSITIONED_VERSION_STATE,
+            rustfs_filemeta::TransitionVersionState::Unknown.as_str().to_string(),
+        );
+        let make_info = |user_defined: HashMap<String, String>| ObjectInfo {
+            transitioned_object: TransitionedObject {
+                name: "remote/object".to_string(),
+                version_id: "legacy-version".to_string(),
+                tier: "WARM".to_string(),
+                ..Default::default()
+            },
+            transition_version_state: rustfs_filemeta::TransitionVersionState::Unknown,
+            user_defined: user_defined.into(),
+            ..Default::default()
+        };
+
+        let err = super::free_version_remote_tuple_matches(&make_info(legacy_metadata), &make_info(explicit_metadata))
+            .expect_err("mixed legacy-missing and explicit unknown provenance must fail closed");
+
+        assert_eq!(err.kind(), std::io::ErrorKind::WouldBlock);
+    }
+
+    #[cfg(feature = "test-util")]
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn free_version_delete_probes_exact_version_hidden_by_current_delete_marker() {
+        let manager = TierConfigMgr::new();
+        let tier = "WARM";
+        let backend = register_mock_tier(&manager, tier).await;
+        let identity = test_tier_destination_identity(&manager, tier).await;
+        let remote_object = format!("remote/{}", Uuid::new_v4());
+        let body = Bytes::from_static(b"legacy exact cleanup body");
+        let remote_version = backend
+            .put(
+                &remote_object,
+                ReaderImpl::Body(body),
+                i64::try_from(b"legacy exact cleanup body".len()).expect("body length should fit"),
+            )
+            .await
+            .expect("mock remote object should be stored");
+        let mut user_defined = user_defined_with_tier_destination_identity(identity);
+        insert_legacy_transition_version_id(&mut user_defined, &remote_version);
+        backend
+            .set_transition_candidate_probe_override(Some(TransitionCandidateProbe::Missing))
+            .await;
+        assert_eq!(
+            backend
+                .probe_transition_candidate_state(&remote_object)
+                .await
+                .expect("current remote view should be readable"),
+            TransitionCandidateProbe::Missing,
+            "a current delete marker must hide the historical data version from an unversioned probe"
+        );
+        backend.clear_op_log().await;
+        let object_info = ObjectInfo {
+            transitioned_object: TransitionedObject {
+                name: remote_object.clone(),
+                version_id: remote_version,
+                tier: tier.to_string(),
+                ..Default::default()
+            },
+            transition_version_state: rustfs_filemeta::TransitionVersionState::Unknown,
+            user_defined: user_defined.into(),
+            ..Default::default()
+        };
+
+        super::delete_free_version_remote_object(&object_info, &manager)
+            .await
+            .expect("probe-proven legacy exact cleanup should delete the remote version");
+        super::delete_free_version_remote_object(&object_info, &manager)
+            .await
+            .expect("a retry after the exact remote version is already missing should be idempotent");
+
+        assert_eq!(
+            backend.op_log().await,
+            vec![
+                MockWarmOp::Get {
+                    object: remote_object.clone()
+                },
+                MockWarmOp::Remove {
+                    object: remote_object.clone()
+                },
+                MockWarmOp::Get {
+                    object: remote_object.clone()
+                },
+            ]
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            backend.remove_versions().await,
+            vec![(remote_object, object_info.transitioned_object.version_id)]
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[cfg(feature = "test-util")]
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn free_version_delete_retains_legacy_unknown_unversioned_object() {
+        let manager = TierConfigMgr::new();
+        let tier = "WARM";
+        let backend = register_mock_tier(&manager, tier).await;
+        backend.set_put_remote_version(Some(String::new())).await;
+        let identity = test_tier_destination_identity(&manager, tier).await;
+        let remote_object = format!("remote/{}", Uuid::new_v4());
+        let body = Bytes::from_static(b"legacy unversioned cleanup body");
+        let remote_version = backend
+            .put(
+                &remote_object,
+                ReaderImpl::Body(body),
+                i64::try_from(b"legacy unversioned cleanup body".len()).expect("body length should fit"),
+            )
+            .await
+            .expect("mock remote object should be stored");
+        assert!(remote_version.is_empty());
+        backend.clear_op_log().await;
+        let mut user_defined = user_defined_with_tier_destination_identity(identity);
+        user_defined.insert("x-minio-internal-transitioned-versionID".to_string(), String::new());
+        let object_info = ObjectInfo {
+            transitioned_object: TransitionedObject {
+                name: remote_object.clone(),
+                version_id: String::new(),
+                tier: tier.to_string(),
+                ..Default::default()
+            },
+            transition_version_state: rustfs_filemeta::TransitionVersionState::Unknown,
+            user_defined: user_defined.into(),
+            ..Default::default()
+        };
+
+        let err = super::delete_free_version_remote_object(&object_info, &manager)
+            .await
+            .expect_err("legacy unversioned cleanup cannot exclude a versioning-state race");
+
+        assert_eq!(err.kind(), std::io::ErrorKind::WouldBlock);
+        assert!(backend.op_log().await.is_empty());
+        assert_eq!(backend.remove_count().await, 0);
+        assert!(backend.remove_versions().await.is_empty());
+    }
+
+    #[cfg(feature = "test-util")]
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn free_version_delete_does_not_remove_a_different_remote_version() {
+        let manager = TierConfigMgr::new();
+        let tier = "WARM";
+        let backend = register_mock_tier(&manager, tier).await;
+        let identity = test_tier_destination_identity(&manager, tier).await;
+        let remote_object = format!("remote/{}", Uuid::new_v4());
+        backend.set_put_remote_version(Some("different-version".to_string())).await;
+        backend
+            .put(
+                &remote_object,
+                ReaderImpl::Body(Bytes::from_static(b"different remote version")),
+                i64::try_from(b"different remote version".len()).expect("body length should fit"),
+            )
+            .await
+            .expect("different remote version should be stored");
+        backend.clear_op_log().await;
+        let mut user_defined = user_defined_with_tier_destination_identity(identity);
+        insert_legacy_transition_version_id(&mut user_defined, "legacy-version");
+        let object_info = ObjectInfo {
+            transitioned_object: TransitionedObject {
+                name: remote_object.clone(),
+                version_id: "legacy-version".to_string(),
+                tier: tier.to_string(),
+                ..Default::default()
+            },
+            transition_version_state: rustfs_filemeta::TransitionVersionState::Unknown,
+            user_defined: user_defined.into(),
+            ..Default::default()
+        };
+
+        super::delete_free_version_remote_object(&object_info, &manager)
+            .await
+            .expect("a missing exact legacy version should be an idempotent cleanup success");
+
+        assert_eq!(backend.op_log().await, vec![MockWarmOp::Get { object: remote_object }]);
+        assert_eq!(backend.remove_count().await, 0);
+        assert!(backend.remove_versions().await.is_empty());
+    }
+
     #[cfg(feature = "test-util")]
     #[tokio::test]
     async fn free_version_remote_delete_requires_persisted_destination_identity() {
diff --git a/crates/ecstore/src/bucket/metadata.rs b/crates/ecstore/src/bucket/metadata.rs
index bd10f0f63..41b2afdc5 100644
--- a/crates/ecstore/src/bucket/metadata.rs
+++ b/crates/ecstore/src/bucket/metadata.rs
@@ -477,6 +477,18 @@ impl BucketMetadata {
         !self.table_bucket_config_json.is_empty()
     }
 
+    /// `bucket-targets.json` is stored for this bucket but this build cannot
+    /// decode it.
+    ///
+    /// Keeps "no replication targets configured" and "the target
+    /// configuration cannot be read" apart, the same distinction the
+    /// `fabricated` marker draws for the bucket metadata as a whole. Only
+    /// meaningful after [`Self::parse_all_configs`] has run; readers must fail
+    /// closed on `true` instead of serving an empty target set.
+    pub fn bucket_targets_unreadable(&self) -> bool {
+        !self.bucket_targets_config_json.is_empty() && self.bucket_target_config.is_none()
+    }
+
     /// Parsed per-bucket durability override, if a valid one is stored.
     ///
     /// Absent/empty/unparsable payloads all mean "no override" (the bucket
@@ -964,7 +976,32 @@ impl BucketMetadata {
         Ok(())
     }
 
-    fn parse_all_configs(&mut self) -> Result<()> {
+    /// Decode every stored sub-configuration into its typed field.
+    ///
+    /// A decode failure never fails the whole load: this runs on every bucket
+    /// metadata read, including startup and peer reload, so one bucket's
+    /// corrupt sub-configuration must not make the bucket — or the node —
+    /// unloadable. Instead the failure is *retained*: the raw bytes stay
+    /// untouched and the typed field stays `None`, so `!raw.is_empty() &&
+    /// typed.is_none()` is the durable "exists but cannot be read" signal that
+    /// each accessor keys off. Which accessors must fail closed on it:
+    ///
+    /// | Config | Verdict |
+    /// |---|---|
+    /// | policy | Fails closed: `get_bucket_policy` re-parses the raw JSON and propagates the error; `get_bucket_policy_raw` returns the stored bytes. |
+    /// | object lock | Fails closed in `object_lock_config_state_from_authoritative_metadata`; a retention decision may never be taken on a guess. |
+    /// | versioning | Fails closed in `get_versioning_config`; guessing Unversioned would make delete markers and version ids diverge from what is on disk. |
+    /// | replication | Fails closed in `get_replication_config`. |
+    /// | bucket targets | Fails closed in `get_bucket_targets_config`, and `sync_bucket_target_sys` marks the bucket unreadable in `BucketTargetSys` instead of publishing an empty target set (rustfs/backlog#2282). |
+    /// | encryption | Fails closed in `get_sse_config`: degrading to "no default encryption" stores plaintext objects the operator required to be encrypted. |
+    /// | public access block | Fails closed in `get_public_access_block_config`: degrading grants the anonymous access the operator asked to block. |
+    /// | quota | Fails closed in `get_quota_config`; the enforcement path in `quota::checker` already re-parses the raw JSON and refuses on error. |
+    /// | lifecycle | Safe to degrade: no rules means no expiration and no transition, so nothing is deleted or moved on the strength of an unreadable rule set. The bucket keeps serving reads and writes. |
+    /// | notification | Safe to degrade: events are an outbound side channel; no consumer draws a durability or authorization conclusion from their absence. |
+    /// | tagging | Safe to degrade: bucket tags are cost-allocation labels here; object-level tag conditions come from object metadata, not this blob. |
+    /// | CORS | Safe to degrade: an absent CORS configuration rejects cross-origin browser requests, which is already the restrictive direction. |
+    /// | logging, website, accelerate, request payment, bucket ACL | Safe to degrade: each only shapes an optional response or an optional side channel, and none of them authorizes an action or decides whether data is retained. |
+    pub(super) fn parse_all_configs(&mut self) -> Result<()> {
         if let Err(e) = self.parse_policy_config() {
             tracing::warn!(
                 event = "bucket_metadata_parse_failed",
@@ -1088,20 +1125,26 @@ impl BucketMetadata {
                 "Failed to parse bucket metadata config"
             );
         }
+        // A stored targets blob that cannot be decoded must not collapse into
+        // the empty target set: that is indistinguishable from "no replication
+        // configured", so replication stops and no caller ever sees an error
+        // (rustfs/backlog#2282). Leaving the typed field `None` while the raw
+        // bytes stay non-empty is the retained parse failure every targets
+        // reader keys off; the bytes are preserved so the configuration is
+        // still recoverable.
+        self.bucket_target_config = None;
         if !self.bucket_targets_config_json.is_empty() {
-            if let Err(e) = serde_json::from_slice::<BucketTargets>(&self.bucket_targets_config_json)
-                .map(|t| self.bucket_target_config = Some(t))
-            {
-                tracing::warn!(
+            match serde_json::from_slice::<BucketTargets>(&self.bucket_targets_config_json) {
+                Ok(targets) => self.bucket_target_config = Some(targets),
+                Err(e) => tracing::error!(
                     event = "bucket_metadata_parse_failed",
                     component = "ecstore",
                     subsystem = "bucket_metadata",
                     bucket = %self.name,
                     config = "bucket_targets",
                     error = %e,
-                    "Failed to parse bucket metadata config"
-                );
-                self.bucket_target_config = Some(BucketTargets::default());
+                    "Bucket replication targets are unreadable; replication for this bucket fails closed"
+                ),
             }
         } else {
             self.bucket_target_config = Some(BucketTargets::default());
@@ -1535,6 +1578,117 @@ mod test {
         assert_eq!(bucket_targets.targets[0].target_bucket, "target-bucket");
     }
 
+    /// rustfs/backlog#2282: a stored targets blob this build cannot decode
+    /// must not become the empty target set, and must stay distinguishable
+    /// from a bucket that never configured a target.
+    #[test]
+    fn unreadable_bucket_targets_never_degrade_to_an_empty_target_set() {
+        let truncated = br#"{"targets":[{"endpoint":"s3.example.com","#.to_vec();
+        let mut corrupt = BucketMetadata::new("corrupt-targets");
+        corrupt.bucket_targets_config_json = truncated.clone();
+
+        corrupt
+            .parse_all_configs()
+            .expect("one unreadable sub-config must not fail the whole metadata load");
+
+        assert!(
+            corrupt.bucket_target_config.is_none(),
+            "an undecodable targets blob must not produce a target set at all"
+        );
+        assert!(corrupt.bucket_targets_unreadable());
+        assert_eq!(
+            corrupt.bucket_targets_config_json, truncated,
+            "the raw bytes must survive so the configuration stays recoverable"
+        );
+
+        // The genuinely-absent case is unchanged, and the two now diverge.
+        let mut absent = BucketMetadata::new("no-targets");
+        absent.parse_all_configs().expect("absent targets parse");
+        assert!(
+            absent.bucket_target_config.as_ref().is_some_and(BucketTargets::is_empty),
+            "a bucket that configured no target still reads as an empty target set"
+        );
+        assert!(!absent.bucket_targets_unreadable());
+    }
+
+    /// `Credentials` carries no struct-level `serde(default)`, so one target
+    /// missing `secretKey` is a hard parse error for the whole document. That
+    /// must surface as "unreadable", never as "no targets configured".
+    #[test]
+    fn bucket_targets_missing_secret_key_are_unreadable_not_empty() {
+        let mut bm = BucketMetadata::new("missing-secret-key");
+        bm.bucket_targets_config_json = br#"{"targets":[{"endpoint":"s3.example.com","targetbucket":"remote","arn":"arn:rustfs:replication:us-east-1:src:1","credentials":{"accessKey":"AKIAEXAMPLE"}}]}"#.to_vec();
+
+        bm.parse_all_configs()
+            .expect("a rejected targets document must not fail the whole metadata load");
+
+        assert!(
+            bm.bucket_targets_unreadable(),
+            "a targets document rejected for a missing secretKey is unreadable, not empty"
+        );
+        assert!(bm.bucket_target_config.is_none());
+    }
+
+    /// The invariant every branch of `parse_all_configs` shares: a stored but
+    /// undecodable payload keeps its raw bytes and leaves the typed field
+    /// `None`, so no branch fabricates a value. What a reader may then do with
+    /// that state is decided per config; see the table on `parse_all_configs`.
+    #[test]
+    fn every_config_branch_retains_its_parse_failure_instead_of_defaulting() {
+        let malformed_xml = b"<not-a-valid-document".to_vec();
+        let malformed_json = b"{not-json".to_vec();
+
+        let mut bm = BucketMetadata::new("all-configs-malformed");
+        bm.policy_config_json = malformed_json.clone();
+        bm.quota_config_json = malformed_json.clone();
+        bm.bucket_targets_config_json = malformed_json.clone();
+        bm.notification_config_xml = malformed_xml.clone();
+        bm.lifecycle_config_xml = malformed_xml.clone();
+        bm.object_lock_config_xml = malformed_xml.clone();
+        bm.versioning_config_xml = malformed_xml.clone();
+        bm.encryption_config_xml = malformed_xml.clone();
+        bm.tagging_config_xml = malformed_xml.clone();
+        bm.replication_config_xml = malformed_xml.clone();
+        bm.cors_config_xml = malformed_xml.clone();
+        bm.logging_config_xml = malformed_xml.clone();
+        bm.website_config_xml = malformed_xml.clone();
+        bm.accelerate_config_xml = malformed_xml.clone();
+        bm.request_payment_config_xml = malformed_xml.clone();
+        bm.public_access_block_config_xml = malformed_xml.clone();
+        // `bucket_acl_config_json` is only checked for UTF-8, so only invalid
+        // UTF-8 exercises its failure branch.
+        bm.bucket_acl_config_json = vec![0xff, 0xfe];
+
+        bm.parse_all_configs()
+            .expect("a bucket whose every config is corrupt must still load its metadata");
+
+        let cleared: [(&str, bool); 17] = [
+            ("policy", bm.policy_config.is_none()),
+            ("quota", bm.quota_config.is_none()),
+            ("bucket_targets", bm.bucket_target_config.is_none()),
+            ("notification", bm.notification_config.is_none()),
+            ("lifecycle", bm.lifecycle_config.is_none()),
+            ("object_lock", bm.object_lock_config.is_none()),
+            ("versioning", bm.versioning_config.is_none()),
+            ("encryption", bm.sse_config.is_none()),
+            ("tagging", bm.tagging_config.is_none()),
+            ("replication", bm.replication_config.is_none()),
+            ("cors", bm.cors_config.is_none()),
+            ("logging", bm.logging_config.is_none()),
+            ("website", bm.website_config.is_none()),
+            ("accelerate", bm.accelerate_config.is_none()),
+            ("request_payment", bm.request_payment_config.is_none()),
+            ("public_access_block", bm.public_access_block_config.is_none()),
+            ("bucket_acl", bm.bucket_acl_config.is_none()),
+        ];
+        for (config, is_cleared) in cleared {
+            assert!(is_cleared, "{config}: a corrupt payload must not be replaced by a default");
+        }
+
+        assert_eq!(bm.bucket_targets_config_json, malformed_json, "raw bytes are retained");
+        assert_eq!(bm.lifecycle_config_xml, malformed_xml, "raw bytes are retained");
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn lifecycle_update_config_clears_parsed_config_on_delete() {
         let mut bm = BucketMetadata::new("test-bucket");
diff --git a/crates/ecstore/src/bucket/metadata_sys.rs b/crates/ecstore/src/bucket/metadata_sys.rs
index 1d3c43133..eb40ed8c9 100644
--- a/crates/ecstore/src/bucket/metadata_sys.rs
+++ b/crates/ecstore/src/bucket/metadata_sys.rs
@@ -360,6 +360,16 @@ async fn refresh_buckets_metadata_once(sys: Arc<RwLock<BucketMetadataSys>>) {
 }
 
 async fn sync_bucket_target_sys(bucket: &str, bm: &BucketMetadata) {
+    if bm.bucket_targets_unreadable() {
+        // "The configuration cannot be read" is not "no targets configured".
+        // Publishing an empty snapshot here is what silently stopped
+        // replication (rustfs/backlog#2282): mark the bucket instead, so every
+        // targets reader gets a typed error, and leave any snapshot from an
+        // earlier readable load in place rather than withdrawing it.
+        BucketTargetSys::get().mark_targets_unreadable(bucket).await;
+        return;
+    }
+
     BucketTargetSys::get()
         .update_all_targets(bucket, bm.bucket_target_config.as_ref())
         .await;
@@ -2118,7 +2128,9 @@ impl BucketMetadataSys {
     pub async fn get_public_access_block_config(&self, bucket: &str) -> Result<(PublicAccessBlockConfiguration, OffsetDateTime)> {
         let (bm, _) = self.get_config(bucket).await?;
 
-        if let Some(config) = &bm.public_access_block_config {
+        if !bm.public_access_block_config_xml.is_empty() && bm.public_access_block_config.is_none() {
+            Err(Error::other("persisted bucket public access block configuration is invalid"))
+        } else if let Some(config) = &bm.public_access_block_config {
             Ok((config.clone(), bm.public_access_block_config_updated_at))
         } else {
             Err(Error::ConfigNotFound)
@@ -2429,7 +2441,9 @@ impl BucketMetadataSys {
     pub async fn get_sse_config(&self, bucket: &str) -> Result<(ServerSideEncryptionConfiguration, OffsetDateTime)> {
         let (bm, _) = self.get_config(bucket).await?;
 
-        if let Some(config) = &bm.sse_config {
+        if !bm.encryption_config_xml.is_empty() && bm.sse_config.is_none() {
+            Err(Error::other("persisted bucket encryption configuration is invalid"))
+        } else if let Some(config) = &bm.sse_config {
             Ok((config.clone(), bm.encryption_config_updated_at))
         } else {
             Err(Error::ConfigNotFound)
@@ -2500,7 +2514,9 @@ impl BucketMetadataSys {
     pub async fn get_quota_config(&self, bucket: &str) -> Result<(BucketQuota, OffsetDateTime)> {
         let (bm, _) = self.get_config(bucket).await?;
 
-        if let Some(config) = &bm.quota_config {
+        if !bm.quota_config_json.is_empty() && bm.quota_config.is_none() {
+            Err(Error::other("persisted bucket quota configuration is invalid"))
+        } else if let Some(config) = &bm.quota_config {
             Ok((config.clone(), bm.quota_config_updated_at))
         } else {
             Err(Error::ConfigNotFound)
@@ -2522,7 +2538,9 @@ impl BucketMetadataSys {
     pub async fn get_bucket_targets_config(&self, bucket: &str) -> Result<BucketTargets> {
         let (bm, _) = self.get_config(bucket).await?;
 
-        if let Some(config) = &bm.bucket_target_config {
+        if bm.bucket_targets_unreadable() {
+            Err(Error::other("persisted bucket replication target configuration is invalid"))
+        } else if let Some(config) = &bm.bucket_target_config {
             Ok(config.clone())
         } else {
             Err(Error::ConfigNotFound)
@@ -2593,6 +2611,7 @@ pub(crate) mod test_support {
 mod tests {
     use super::test_support::isolated_store_over_temp_disks;
     use super::*;
+    use crate::bucket::bucket_target_sys::BucketTargetError;
     use crate::bucket::metadata::{
         BUCKET_ACCELERATE_CONFIG, BUCKET_CORS_CONFIG, BUCKET_LIFECYCLE_CONFIG, BUCKET_LOGGING_CONFIG, BUCKET_NOTIFICATION_CONFIG,
         BUCKET_POLICY_CONFIG, BUCKET_PUBLIC_ACCESS_BLOCK_CONFIG, BUCKET_REPLICATION_CONFIG, BUCKET_REQUEST_PAYMENT_CONFIG,
@@ -2788,6 +2807,36 @@ mod tests {
         );
     }
 
+    /// The `parse_all_configs` audit (rustfs/backlog#2282): every accessor
+    /// whose configuration grants something — plaintext storage, anonymous
+    /// access, capacity, replication targets — reports a corrupt payload as
+    /// invalid rather than as absent, because "absent" is what grants it.
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn malformed_permissive_configs_are_not_reported_as_absent() {
+        let (_dirs, ecstore) = isolated_store_over_temp_disks().await;
+        let sys = BucketMetadataSys::new(ecstore);
+        let bucket = "malformed-permissive-config";
+        let mut metadata = BucketMetadata::new(bucket);
+        metadata.encryption_config_xml = b"<ServerSideEncryptionConfiguration".to_vec();
+        metadata.public_access_block_config_xml = b"<PublicAccessBlockConfiguration".to_vec();
+        metadata.quota_config_json = b"{not-json".to_vec();
+        metadata.bucket_targets_config_json = b"{not-json".to_vec();
+        metadata
+            .parse_all_configs()
+            .expect("a corrupt sub-config must not fail the load");
+        sys.set(bucket.to_string(), Arc::new(metadata)).await;
+
+        for (config, result) in [
+            ("encryption", sys.get_sse_config(bucket).await.err()),
+            ("public access block", sys.get_public_access_block_config(bucket).await.err()),
+            ("quota", sys.get_quota_config(bucket).await.err()),
+            ("bucket targets", sys.get_bucket_targets_config(bucket).await.err()),
+        ] {
+            let err = result.unwrap_or_else(|| panic!("malformed {config} metadata must not read as a value"));
+            assert_ne!(err, Error::ConfigNotFound, "malformed {config} metadata must not be reported as absent");
+        }
+    }
+
     #[tokio::test]
     async fn config_states_distinguish_authoritative_absence_from_fabricated_metadata() {
         use std::sync::atomic::Ordering;
@@ -4066,6 +4115,114 @@ mod tests {
         target_sys.delete(bucket).await;
     }
 
+    /// rustfs/backlog#2282: an unreadable `bucket-targets.json` reaches every
+    /// targets reader as a typed error; it neither withdraws a snapshot a
+    /// previous readable load published, nor collapses into the "no targets
+    /// configured" state that a bucket with an absent configuration reports.
+    #[tokio::test]
+    #[serial]
+    async fn unreadable_bucket_targets_fail_closed_and_stay_distinct_from_absent() {
+        let (_dirs, ecstore) = isolated_store_over_temp_disks().await;
+        let sys = BucketMetadataSys::new(ecstore);
+        let target_sys = BucketTargetSys::get();
+        let unreadable = "targets-unreadable";
+        let absent = "targets-absent";
+        target_sys.delete(unreadable).await;
+        target_sys.delete(absent).await;
+
+        // A readable load publishes this bucket's targets.
+        let mut readable = BucketMetadata::new(unreadable);
+        readable.bucket_target_config = Some(BucketTargets {
+            targets: vec![target(unreadable, "live")],
+        });
+        sync_bucket_target_sys(unreadable, &readable).await;
+        assert_eq!(
+            target_sys
+                .list_bucket_targets(unreadable)
+                .await
+                .expect("readable targets publish")
+                .targets
+                .len(),
+            1
+        );
+
+        // The same bucket reloaded with a blob that cannot be decoded.
+        let mut corrupt = BucketMetadata::new(unreadable);
+        corrupt.bucket_targets_config_json = br#"{"targets":[{"endpoint":"#.to_vec();
+        corrupt
+            .parse_all_configs()
+            .expect("an unreadable targets blob must not fail the metadata load");
+        sys.set(unreadable.to_string(), Arc::new(corrupt)).await;
+
+        assert!(
+            matches!(
+                target_sys.list_bucket_targets(unreadable).await,
+                Err(BucketTargetError::BucketRemoteTargetsUnreadable { .. })
+            ),
+            "an unreadable configuration must not read as an empty or a missing target set"
+        );
+        assert!(
+            target_sys.list_targets(unreadable, "").await.is_err(),
+            "the admin listing must surface the fault instead of an empty list"
+        );
+        let err = sys
+            .get_bucket_targets_config(unreadable)
+            .await
+            .expect_err("an unreadable targets configuration must not read as a value");
+        assert_ne!(err, Error::ConfigNotFound, "unreadable must not be reported as absent");
+
+        // A bucket that never configured a target keeps its previous behavior.
+        let mut no_targets = BucketMetadata::new(absent);
+        no_targets.parse_all_configs().expect("absent targets parse");
+        sys.set(absent.to_string(), Arc::new(no_targets)).await;
+        assert!(
+            matches!(
+                target_sys.list_bucket_targets(absent).await,
+                Err(BucketTargetError::BucketRemoteTargetNotFound { .. })
+            ),
+            "an absent configuration must still report as a missing target set"
+        );
+        assert!(
+            target_sys
+                .list_targets(absent, "")
+                .await
+                .expect("an absent configuration lists no targets")
+                .is_empty()
+        );
+        assert!(
+            sys.get_bucket_targets_config(absent)
+                .await
+                .expect("an absent targets configuration still reads as an empty set")
+                .is_empty(),
+            "the absent path must keep returning an empty target set, exactly as before"
+        );
+
+        // One bucket's unreadable configuration does not reach another bucket.
+        assert!(!matches!(
+            target_sys.list_bucket_targets(absent).await,
+            Err(BucketTargetError::BucketRemoteTargetsUnreadable { .. })
+        ));
+
+        // A repaired configuration takes effect on the next load, no restart.
+        let mut repaired = BucketMetadata::new(unreadable);
+        repaired.bucket_target_config = Some(BucketTargets {
+            targets: vec![target(unreadable, "repaired")],
+        });
+        sync_bucket_target_sys(unreadable, &repaired).await;
+        assert_eq!(
+            target_sys
+                .list_bucket_targets(unreadable)
+                .await
+                .expect("a repaired configuration clears the unreadable marker")
+                .targets
+                .len(),
+            1
+        );
+
+        target_sys.delete(unreadable).await;
+        target_sys.delete(absent).await;
+    }
+
     #[tokio::test]
     #[serial]
     async fn metadata_reload_clears_stale_bucket_targets_when_config_is_removed() {
diff --git a/crates/ecstore/src/bucket/replication/replication_pool.rs b/crates/ecstore/src/bucket/replication/replication_pool.rs
index b3bf828e7..9efa9864e 100644
--- a/crates/ecstore/src/bucket/replication/replication_pool.rs
+++ b/crates/ecstore/src/bucket/replication/replication_pool.rs
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ use super::replication_storage_boundary::{
     HTTPPreconditions, ObjectInfo, ObjectOptions, ObjectToDelete, ReplicationDeletedObject, ReplicationObjectIO,
     ReplicationStorage,
 };
-use super::replication_target_boundary::{ReplicationTargetStore, replication_object_is_ssec_encrypted};
+use super::replication_target_boundary::{BucketTargetError, ReplicationTargetStore, replication_object_is_ssec_encrypted};
 use super::replication_versioning_boundary::ReplicationVersioningStore;
 use super::runtime_boundary as runtime_sources;
 use futures_util::stream::{self, StreamExt};
@@ -3084,6 +3084,23 @@ pub async fn queue_replication_heal(bucket: &str, oi: ObjectInfo, retry_count: u
 
     let tgts = match ReplicationTargetStore::list_bucket_targets(bucket).await {
         Ok(targets) => Some(targets),
+        // A bucket whose persisted target configuration cannot be decoded has
+        // an unknown target set, not an empty one: scheduling against `None`
+        // here would drop every heal for it without a trace
+        // (rustfs/backlog#2282). Report it missed so the object is retried
+        // once the configuration is readable again.
+        Err(BucketTargetError::BucketRemoteTargetsUnreadable { .. }) => {
+            warn!(
+                event = EVENT_REPLICATION_CONFIG_LOOKUP_SKIPPED,
+                component = LOG_COMPONENT_ECSTORE,
+                subsystem = LOG_SUBSYSTEM_REPLICATION,
+                bucket,
+                reason = "target_config_unreadable",
+                "Bucket replication targets are unreadable; replication heal queue fails closed"
+            );
+
+            return ReplicationQueueAdmission::Missed;
+        }
         Err(err) => {
             debug!(
                 event = EVENT_REPLICATION_CONFIG_LOOKUP_SKIPPED,
diff --git a/crates/ecstore/src/bucket/replication/replication_target_boundary.rs b/crates/ecstore/src/bucket/replication/replication_target_boundary.rs
index a5cbf6b34..f7531319e 100644
--- a/crates/ecstore/src/bucket/replication/replication_target_boundary.rs
+++ b/crates/ecstore/src/bucket/replication/replication_target_boundary.rs
@@ -15,7 +15,8 @@
 use std::collections::HashMap;
 use std::sync::Arc;
 
-use crate::bucket::bucket_target_sys::{BucketTargetError, BucketTargetSys};
+pub(crate) use crate::bucket::bucket_target_sys::BucketTargetError;
+use crate::bucket::bucket_target_sys::BucketTargetSys;
 use aws_sdk_s3::operation::head_object::HeadObjectOutput;
 use aws_sdk_s3::types::{ObjectLockLegalHoldStatus, ObjectLockRetentionMode};
 use http::HeaderMap;
diff --git a/crates/ecstore/src/services/tier/test_util.rs b/crates/ecstore/src/services/tier/test_util.rs
index f2c4ddeb6..59b4d6f4e 100644
--- a/crates/ecstore/src/services/tier/test_util.rs
+++ b/crates/ecstore/src/services/tier/test_util.rs
@@ -701,7 +701,7 @@ impl WarmBackend for MockWarmBackend {
         Ok(version)
     }
 
-    async fn get(&self, object: &str, _rv: &str, opts: WarmBackendGetOpts) -> Result<ReadCloser, std::io::Error> {
+    async fn get(&self, object: &str, rv: &str, opts: WarmBackendGetOpts) -> Result<ReadCloser, std::io::Error> {
         self.precondition().await?;
         let barrier = self.inner.get_barrier.lock().await.take();
         if let Some(barrier) = barrier {
@@ -719,6 +719,9 @@ impl WarmBackend for MockWarmBackend {
         let Some(stored) = objects.get(object) else {
             return Err(std::io::Error::new(std::io::ErrorKind::NotFound, "mock object not found"));
         };
+        if !rv.is_empty() && stored.remote_version_id != rv {
+            return Err(std::io::Error::new(std::io::ErrorKind::NotFound, "NoSuchVersion"));
+        }
         let bytes = &stored.bytes;
 
         let start = opts.start_offset.max(0) as usize;
diff --git a/crates/ecstore/src/services/tier/tier.rs b/crates/ecstore/src/services/tier/tier.rs
index 887015a1e..af24423fa 100644
--- a/crates/ecstore/src/services/tier/tier.rs
+++ b/crates/ecstore/src/services/tier/tier.rs
@@ -2346,6 +2346,10 @@ impl WarmBackend for SharedWarmBackendProxy {
         self.0.probe_transition_candidate(object).await
     }
 
+    async fn probe_transition_version(&self, object: &str, remote_version_id: &str) -> io::Result<TransitionCandidateProbe> {
+        self.0.probe_transition_version(object, remote_version_id).await
+    }
+
     async fn in_use(&self) -> io::Result<bool> {
         self.0.in_use().await
     }
@@ -2458,6 +2462,15 @@ impl TierOperationLease {
         Ok(())
     }
 
+    pub(crate) async fn probe_transition_version(
+        &self,
+        object: &str,
+        remote_version_id: &str,
+    ) -> io::Result<TransitionCandidateProbe> {
+        self.validate_remote_version_id(remote_version_id)?;
+        self.inner.driver.probe_transition_version(object, remote_version_id).await
+    }
+
     pub(crate) fn is_current_generation(&self) -> bool {
         lock_unpoisoned(&self.runtime)
             .generations
diff --git a/crates/ecstore/src/services/tier/warm_backend.rs b/crates/ecstore/src/services/tier/warm_backend.rs
index ee48c116c..b5cf4ab38 100644
--- a/crates/ecstore/src/services/tier/warm_backend.rs
+++ b/crates/ecstore/src/services/tier/warm_backend.rs
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ use rustfs_s3_client::credentials::{Credentials, SignatureType, Static, Value};
 use rustfs_s3_client::transition_api::{BucketLookupType, Options, TransitionClient, TransitionCore};
 use rustfs_s3_client::{
     admin_handler_utils::AdminError,
+    api_error_response::to_error_response,
     api_put_object::{AdvancedPutOptions, PutObjectOptions},
     transition_api::{ReadCloser, ReaderImpl},
 };
@@ -48,11 +49,14 @@ use rustfs_utils::egress::validate_outbound_url;
 use rustfs_utils::http::headers::{
     CACHE_CONTROL, CONTENT_DISPOSITION, CONTENT_ENCODING, CONTENT_LANGUAGE, CONTENT_TYPE, EXPIRES, HeaderExt as _,
 };
-use s3s::dto::{ObjectLockLegalHoldStatus, ObjectLockRetentionMode, ReplicationStatus};
 use s3s::header::{
     X_AMZ_OBJECT_LOCK_LEGAL_HOLD, X_AMZ_OBJECT_LOCK_MODE, X_AMZ_OBJECT_LOCK_RETAIN_UNTIL_DATE, X_AMZ_REPLICATION_STATUS,
     X_AMZ_STORAGE_CLASS,
 };
+use s3s::{
+    S3ErrorCode,
+    dto::{ObjectLockLegalHoldStatus, ObjectLockRetentionMode, ReplicationStatus},
+};
 use std::collections::HashMap;
 use std::sync::Arc;
 use std::time::Duration;
@@ -141,6 +145,42 @@ pub trait WarmBackend {
     async fn probe_transition_candidate(&self, _object: &str) -> Result<TransitionCandidateProbe, std::io::Error> {
         Ok(TransitionCandidateProbe::Unsupported)
     }
+    async fn probe_transition_version(
+        &self,
+        object: &str,
+        remote_version_id: &str,
+    ) -> Result<TransitionCandidateProbe, std::io::Error> {
+        if remote_version_id.is_empty() {
+            return Err(std::io::Error::new(
+                std::io::ErrorKind::InvalidInput,
+                "an exact tier probe requires a remote version ID",
+            ));
+        }
+        self.validate_remote_version_id(remote_version_id)?;
+        match self
+            .get(
+                object,
+                remote_version_id,
+                WarmBackendGetOpts {
+                    start_offset: 0,
+                    length: 1,
+                },
+            )
+            .await
+        {
+            Ok(_) => Ok(TransitionCandidateProbe::VersionedPresent(remote_version_id.to_string())),
+            Err(err) if matches!(to_error_response(&err).code, S3ErrorCode::InvalidRange) => {
+                Ok(TransitionCandidateProbe::VersionedPresent(remote_version_id.to_string()))
+            }
+            Err(err)
+                if err.kind() == std::io::ErrorKind::NotFound
+                    || matches!(to_error_response(&err).code, S3ErrorCode::NoSuchKey | S3ErrorCode::NoSuchVersion) =>
+            {
+                Ok(TransitionCandidateProbe::Missing)
+            }
+            Err(err) => Err(err),
+        }
+    }
     async fn in_use(&self) -> Result<bool, std::io::Error>;
 }
 
@@ -437,6 +477,17 @@ impl WarmBackend for MeteredWarmBackend {
         Self::record(TierRequestOperation::Probe, result)
     }
 
+    async fn probe_transition_version(
+        &self,
+        object: &str,
+        remote_version_id: &str,
+    ) -> Result<TransitionCandidateProbe, std::io::Error> {
+        Self::record(
+            TierRequestOperation::Probe,
+            self.inner.probe_transition_version(object, remote_version_id).await,
+        )
+    }
+
     async fn in_use(&self) -> Result<bool, std::io::Error> {
         Self::record(TierRequestOperation::InUse, self.inner.in_use().await)
     }
diff --git a/crates/ecstore/src/services/tier/warm_backend_s3.rs b/crates/ecstore/src/services/tier/warm_backend_s3.rs
index 5462fc52c..b830ea7f2 100644
--- a/crates/ecstore/src/services/tier/warm_backend_s3.rs
+++ b/crates/ecstore/src/services/tier/warm_backend_s3.rs
@@ -529,6 +529,10 @@ mod tests {
                 "HTTP/1.1 404 Not Found\r\nContent-Type: application/xml\r\nContent-Length: 63\r\nConnection: close\r\n\r\n<Error><Code>NoSuchKey</Code><Message>missing</Message></Error>",
                 "HTTP/1.1 404 Not Found\r\nContent-Type: application/xml\r\nContent-Length: 66\r\nConnection: close\r\n\r\n<Error><Code>NoSuchObject</Code><Message>missing</Message></Error>",
                 "HTTP/1.1 403 Forbidden\r\nContent-Type: application/xml\r\nContent-Length: 65\r\nConnection: close\r\n\r\n<Error><Code>AccessDenied</Code><Message>denied</Message></Error>",
+                "HTTP/1.1 404 Not Found\r\nContent-Type: application/xml\r\nContent-Length: 63\r\nConnection: close\r\n\r\n<Error><Code>NoSuchKey</Code><Message>missing</Message></Error>",
+                "HTTP/1.1 416 Range Not Satisfiable\r\nContent-Type: application/xml\r\nContent-Length: 72\r\nConnection: close\r\n\r\n<Error><Code>InvalidRange</Code><Message>empty version</Message></Error>",
+                "HTTP/1.1 404 Not Found\r\nContent-Type: application/xml\r\nContent-Length: 67\r\nConnection: close\r\n\r\n<Error><Code>NoSuchVersion</Code><Message>missing</Message></Error>",
+                "HTTP/1.1 404 Not Found\r\nContent-Type: application/xml\r\nContent-Length: 63\r\nConnection: close\r\n\r\n<Error><Code>NoSuchKey</Code><Message>missing</Message></Error>",
             ];
             let mut requests = Vec::new();
             for response in responses {
@@ -622,15 +626,52 @@ mod tests {
             .await
             .expect_err("an authorization failure must not be mistaken for a missing key");
         assert_eq!(to_error_response(&err).code, S3ErrorCode::AccessDenied);
+        assert_eq!(
+            backend
+                .probe_transition_candidate("delete-marker-hidden")
+                .await
+                .expect("a current delete marker should hide the data version"),
+            TransitionCandidateProbe::Missing
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            backend
+                .probe_transition_version("delete-marker-hidden", "historical-version")
+                .await
+                .expect("the stored historical version should be probed exactly"),
+            TransitionCandidateProbe::VersionedPresent("historical-version".to_string())
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            backend
+                .probe_transition_version("delete-marker-hidden", "missing-version")
+                .await
+                .expect("a missing exact version should be classified"),
+            TransitionCandidateProbe::Missing
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            backend
+                .probe_transition_version("missing-object", "historical-version")
+                .await
+                .expect("a missing key for an exact version probe should be classified"),
+            TransitionCandidateProbe::Missing
+        );
 
         let requests = fixture.await.expect("candidate fixture should join");
-        for request in requests {
+        for request in &requests[..6] {
             let request = request.to_ascii_lowercase();
             assert!(request.starts_with("get /bucket/"), "candidate discovery must use object GET");
             assert!(request.contains("\r\nrange: bytes=0-0\r\n"));
             assert!(!request.contains("?versioning"));
             assert!(!request.contains("?versions"));
         }
+        for request in &requests[6..] {
+            let request = request.to_ascii_lowercase();
+            assert!(request.starts_with("get /bucket/"), "exact discovery must use object GET");
+            assert!(request.contains("\r\nrange: bytes=0-0\r\n"));
+        }
+        assert!(!requests[5].to_ascii_lowercase().contains("versionid="));
+        assert!(requests[6].to_ascii_lowercase().contains("?versionid=historical-version"));
+        assert!(requests[7].to_ascii_lowercase().contains("?versionid=missing-version"));
+        assert!(requests[8].to_ascii_lowercase().contains("?versionid=historical-version"));
     }
 
     fn list_versions(versions: &[(&str, &str)], delete_markers: &[(&str, &str)], is_truncated: bool) -> ListVersionsResult {
diff --git a/crates/ecstore/src/set_disk/mod.rs b/crates/ecstore/src/set_disk/mod.rs
index 1bc87619d..0690d70cb 100644
--- a/crates/ecstore/src/set_disk/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/ecstore/src/set_disk/mod.rs
@@ -876,7 +876,7 @@ pub use ops::multipart::{MultipartCommitBarrier, MultipartCommitPause};
 pub(crate) use ops::object::DeleteObjectCommitBarrier;
 #[cfg(any(test, feature = "test-util"))]
 pub(crate) use ops::object::TransitionCleanupStoreBarrier as SetDiskTransitionCleanupStoreBarrier;
-#[cfg(test)]
+#[cfg(all(test, feature = "test-util"))]
 pub(crate) use ops::object::TransitionUploadedCommitBarrier as SetDiskTransitionUploadedCommitBarrier;
 pub(crate) use ops::object::body_cache_plaintext_len;
 #[cfg(all(test, feature = "test-util"))]
diff --git a/crates/ecstore/src/store/init.rs b/crates/ecstore/src/store/init.rs
index 22d7e37c3..463f50a82 100644
--- a/crates/ecstore/src/store/init.rs
+++ b/crates/ecstore/src/store/init.rs
@@ -11575,6 +11575,7 @@ mod tests {
         pool_index: usize,
         bucket: &str,
         object: &str,
+        minio_unversioned: bool,
     ) {
         for disk_index in 0..4 {
             let metadata_path =
@@ -11608,6 +11609,11 @@ mod tests {
                 ] {
                     rustfs_utils::http::metadata_compat::remove_bytes(&mut object_meta.meta_sys, suffix);
                 }
+                if minio_unversioned {
+                    object_meta
+                        .meta_sys
+                        .insert("x-minio-internal-transitioned-versionID".to_string(), Vec::new());
+                }
                 *shallow = rustfs_filemeta::FileMetaShallowVersion::try_from(version)
                     .expect("legacy transitioned version should re-encode");
             }
@@ -11618,6 +11624,152 @@ mod tests {
         }
     }
 
+    #[cfg(feature = "test-util")]
+    async fn read_store_body(
+        store: &Arc<crate::store::ECStore>,
+        bucket: &str,
+        object: &str,
+        range: Option<HTTPRangeSpec>,
+        opts: &ObjectOptions,
+    ) -> Vec<u8> {
+        let mut reader = store
+            .get_object_reader(bucket, object, range, HeaderMap::new(), opts)
+            .await
+            .expect("object reader should open");
+        let mut body = Vec::new();
+        reader.stream.read_to_end(&mut body).await.expect("object body should drain");
+        body
+    }
+
+    #[cfg(feature = "test-util")]
+    #[tokio::test]
+    #[serial_test::serial(storage_class_env)]
+    async fn legacy_unknown_unversioned_transition_supports_head_get_and_range_without_backfill() {
+        let temp_dir = tempfile::tempdir().expect("create legacy unknown unversioned store dir");
+        let (ctx, store, _shutdown) =
+            without_storage_class_env(build_isolated_test_store(temp_dir.path(), "legacy-unknown-unversioned-read", &[4])).await;
+        crate::bucket::metadata_sys::init_bucket_metadata_sys(store.clone(), Vec::new()).await;
+        let tier_name = "LEGACY-UNKNOWN-UNVERSIONED-READ";
+        let backend = register_mock_tier(&ctx.tier_config_mgr(), tier_name).await;
+        backend.set_put_remote_version(Some(String::new())).await;
+        let bucket = "legacy-unknown-unversioned-read-bucket";
+        let object = "object.bin";
+        let payload = b"legacy unversioned remote tier object remains readable".repeat(1024);
+        store
+            .make_bucket(bucket, &MakeBucketOptions::default())
+            .await
+            .expect("legacy source bucket should be created");
+        let mut reader = PutObjReader::from_vec(payload.clone());
+        let source = store
+            .put_object(bucket, object, &mut reader, &ObjectOptions::default())
+            .await
+            .expect("legacy source should be written");
+        store
+            .transition_object(
+                bucket,
+                object,
+                &ObjectOptions {
+                    transition: TransitionOptions {
+                        status: TRANSITION_PENDING.to_string(),
+                        tier: tier_name.to_string(),
+                        etag: source.etag.clone().expect("legacy source should have an etag"),
+                        ..Default::default()
+                    },
+                    mod_time: source.mod_time,
+                    ..Default::default()
+                },
+            )
+            .await
+            .expect("legacy source should transition");
+        rewrite_transitioned_xlmeta_as_legacy_unknown(temp_dir.path(), 0, bucket, object, true).await;
+        backend.clear_op_log().await;
+
+        let opts = ObjectOptions {
+            metadata_cache_safe: false,
+            ..Default::default()
+        };
+        let head = store
+            .get_object_info(bucket, object, &opts)
+            .await
+            .expect("legacy transitioned HEAD should use local metadata");
+        assert_eq!(head.transition_version_state, rustfs_filemeta::TransitionVersionState::Unknown);
+        assert!(head.transitioned_object.version_id.is_empty());
+        assert_eq!(
+            head.user_defined
+                .get("x-minio-internal-transitioned-versionID")
+                .map(String::as_str),
+            Some(""),
+            "the MinIO empty version-key provenance must survive xl.meta decoding"
+        );
+        assert!(
+            !rustfs_utils::http::metadata_compat::contains_key_str(
+                &head.user_defined,
+                rustfs_utils::http::metadata_compat::SUFFIX_TRANSITIONED_VERSION_STATE,
+            ),
+            "the compatibility read must not synthesize version-state metadata"
+        );
+
+        let full_body = read_store_body(&store, bucket, object, None, &opts).await;
+        assert_eq!(full_body, payload);
+
+        let range = HTTPRangeSpec {
+            is_suffix_length: false,
+            start: 7,
+            end: 38,
+        };
+        let ranged_body = read_store_body(&store, bucket, object, Some(range), &opts).await;
+        assert_eq!(ranged_body, &payload[7..=38]);
+
+        let after_read = store.pools[0]
+            .get_disks_by_key(object)
+            .load_file_info_versions_exact(bucket, object)
+            .await
+            .expect("legacy metadata should remain readable after GET")
+            .expect("legacy object metadata should remain on disk")
+            .versions
+            .into_iter()
+            .find(|version| version.transition_status == rustfs_filemeta::TRANSITION_COMPLETE)
+            .expect("legacy transitioned source should remain visible after GET");
+        assert_eq!(after_read.transition_version_state, rustfs_filemeta::TransitionVersionState::Unknown);
+        assert!(after_read.transition_version.is_none());
+        assert!(after_read.transition_version_id.is_none());
+        assert_eq!(
+            after_read
+                .metadata
+                .get("x-minio-internal-transitioned-versionID")
+                .map(String::as_str),
+            Some(""),
+            "the MinIO empty version-key provenance must remain after GET and Range GET"
+        );
+        assert!(
+            !rustfs_utils::http::metadata_compat::contains_key_str(
+                &after_read.metadata,
+                rustfs_utils::http::metadata_compat::SUFFIX_TRANSITIONED_VERSION_STATE,
+            ),
+            "the compatibility read must remain side-effect free"
+        );
+
+        assert_eq!(
+            backend.op_log().await,
+            vec![
+                MockWarmOp::Probe {
+                    object: after_read.transitioned_objname.clone(),
+                },
+                MockWarmOp::Get {
+                    object: after_read.transitioned_objname.clone(),
+                },
+                MockWarmOp::Probe {
+                    object: after_read.transitioned_objname.clone(),
+                },
+                MockWarmOp::Get {
+                    object: after_read.transitioned_objname,
+                },
+            ],
+            "legacy reads should probe before each unversioned GET and never mutate local metadata"
+        );
+        assert_eq!(backend.remove_count().await, 0);
+    }
+
     #[cfg(feature = "test-util")]
     #[tokio::test]
     #[serial_test::serial(storage_class_env)]
@@ -11658,7 +11810,7 @@ mod tests {
                 )
                 .await
                 .expect("legacy source should transition");
-            rewrite_transitioned_xlmeta_as_legacy_unknown(temp_dir.path(), 0, bucket, object).await;
+            rewrite_transitioned_xlmeta_as_legacy_unknown(temp_dir.path(), 0, bucket, object, false).await;
             let legacy = store.pools[0]
                 .get_disks_by_key(object)
                 .load_file_info_versions_exact(bucket, object)
@@ -12799,7 +12951,7 @@ mod tests {
                 .expect("merge-loser source should transition");
             copy_test_xlmeta_between_pools(temp_dir.path(), 0, 1, bucket, object).await;
         }
-        rewrite_transitioned_xlmeta_as_legacy_unknown(temp_dir.path(), 1, bucket, "legacy/item.bin").await;
+        rewrite_transitioned_xlmeta_as_legacy_unknown(temp_dir.path(), 1, bucket, "legacy/item.bin", false).await;
         backend.set_remove_failure(true);
         store.pools[1]
             .delete_object(bucket, "hidden/item.bin", ObjectOptions::default())
@@ -16866,6 +17018,10 @@ mod tests {
                             .find(|version| version.version_id == history.version_id)
                             .expect("transitioned history should exist");
                         transitioned.transition_version_state = rustfs_filemeta::TransitionVersionState::Unknown;
+                        rustfs_utils::http::metadata_compat::remove_str(
+                            &mut transitioned.metadata,
+                            rustfs_utils::http::metadata_compat::SUFFIX_TRANSITIONED_VERSION_STATE,
+                        );
                         metadata
                             .add_version(transitioned)
                             .expect("unknown state should replace the transitioned version");
diff --git a/crates/ecstore/src/store/mod.rs b/crates/ecstore/src/store/mod.rs
index 77aaf98c8..8a4579e1b 100644
--- a/crates/ecstore/src/store/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/ecstore/src/store/mod.rs
@@ -425,7 +425,7 @@ pub(crate) mod init_format;
 pub(crate) mod list_objects;
 mod multipart;
 mod object;
-#[cfg(any(test, feature = "test-util"))]
+#[cfg(feature = "test-util")]
 pub use object::DeleteAfterObjectLockSnapshotBarrier;
 pub(crate) use object::{
     DecommissionFixedReadAnchor, ObjectLockDiagGuard, RemoteTuplePublicationCommitGuard, RemoteTuplePublicationFence,
diff --git a/crates/filemeta/src/filemeta/version.rs b/crates/filemeta/src/filemeta/version.rs
index f0969c3cf..42aa5a74d 100644
--- a/crates/filemeta/src/filemeta/version.rs
+++ b/crates/filemeta/src/filemeta/version.rs
@@ -297,6 +297,20 @@ fn transitioned_version_from_bytes(value: Option<&[u8]>, state: TransitionVersio
     }
 }
 
+fn transition_version_metadata_value(raw: &[u8], decoded: Option<&str>) -> String {
+    decoded.map(str::to_owned).unwrap_or_else(|| {
+        if raw.is_empty() {
+            String::new()
+        } else {
+            String::from_utf8_lossy(raw).into_owned()
+        }
+    })
+}
+
+fn is_transition_version_metadata_key(key: &str) -> bool {
+    strip_internal_prefix_preserving_case(key).is_some_and(|suffix| suffix.eq_ignore_ascii_case(SUFFIX_TRANSITIONED_VERSION_ID))
+}
+
 fn validate_transition_version_state(state: TransitionVersionState, version: Option<&str>) -> Result<()> {
     let valid = match state {
         TransitionVersionState::Unknown | TransitionVersionState::KnownDisabled => version.is_none(),
@@ -366,14 +380,26 @@ impl<'a> DerivedInternalMetadata<'a> {
             }
             *slot = Some(value.as_slice());
         }
+        fn merge_consistent<'a>(canonical: Option<&'a [u8]>, legacy: Option<&'a [u8]>) -> Result<Option<&'a [u8]>> {
+            if let (Some(canonical), Some(legacy)) = (canonical, legacy)
+                && canonical != legacy
+            {
+                return Err(Error::FileCorrupt);
+            }
+            Ok(canonical.or(legacy))
+        }
+
         Ok(Self {
             checksum: canonical.checksum.or(legacy.checksum),
             part_checksums: canonical.part_checksums.or(legacy.part_checksums),
-            transition_status: canonical.transition_status.or(legacy.transition_status),
-            transitioned_object: canonical.transitioned_object.or(legacy.transitioned_object),
-            transitioned_version: canonical.transitioned_version.or(legacy.transitioned_version),
-            transitioned_version_state: canonical.transitioned_version_state.or(legacy.transitioned_version_state),
-            transition_tier: canonical.transition_tier.or(legacy.transition_tier),
+            transition_status: merge_consistent(canonical.transition_status, legacy.transition_status)?,
+            transitioned_object: merge_consistent(canonical.transitioned_object, legacy.transitioned_object)?,
+            transitioned_version: merge_consistent(canonical.transitioned_version, legacy.transitioned_version)?,
+            transitioned_version_state: merge_consistent(
+                canonical.transitioned_version_state,
+                legacy.transitioned_version_state,
+            )?,
+            transition_tier: merge_consistent(canonical.transition_tier, legacy.transition_tier)?,
         })
     }
 }
@@ -438,8 +464,14 @@ impl FileInfo {
     }
 }
 
-fn set_transition_version_state(meta_sys: &mut HashMap<String, Vec<u8>>, state: TransitionVersionState) {
-    if state == TransitionVersionState::Unknown {
+fn set_transition_version_state(
+    meta_sys: &mut HashMap<String, Vec<u8>>,
+    state: TransitionVersionState,
+    source_metadata: &HashMap<String, String>,
+) {
+    if state == TransitionVersionState::Unknown
+        && !rustfs_utils::http::metadata_compat::contains_key_str(source_metadata, SUFFIX_TRANSITIONED_VERSION_STATE)
+    {
         remove_bytes(meta_sys, SUFFIX_TRANSITIONED_VERSION_STATE);
     } else {
         insert_bytes(meta_sys, SUFFIX_TRANSITIONED_VERSION_STATE, state.as_str().as_bytes().to_vec());
@@ -2643,6 +2675,11 @@ impl MetaObject {
         if derived_metadata.transitioned_version_state.is_some() {
             validate_transition_version_state(transition_version_state, transition_version.as_deref())?;
         }
+        for (key, value) in &self.meta_sys {
+            if is_transition_version_metadata_key(key) {
+                metadata.insert(key.to_owned(), transition_version_metadata_value(value, transition_version.as_deref()));
+            }
+        }
         let transition_version_id = transition_version.as_deref().and_then(|value| Uuid::parse_str(value).ok());
         let transition_tier = derived_metadata
             .transition_tier
@@ -2689,7 +2726,7 @@ impl MetaObject {
         } else {
             remove_bytes(&mut self.meta_sys, SUFFIX_TRANSITIONED_VERSION_ID);
         }
-        set_transition_version_state(&mut self.meta_sys, fi.transition_version_state);
+        set_transition_version_state(&mut self.meta_sys, fi.transition_version_state, &fi.metadata);
         insert_bytes(&mut self.meta_sys, SUFFIX_TRANSITION_TIER, fi.transition_tier.as_bytes().to_vec());
         if let Some(destination_id) = get_str(&fi.metadata, SUFFIX_TRANSITION_TIER_DESTINATION_ID) {
             insert_bytes(&mut self.meta_sys, SUFFIX_TRANSITION_TIER_DESTINATION_ID, destination_id.into_bytes());
@@ -2830,7 +2867,7 @@ impl From<FileInfo> for MetaObject {
             insert_bytes(&mut meta_sys, SUFFIX_TRANSITIONED_VERSION_ID, transition_version);
         }
         if !value.transition_status.is_empty() {
-            set_transition_version_state(&mut meta_sys, value.transition_version_state);
+            set_transition_version_state(&mut meta_sys, value.transition_version_state, &value.metadata);
         }
 
         if !value.transition_tier.is_empty() {
@@ -2985,6 +3022,12 @@ impl MetaDeleteMarker {
             fi.transition_version_state = transition_version_state_from_bytes(derived_metadata.transitioned_version_state)?;
             fi.transition_version =
                 transitioned_version_from_bytes(derived_metadata.transitioned_version, fi.transition_version_state);
+            for (key, value) in &self.meta_sys {
+                if is_transition_version_metadata_key(key) {
+                    fi.metadata
+                        .insert(key.to_owned(), transition_version_metadata_value(value, fi.transition_version.as_deref()));
+                }
+            }
             fi.transition_version_id = fi.transition_version.as_deref().and_then(|value| Uuid::parse_str(value).ok());
             if derived_metadata.transitioned_version_state.is_some() {
                 validate_transition_version_state(fi.transition_version_state, fi.transition_version.as_deref())?;
@@ -3152,7 +3195,7 @@ impl From<FileInfo> for MetaDeleteMarker {
             insert_bytes(&mut meta_sys, SUFFIX_TRANSITIONED_VERSION_ID, transition_version);
         }
         if !value.transition_status.is_empty() || value.tier_free_version() {
-            set_transition_version_state(&mut meta_sys, value.transition_version_state);
+            set_transition_version_state(&mut meta_sys, value.transition_version_state, &value.metadata);
         }
         if !value.transition_tier.is_empty() {
             insert_bytes(&mut meta_sys, SUFFIX_TRANSITION_TIER, value.transition_tier.as_bytes().to_vec());
@@ -4574,6 +4617,7 @@ mod tests {
             .into_fileinfo("b", "k", false)
             .expect("into_fileinfo");
         assert_eq!(fi.transition_version_id, None);
+        assert_eq!(get_str(&fi.metadata, SUFFIX_TRANSITIONED_VERSION_ID), Some(String::new()));
     }
 
     #[test]
@@ -4585,6 +4629,10 @@ mod tests {
             .into_fileinfo("b", "k", false)
             .expect("into_fileinfo");
         assert_eq!(fi.transition_version_id, None);
+        assert!(
+            get_str(&fi.metadata, SUFFIX_TRANSITIONED_VERSION_ID).is_some_and(|value| !value.is_empty()),
+            "nil UUID bytes must remain distinguishable from an empty MinIO version"
+        );
     }
 
     #[test]
@@ -4598,6 +4646,7 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(fi.transition_version_id, Some(id));
         assert_eq!(fi.transition_version, Some(id.to_string()));
         assert_eq!(fi.transition_version_state, TransitionVersionState::Unknown);
+        assert_eq!(get_str(&fi.metadata, SUFFIX_TRANSITIONED_VERSION_ID), Some(id.to_string()));
     }
 
     #[test]
@@ -4637,6 +4686,36 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(fi.transition_version_state, TransitionVersionState::Unknown);
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn meta_object_transition_version_state_explicit_unknown_is_not_legacy_missing() {
+        let mut metadata = HashMap::new();
+        rustfs_utils::http::metadata_compat::insert_str(
+            &mut metadata,
+            SUFFIX_TRANSITIONED_VERSION_STATE,
+            TransitionVersionState::Unknown.as_str().to_string(),
+        );
+        let fi = FileInfo {
+            transition_status: "complete".to_string(),
+            transition_version_state: TransitionVersionState::Unknown,
+            metadata,
+            ..Default::default()
+        };
+
+        let object = MetaObject::from(fi);
+        assert_eq!(
+            get_consistent_bytes(&object.meta_sys, SUFFIX_TRANSITIONED_VERSION_STATE),
+            Some(b"unknown".as_slice())
+        );
+        let decoded = object
+            .into_fileinfo("b", "k", false)
+            .expect("explicit unknown state should decode");
+        assert_eq!(decoded.transition_version_state, TransitionVersionState::Unknown);
+        assert_eq!(
+            rustfs_utils::http::metadata_compat::get_consistent_str(&decoded.metadata, SUFFIX_TRANSITIONED_VERSION_STATE,),
+            Some("unknown")
+        );
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn meta_object_transition_version_state_exact_round_trips_dual_keys() {
         let id = sample_version_id();
@@ -4753,6 +4832,10 @@ mod tests {
             .expect("invalid transition version bytes must not fail the object read");
         assert_eq!(fi.transition_version_id, None);
         assert_eq!(fi.transition_version, None);
+        assert!(
+            get_str(&fi.metadata, SUFFIX_TRANSITIONED_VERSION_ID).is_some_and(|value| !value.is_empty()),
+            "invalid raw bytes must remain distinguishable from an empty MinIO version"
+        );
     }
 
     #[test]
@@ -4795,6 +4878,10 @@ mod tests {
         .into_fileinfo("b", "k", false)
         .expect("nil tier version should remain an absent remote version");
         assert_eq!(fi.transition_version_id, None);
+        assert!(
+            get_str(&fi.metadata, SUFFIX_TRANSITIONED_VERSION_ID).is_some_and(|value| !value.is_empty()),
+            "nil UUID bytes must remain distinguishable from an empty MinIO version"
+        );
     }
 
     #[test]
@@ -4812,6 +4899,7 @@ mod tests {
         .expect("legacy binary UUID tier version should decode");
         assert_eq!(fi.transition_version_id, Some(id));
         assert_eq!(fi.transition_version, Some(id.to_string()));
+        assert_eq!(get_str(&fi.metadata, SUFFIX_TRANSITIONED_VERSION_ID), Some(id.to_string()));
     }
 
     #[test]
@@ -4910,6 +4998,23 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(err, Error::FileCorrupt);
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn meta_object_transition_version_state_mixed_case_alias_conflict_fails_closed() {
+        let sys = HashMap::from([
+            (
+                format!("{RUSTFS_INTERNAL_PREFIX}{SUFFIX_TRANSITIONED_VERSION_STATE}"),
+                b"unknown".to_vec(),
+            ),
+            ("X-Minio-Internal-transitioned-version-state".to_string(), b"exact".to_vec()),
+        ]);
+
+        let err = make_meta_object_with_sys(sys)
+            .into_fileinfo("b", "k", false)
+            .expect_err("mixed-case transition state aliases must agree");
+
+        assert_eq!(err, Error::FileCorrupt);
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn version_header_sorts_before_prefers_object_over_delete_marker_on_equal_mod_time() {
         let object = FileMetaVersionHeader {
diff --git a/rustfs/src/admin/handlers/replication.rs b/rustfs/src/admin/handlers/replication.rs
index b2b2b80dc..b7bf5ef78 100644
--- a/rustfs/src/admin/handlers/replication.rs
+++ b/rustfs/src/admin/handlers/replication.rs
@@ -121,6 +121,11 @@ fn map_bucket_target_error(err: BucketTargetError) -> S3Error {
         | BucketTargetError::BucketRemoteRemoveDisallowed { .. } => {
             S3Error::with_message(S3ErrorCode::InvalidRequest, err.to_string())
         }
+        // A stored target configuration this node cannot decode is a
+        // server-side data fault, not a bad request (rustfs/backlog#2282).
+        BucketTargetError::BucketRemoteTargetsUnreadable { .. } => {
+            S3Error::with_message(S3ErrorCode::InternalError, err.to_string())
+        }
         BucketTargetError::Io(io_err) => S3Error::with_message(S3ErrorCode::InternalError, io_err.to_string()),
     }
 }
@@ -753,7 +758,12 @@ impl Operation for ListRemoteTargetHandler {
                 .map_err(ApiError::from)?;
 
             let sys = BucketTargetSys::get();
-            let targets = sys.list_targets(bucket, "").await;
+            // An unreadable targets configuration must not be reported as an
+            // empty target list (rustfs/backlog#2282).
+            let targets = sys.list_targets(bucket, "").await.map_err(|e| {
+                error!("list remote targets failed: {}", e);
+                map_bucket_target_error(e)
+            })?;
 
             let targets: Vec<_> = targets
                 .iter()
diff --git a/rustfs/src/app/object/copy.rs b/rustfs/src/app/object/copy.rs
index fb9496c13..13393f797 100644
--- a/rustfs/src/app/object/copy.rs
+++ b/rustfs/src/app/object/copy.rs
@@ -394,7 +394,7 @@ impl DefaultObjectUsecase {
         // Bucket metadata uses the bucket name as its namespace-lock key. Load
         // every copy-time bucket snapshot before a same-object key can collide
         // with that key (for example, copying `bucket/bucket` onto itself).
-        let bucket_sse_config = metadata_sys::get_sse_config(&bucket).await.ok();
+        let bucket_sse_config = load_bucket_default_sse_config(&bucket).await?;
         let object_lock_config_state = load_bucket_object_lock_config_state(&bucket).await?;
         if cp_src_dst_same && key == bucket {
             dst_opts.object_lock_config_snapshot =
@@ -1388,4 +1388,48 @@ mod tests {
             .unwrap_err();
         assert_eq!(err.code(), &S3ErrorCode::InvalidRequest);
     }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    #[serial_test::serial]
+    async fn execute_copy_object_refuses_a_bucket_whose_encryption_config_is_unreadable() {
+        use crate::app::storage_api::test::contract::bucket::{BucketOperations as _, MakeBucketOptions};
+
+        let (store, context) = real_store_test_context().await;
+        let bucket = format!("copy-sse-unreadable-{}", Uuid::new_v4());
+        let source = "source.bin";
+        let destination = "destination.bin";
+        store
+            .make_bucket(&bucket, &MakeBucketOptions::default())
+            .await
+            .expect("unreadable-encryption copy bucket must be created");
+        let mut reader = PutObjReader::from_vec(b"copied while the bucket still had a readable configuration".to_vec());
+        store
+            .put_object(&bucket, source, &mut reader, &ObjectOptions::default())
+            .await
+            .expect("copy source object must be written");
+        install_unreadable_bucket_sse_config(&bucket).await;
+
+        let input = CopyObjectInput::builder()
+            .copy_source(CopySource::Bucket {
+                bucket: bucket.clone().into(),
+                key: source.into(),
+                version_id: None,
+            })
+            .bucket(bucket.clone())
+            .key(destination.to_string())
+            .build()
+            .expect("copy input must build");
+        let usecase = DefaultObjectUsecase::with_context(Some(Arc::clone(&context)));
+
+        let err = Box::pin(usecase.execute_copy_object(build_request(input, Method::PUT)))
+            .await
+            .expect_err("an unreadable bucket encryption configuration must refuse the copy");
+
+        assert_eq!(err.code(), &S3ErrorCode::InternalError);
+        let lookup_err = store
+            .get_object_info(&bucket, destination, &ObjectOptions::default())
+            .await
+            .expect_err("a refused copy must not leave a destination object behind");
+        assert!(is_err_object_not_found(&lookup_err), "{lookup_err}");
+    }
 }
diff --git a/rustfs/src/app/object/extract.rs b/rustfs/src/app/object/extract.rs
index e5b7fb4da..2db042fa3 100644
--- a/rustfs/src/app/object/extract.rs
+++ b/rustfs/src/app/object/extract.rs
@@ -2037,7 +2037,7 @@ impl DefaultObjectUsecase {
         let sse_customer_key_md5 = sse_customer_key_md5.or(h_md5);
 
         let original_sse = server_side_encryption.or(extract_server_side_encryption_from_headers(&req.headers)?);
-        let bucket_sse_config = metadata_sys::get_sse_config(&bucket).await.ok();
+        let bucket_sse_config = load_bucket_default_sse_config(&bucket).await?;
         let (mut effective_sse, mut effective_kms_key_id) = resolve_bucket_default_sse(
             bucket_sse_config.as_ref().map(|(config, _timestamp)| config),
             original_sse,
diff --git a/rustfs/src/app/object/put.rs b/rustfs/src/app/object/put.rs
index d108b1885..86d6e255a 100644
--- a/rustfs/src/app/object/put.rs
+++ b/rustfs/src/app/object/put.rs
@@ -1485,8 +1485,9 @@ impl DefaultObjectUsecase {
         };
 
         let sse_config_stage_start = put_stage_metrics_enabled.then(Instant::now);
-        let bucket_sse_config = metadata_sys::get_sse_config(&bucket).await.ok();
+        let bucket_sse_config = load_bucket_default_sse_config(&bucket).await;
         rustfs_io_metrics::record_put_object_stage_duration_from("app_sse_config_lookup", sse_config_stage_start);
+        let bucket_sse_config = bucket_sse_config?;
         debug!(
             target: "rustfs::app::object_usecase",
             component = "app",
@@ -3912,4 +3913,121 @@ mod tests {
             .expect_err("writes after the zero-byte quota update must be denied");
         assert!(matches!(err, StorageError::QuotaExceeded { current: 4096, limit: 0 }));
     }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    #[serial_test::serial]
+    async fn execute_put_object_refuses_a_bucket_whose_encryption_config_is_unreadable() {
+        use crate::app::storage_api::test::contract::bucket::{BucketOperations as _, MakeBucketOptions};
+
+        let (store, context) = real_store_test_context().await;
+        let bucket = format!("put-sse-unreadable-{}", Uuid::new_v4());
+        let object = "object.bin";
+        store
+            .make_bucket(&bucket, &MakeBucketOptions::default())
+            .await
+            .expect("unreadable-encryption PUT bucket must be created");
+        install_unreadable_bucket_sse_config(&bucket).await;
+
+        let payload = Bytes::from_static(b"an operator mandated encryption for this bucket");
+        let input = PutObjectInput::builder()
+            .bucket(bucket.clone())
+            .key(object.to_string())
+            .body(Some(StreamingBlob::from(s3s::Body::from(payload.clone()))))
+            .content_length(Some(i64::try_from(payload.len()).expect("test payload length must fit i64")))
+            .build()
+            .expect("PUT input must build");
+        let usecase = DefaultObjectUsecase::with_context(Some(Arc::clone(&context)));
+
+        let err = Box::pin(usecase.execute_put_object(&FS::new(), build_request(input, Method::PUT)))
+            .await
+            .expect_err("an unreadable bucket encryption configuration must refuse the write");
+
+        assert_eq!(err.code(), &S3ErrorCode::InternalError);
+        let lookup_err = store
+            .get_object_info(&bucket, object, &ObjectOptions::default())
+            .await
+            .expect_err("a refused PUT must not leave an object behind");
+        assert!(is_err_object_not_found(&lookup_err), "{lookup_err}");
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    #[serial_test::serial]
+    async fn execute_put_object_still_writes_plaintext_without_bucket_encryption() {
+        use crate::app::storage_api::test::contract::bucket::{BucketOperations as _, MakeBucketOptions};
+
+        let (store, context) = real_store_test_context().await;
+        let bucket = format!("put-sse-absent-{}", Uuid::new_v4());
+        let object = "object.bin";
+        store
+            .make_bucket(&bucket, &MakeBucketOptions::default())
+            .await
+            .expect("plaintext PUT bucket must be created");
+
+        let payload = Bytes::from_static(b"no default encryption is configured for this bucket");
+        let input = PutObjectInput::builder()
+            .bucket(bucket.clone())
+            .key(object.to_string())
+            .body(Some(StreamingBlob::from(s3s::Body::from(payload.clone()))))
+            .content_length(Some(i64::try_from(payload.len()).expect("test payload length must fit i64")))
+            .build()
+            .expect("PUT input must build");
+        let usecase = DefaultObjectUsecase::with_context(Some(Arc::clone(&context)));
+
+        Box::pin(usecase.execute_put_object(&FS::new(), build_request(input, Method::PUT)))
+            .await
+            .expect("a bucket without default encryption must still accept a plaintext write");
+
+        let stored = store
+            .get_object_info(&bucket, object, &ObjectOptions::default())
+            .await
+            .expect("the plaintext object must be readable");
+        assert_eq!(stored.size, i64::try_from(payload.len()).expect("test payload length must fit i64"));
+        assert!(
+            !stored
+                .user_defined
+                .keys()
+                .any(|key| key.eq_ignore_ascii_case(AMZ_SERVER_SIDE_ENCRYPTION)
+                    || key.starts_with("x-rustfs-encryption-")
+                    || key.starts_with("x-minio-encryption-")),
+            "the object must carry no encryption metadata: {:?}",
+            stored.user_defined
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    #[serial_test::serial]
+    async fn execute_put_object_extract_refuses_a_bucket_whose_encryption_config_is_unreadable() {
+        use crate::app::storage_api::test::contract::bucket::{BucketOperations as _, MakeBucketOptions};
+
+        let (store, context) = real_store_test_context().await;
+        let bucket = format!("extract-sse-unreadable-{}", Uuid::new_v4());
+        store
+            .make_bucket(&bucket, &MakeBucketOptions::default())
+            .await
+            .expect("unreadable-encryption extract bucket must be created");
+        install_unreadable_bucket_sse_config(&bucket).await;
+
+        let payload = Bytes::from_static(b"archive bytes that must never be unpacked in plaintext");
+        let input = PutObjectInput::builder()
+            .bucket(bucket.clone())
+            .key("archive.tar".to_string())
+            .body(Some(StreamingBlob::from(s3s::Body::from(payload.clone()))))
+            .content_length(Some(i64::try_from(payload.len()).expect("test payload length must fit i64")))
+            .build()
+            .expect("extract PUT input must build");
+        let mut req = build_request(input, Method::PUT);
+        req.headers.insert(AMZ_SNOWBALL_EXTRACT, HeaderValue::from_static("true"));
+        let usecase = DefaultObjectUsecase::with_context(Some(Arc::clone(&context)));
+
+        let err = Box::pin(usecase.execute_put_object(&FS::new(), req))
+            .await
+            .expect_err("an unreadable bucket encryption configuration must refuse the extract upload");
+
+        assert_eq!(err.code(), &S3ErrorCode::InternalError);
+        let lookup_err = store
+            .get_object_info(&bucket, "archive.tar", &ObjectOptions::default())
+            .await
+            .expect_err("a refused extract upload must not leave an object behind");
+        assert!(is_err_object_not_found(&lookup_err), "{lookup_err}");
+    }
 }
diff --git a/rustfs/src/app/object/shared.rs b/rustfs/src/app/object/shared.rs
index bb382ec11..c35619edb 100644
--- a/rustfs/src/app/object/shared.rs
+++ b/rustfs/src/app/object/shared.rs
@@ -269,6 +269,129 @@ pub(super) fn resolve_bucket_default_sse(
     (effective_sse, effective_kms_key_id)
 }
 
+/// The bucket's default encryption configuration for a write path.
+///
+/// `Ok(None)` carries one meaning only — this bucket has no default encryption
+/// — and the write proceeds in plaintext exactly as before. Every other
+/// outcome refuses the write rather than collapsing onto that same value: an
+/// encryption blob that exists but cannot be read fails closed in
+/// `get_sse_config` since rustfs/rustfs#7172, and swallowing that error here
+/// stores plaintext into a bucket whose operator mandated encryption, with
+/// nothing returned to the client and nothing in the object to tell it apart
+/// afterwards (rustfs/backlog#2287).
+///
+/// The states the lookup can report, and what each one does:
+///
+/// * configured and readable — apply the bucket default;
+/// * no encryption blob at all, including a bucket that does not exist and a
+///   bucket whose metadata document is absent — `ConfigNotFound`, so a cold
+///   cache and a missing bucket are never turned into a refusal, and the write
+///   still fails later with its own `NoSuchBucket`;
+/// * blob present but unparseable — deterministic, so retrying cannot help;
+///   surfaces as `InternalError` until an operator repairs or removes it;
+/// * the metadata read itself failed (namespace lock, quorum, disk, an
+///   uninitialized metadata system) — transient, and the typed error maps to
+///   the retryable `ServiceUnavailable`.
+///
+/// The last two are distinguished by the typed error the accessor returns, not
+/// re-derived here: [`ApiError`] already separates them. This mirrors
+/// `prepare_sse_configuration` in `storage::sse`, the resolver the multipart
+/// writer uses, which has always failed closed on the same lookup.
+pub(super) async fn load_bucket_default_sse_config(
+    bucket: &str,
+) -> S3Result<Option<(ServerSideEncryptionConfiguration, OffsetDateTime)>> {
+    classify_bucket_default_sse_lookup(bucket, metadata_sys::get_sse_config(bucket).await)
+}
+
+fn classify_bucket_default_sse_lookup(
+    bucket: &str,
+    lookup: Result<(ServerSideEncryptionConfiguration, OffsetDateTime), StorageError>,
+) -> S3Result<Option<(ServerSideEncryptionConfiguration, OffsetDateTime)>> {
+    match lookup {
+        Ok(config) => Ok(Some(config)),
+        Err(err) if err == StorageError::ConfigNotFound => Ok(None),
+        Err(err) => {
+            let api_error = ApiError::from(err);
+            error!(
+                event = "bucket_sse_config_lookup_failed",
+                component = LOG_COMPONENT_APP,
+                subsystem = LOG_SUBSYSTEM_OBJECT,
+                result = "write_refused",
+                bucket = %bucket,
+                code = %api_error.code.as_str(),
+                error = %api_error,
+                "Bucket default encryption is unreadable; refusing the write instead of storing plaintext"
+            );
+            Err(api_error.into())
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod bucket_default_sse_lookup_tests {
+    use super::*;
+    use s3s::dto::{ServerSideEncryptionByDefault, ServerSideEncryptionRule};
+    use time::OffsetDateTime;
+
+    fn sse_config() -> ServerSideEncryptionConfiguration {
+        ServerSideEncryptionConfiguration {
+            rules: vec![ServerSideEncryptionRule {
+                apply_server_side_encryption_by_default: Some(ServerSideEncryptionByDefault {
+                    sse_algorithm: ServerSideEncryption::from_static(ServerSideEncryption::AES256),
+                    kms_master_key_id: None,
+                }),
+                blocked_encryption_types: None,
+                bucket_key_enabled: None,
+            }],
+        }
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn an_absent_configuration_still_writes_plaintext() {
+        let resolved = classify_bucket_default_sse_lookup("bucket", Err(StorageError::ConfigNotFound))
+            .expect("a bucket without default encryption must keep writing plaintext");
+
+        assert!(resolved.is_none());
+        assert_eq!(resolve_bucket_default_sse(None, None, None, false), (None, None));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn a_readable_configuration_is_returned() {
+        let resolved = classify_bucket_default_sse_lookup("bucket", Ok((sse_config(), OffsetDateTime::UNIX_EPOCH)))
+            .expect("a readable configuration must not refuse the write")
+            .expect("a readable configuration must be applied");
+
+        assert_eq!(resolved.0.rules.len(), 1);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn an_unreadable_configuration_refuses_the_write() {
+        let err = classify_bucket_default_sse_lookup(
+            "bucket",
+            Err(StorageError::other("persisted bucket encryption configuration is invalid")),
+        )
+        .expect_err("a corrupt encryption blob must never degrade to plaintext");
+
+        assert_eq!(err.code(), &S3ErrorCode::InternalError);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn an_unavailable_metadata_read_refuses_the_write_as_retryable() {
+        let err = classify_bucket_default_sse_lookup("bucket", Err(StorageError::ErasureReadQuorum))
+            .expect_err("an unreadable metadata subsystem must never degrade to plaintext");
+
+        assert_eq!(err.code(), &S3ErrorCode::ServiceUnavailable);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn a_missing_bucket_keeps_its_own_error() {
+        let err = classify_bucket_default_sse_lookup("bucket", Err(StorageError::BucketNotFound("bucket".to_string())))
+            .expect_err("a bucket-not-found lookup must not be reported as an encryption failure");
+
+        assert_eq!(err.code(), &S3ErrorCode::NoSuchBucket);
+    }
+}
+
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod deadlock_request_guard_tests {
     use super::DeadlockRequestGuard;
diff --git a/rustfs/src/app/object/test_support.rs b/rustfs/src/app/object/test_support.rs
index 61b368cf6..55ebb28b2 100644
--- a/rustfs/src/app/object/test_support.rs
+++ b/rustfs/src/app/object/test_support.rs
@@ -96,3 +96,36 @@ pub(super) fn real_cold_fill_plan(
     };
     plan
 }
+
+/// A store with an ambient `AppContext`, for tests that drive a handler end to
+/// end without the object-data-cache overrides of
+/// [`real_cold_fill_test_context`].
+pub(super) async fn real_store_test_context() -> (Arc<ECStore>, Arc<AppContext>) {
+    let store = crate::app::gating_test_env::shared_gating_ecstore().await;
+    if current_app_context().is_none() {
+        crate::app::runtime_sources::install_test_app_context(Arc::clone(&store)).await;
+    }
+    let ambient = current_app_context().expect("real-store tests require an ambient AppContext");
+    let context = Arc::new(AppContext::new(Arc::clone(&store), ambient.iam(), ambient.kms()));
+    (store, context)
+}
+
+/// Leave the bucket in the state a damaged encryption blob produces: the raw
+/// document is retained and the typed configuration stays `None`, which is the
+/// durable "exists but cannot be read" signal `get_sse_config` fails closed on
+/// (rustfs/rustfs#7172).
+pub(super) async fn install_unreadable_bucket_sse_config(bucket: &str) {
+    use crate::app::storage_api::test::{get_global_bucket_metadata_sys, set_bucket_metadata};
+
+    let sys = get_global_bucket_metadata_sys().expect("bucket metadata system must be initialized");
+    let metadata = {
+        let sys = sys.read().await;
+        sys.get(bucket).await.expect("bucket metadata must be cached")
+    };
+    let mut metadata = (*metadata).clone();
+    metadata.encryption_config_xml = b"<ServerSideEncryptionConfiguration>truncated".to_vec();
+    metadata.sse_config = None;
+    set_bucket_metadata(bucket.to_string(), metadata)
+        .await
+        .expect("unreadable bucket encryption configuration must be installed");
+}