diff --git a/examples/companion_radio/DataStore.cpp b/examples/companion_radio/DataStore.cpp
index 22f581a6..a1a5d4ee 100644
--- a/examples/companion_radio/DataStore.cpp
+++ b/examples/companion_radio/DataStore.cpp
@@ -304,6 +304,16 @@ void DataStore::loadPrefsInt(const char *filename, NodePrefs& _prefs, double& no
     _prefs.page_order_set = NodePrefs::PAGE_ORDER_MAGIC;
   }
 
+  // Schema sentinel: bumped on layout changes. Mismatch means an older file
+  // (or a different schema); rd() already zero-inits any fields not present,
+  // so we just log it — next savePrefs writes the current sentinel.
+  uint32_t sentinel = 0;
+  rd(&sentinel, sizeof(sentinel));
+  if (sentinel != NodePrefs::SCHEMA_SENTINEL) {
+    MESH_DEBUG_PRINTLN("prefs schema sentinel mismatch: got 0x%08X, expected 0x%08X — re-saving on next change",
+                       (unsigned)sentinel, (unsigned)NodePrefs::SCHEMA_SENTINEL);
+  }
+
   file.close();
 }
 
@@ -385,6 +395,10 @@ void DataStore::savePrefs(const NodePrefs& _prefs, double node_lat, double node_
     file.write((uint8_t *)&_prefs.eink_full_refresh_every, sizeof(_prefs.eink_full_refresh_every));
     file.write((uint8_t *)&_prefs.page_order_set, sizeof(_prefs.page_order_set));
 
+    // Tail sentinel — must be last. See NodePrefs::SCHEMA_SENTINEL.
+    uint32_t sentinel = NodePrefs::SCHEMA_SENTINEL;
+    file.write((uint8_t *)&sentinel, sizeof(sentinel));
+
     file.close();
   }
 }
diff --git a/examples/companion_radio/NodePrefs.h b/examples/companion_radio/NodePrefs.h
index d3a2328c..88f0e2d1 100644
--- a/examples/companion_radio/NodePrefs.h
+++ b/examples/companion_radio/NodePrefs.h
@@ -90,6 +90,12 @@ struct NodePrefs {  // persisted to file
   uint8_t  page_order_set;      // 0xA5 = page_order is user-configured; anything else = use default
   static const uint8_t PAGE_ORDER_MAGIC = 0xA5;
 
+  // Tail sentinel written at the end of /new_prefs. Bump the low byte when
+  // adding/removing/reordering fields in DataStore::savePrefs/loadPrefsInt so
+  // older saves are detected on load and skipped (zero-init defaults kept).
+  // High 24 bits identify the file format; low byte is the schema revision.
+  static const uint32_t SCHEMA_SENTINEL = 0xC0DE0001;
+
   // Bitmasks for home_pages_mask (bit=1 → page visible; 0 field = all visible).
   static const uint16_t HP_CLOCK     = 1 << 0;
   static const uint16_t HP_RECENT    = 1 << 1;