diff --git a/packages/@n8n/constants/src/community-nodes.ts b/packages/@n8n/constants/src/community-nodes.ts
index fc2e0d882ef..a825667b07b 100644
--- a/packages/@n8n/constants/src/community-nodes.ts
+++ b/packages/@n8n/constants/src/community-nodes.ts
@@ -1,16 +1,7 @@
 export const NPM_COMMUNITY_NODE_SEARCH_API_URL = 'https://api.npms.io/v2/';
 
 /**
- * Node-authoring API level supported by the runtime that bundles this copy.
- *
- * Compatibility rule for community packages:
- * `package.n8n.n8nNodesApiVersion <= N8N_NODES_API_VERSION`.
- *
- * The level mirrors the n8n major for the v3 transition: `1` on master
- * (which ships as 2.x during the v3 window) and `3` on the `3.x` branch,
- * where it also serves as the v3 feature flag for node-authoring APIs.
- *
- * Lives here, not in `n8n-workflow`, so tooling that cannot depend on the
- * runtime packages (e.g. `@n8n/node-cli`) can read the same value.
+ * Node-authoring API level this runtime supports, and so the highest
+ * `n8nNodesApiVersion` a node may declare to be installed.
  */
-export const N8N_NODES_API_VERSION = 1;
+export const N8N_NODES_API_VERSION = '1.0';
diff --git a/packages/@n8n/eslint-plugin-community-nodes/docs/rules/n8n-object-validation.md b/packages/@n8n/eslint-plugin-community-nodes/docs/rules/n8n-object-validation.md
index 19c8c72e28b..0799edc8f00 100644
--- a/packages/@n8n/eslint-plugin-community-nodes/docs/rules/n8n-object-validation.md
+++ b/packages/@n8n/eslint-plugin-community-nodes/docs/rules/n8n-object-validation.md
@@ -17,8 +17,9 @@ register at install time and the failure is opaque to the user.
 This rule enforces the structural contract:
 
 - `package.json` must contain an `n8n` object.
-- `n8n.n8nNodesApiVersion` must be present and a positive integer. It must live
-  inside `n8n`, not at the root.
+- `n8n.n8nNodesApiVersion` must be present and a positive integer, or a
+  `"<major>"` or `"<major>.<minor>"` string such as `"3"` or `"3.1"`. It must
+  live inside `n8n`, not at the root.
 - `n8n.nodes` must be a non-empty array of strings, each starting with `dist/`.
 - `n8n.credentials`, if present, must be an array of strings, each starting
   with `dist/`.
@@ -53,7 +54,7 @@ the templates published by `@n8n/node-cli` and `@n8n/create-node`.
 {
   "name": "n8n-nodes-example",
   "n8n": {
-    "n8nNodesApiVersion": "1",
+    "n8nNodesApiVersion": "v1",
     "nodes": ["nodes/Foo/Foo.node.js"]
   }
 }
diff --git a/packages/@n8n/eslint-plugin-community-nodes/package.json b/packages/@n8n/eslint-plugin-community-nodes/package.json
index caf705c0d28..478afc45833 100644
--- a/packages/@n8n/eslint-plugin-community-nodes/package.json
+++ b/packages/@n8n/eslint-plugin-community-nodes/package.json
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
     "watch": "tsc --watch --project tsconfig.build.json"
   },
   "dependencies": {
+    "@n8n/utils": "workspace:*",
     "@typescript-eslint/typescript-estree": "catalog:",
     "@typescript-eslint/utils": "catalog:",
     "fastest-levenshtein": "catalog:"
diff --git a/packages/@n8n/eslint-plugin-community-nodes/src/rules/n8n-object-validation.test.ts b/packages/@n8n/eslint-plugin-community-nodes/src/rules/n8n-object-validation.test.ts
index aaf0fbb5e5e..a08412f1f1e 100644
--- a/packages/@n8n/eslint-plugin-community-nodes/src/rules/n8n-object-validation.test.ts
+++ b/packages/@n8n/eslint-plugin-community-nodes/src/rules/n8n-object-validation.test.ts
@@ -26,6 +26,21 @@ ruleTester.run('n8n-object-validation', N8nObjectValidationRule, {
 			filename: 'package.json',
 			code: '{ "name": "n8n-nodes-example", "n8n": { "n8nNodesApiVersion": 2, "nodes": ["dist/x.js"] } }',
 		},
+		{
+			name: 'major-only string api version is allowed',
+			filename: 'package.json',
+			code: '{ "name": "n8n-nodes-example", "n8n": { "n8nNodesApiVersion": "3", "nodes": ["dist/x.js"] } }',
+		},
+		{
+			name: 'major.minor string api version is allowed',
+			filename: 'package.json',
+			code: '{ "name": "n8n-nodes-example", "n8n": { "n8nNodesApiVersion": "3.1", "nodes": ["dist/x.js"] } }',
+		},
+		{
+			name: 'two-digit minor string api version is allowed',
+			filename: 'package.json',
+			code: '{ "name": "n8n-nodes-example", "n8n": { "n8nNodesApiVersion": "3.10", "nodes": ["dist/x.js"] } }',
+		},
 		{
 			name: 'non-package.json file is ignored',
 			filename: 'some-config.json',
@@ -77,10 +92,22 @@ ruleTester.run('n8n-object-validation', N8nObjectValidationRule, {
 			errors: [{ messageId: 'missingNodesApiVersion' }],
 		},
 		{
-			name: 'n8nNodesApiVersion is a string',
+			name: 'n8nNodesApiVersion is a non-numeric string',
 			filename: 'package.json',
-			code: '{ "name": "n8n-nodes-example", "n8n": { "n8nNodesApiVersion": "1", "nodes": ["dist/x.js"] } }',
-			errors: [{ messageId: 'invalidNodesApiVersion', data: { value: '1' } }],
+			code: '{ "name": "n8n-nodes-example", "n8n": { "n8nNodesApiVersion": "v3", "nodes": ["dist/x.js"] } }',
+			errors: [{ messageId: 'invalidNodesApiVersion', data: { value: 'v3' } }],
+		},
+		{
+			name: 'n8nNodesApiVersion is a string with a patch part',
+			filename: 'package.json',
+			code: '{ "name": "n8n-nodes-example", "n8n": { "n8nNodesApiVersion": "3.1.0", "nodes": ["dist/x.js"] } }',
+			errors: [{ messageId: 'invalidNodesApiVersion', data: { value: '3.1.0' } }],
+		},
+		{
+			name: 'n8nNodesApiVersion is a zero-major string',
+			filename: 'package.json',
+			code: '{ "name": "n8n-nodes-example", "n8n": { "n8nNodesApiVersion": "0.1", "nodes": ["dist/x.js"] } }',
+			errors: [{ messageId: 'invalidNodesApiVersion', data: { value: '0.1' } }],
 		},
 		{
 			name: 'n8nNodesApiVersion is zero',
diff --git a/packages/@n8n/eslint-plugin-community-nodes/src/rules/n8n-object-validation.ts b/packages/@n8n/eslint-plugin-community-nodes/src/rules/n8n-object-validation.ts
index ef3ac4a31f6..8ea961314c3 100644
--- a/packages/@n8n/eslint-plugin-community-nodes/src/rules/n8n-object-validation.ts
+++ b/packages/@n8n/eslint-plugin-community-nodes/src/rules/n8n-object-validation.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import { parseNodesApiLevel } from '@n8n/utils/nodes-api-level';
 import type { TSESLint, TSESTree } from '@typescript-eslint/utils';
 import { AST_NODE_TYPES } from '@typescript-eslint/utils';
 
@@ -34,9 +35,9 @@ export const N8nObjectValidationRule = createRule<[], MessageIds>({
 			wrongLocationApiVersion:
 				'"n8nNodesApiVersion" must be inside the "n8n" section, not at the root level of package.json.',
 			missingNodesApiVersion:
-				'The "n8n" object must declare "n8nNodesApiVersion" (a positive integer).',
+				'The "n8n" object must declare "n8nNodesApiVersion" (a positive integer, or a "<major>" or "<major>.<minor>" string).',
 			invalidNodesApiVersion:
-				'"n8n.n8nNodesApiVersion" must be a positive integer, got {{ value }}.',
+				'"n8n.n8nNodesApiVersion" must be a positive integer, or a "<major>" or "<major>.<minor>" string, got {{ value }}.',
 			missingN8nNodes: 'The "n8n" object must declare "nodes" as an array of "dist/" paths.',
 			n8nNodesNotArray: '"n8n.nodes" must be an array of "dist/" paths.',
 			emptyN8nNodes: '"n8n.nodes" must contain at least one path.',
@@ -108,7 +109,7 @@ function validateApiVersion(context: Context, n8nObject: TSESTree.ObjectExpressi
 	}
 
 	const valueNode = apiVersionProp.value;
-	if (valueNode.type !== AST_NODE_TYPES.Literal || !isPositiveInteger(valueNode.value)) {
+	if (valueNode.type !== AST_NODE_TYPES.Literal || parseNodesApiLevel(valueNode.value) === null) {
 		context.report({
 			node: apiVersionProp,
 			messageId: 'invalidNodesApiVersion',
@@ -194,7 +195,3 @@ function validatePathArray(
 		}
 	}
 }
-
-function isPositiveInteger(value: unknown): boolean {
-	return typeof value === 'number' && Number.isInteger(value) && value > 0;
-}
diff --git a/packages/@n8n/utils/package.json b/packages/@n8n/utils/package.json
index 059b65304cb..921065975b3 100644
--- a/packages/@n8n/utils/package.json
+++ b/packages/@n8n/utils/package.json
@@ -41,13 +41,15 @@
   },
   "dependencies": {
     "@n8n/constants": "workspace:*",
-    "nanoid": "catalog:"
+    "nanoid": "catalog:",
+    "semver": "catalog:"
   },
   "devDependencies": {
     "@n8n/oxlint-config": "workspace:*",
     "@n8n/typescript-config": "workspace:*",
     "@n8n/vitest-config": "workspace:*",
     "@testing-library/jest-dom": "catalog:frontend",
+    "@types/semver": "catalog:",
     "fast-check": "catalog:",
     "oxlint": "catalog:",
     "oxlint-tsgolint": "catalog:",
diff --git a/packages/@n8n/utils/src/nodes-api-level.test.ts b/packages/@n8n/utils/src/nodes-api-level.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..296f866e8bf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/@n8n/utils/src/nodes-api-level.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+import { formatNodesApiLevel, parseNodesApiLevel } from './nodes-api-level';
+
+describe('parseNodesApiLevel', () => {
+	it.each([
+		['3.1', { major: 3, minor: 1 }],
+		['3.0', { major: 3, minor: 0 }],
+		['3', { major: 3, minor: 0 }],
+		['3.10', { major: 3, minor: 10 }],
+	])('parses the string %p as %p', (value, expected) => {
+		expect(parseNodesApiLevel(value)).toMatchObject(expected);
+	});
+
+	it.each([
+		[1, { major: 1, minor: 0 }],
+		[3, { major: 3, minor: 0 }],
+	])('reads the integer %p as %p', (value, expected) => {
+		expect(parseNodesApiLevel(value)).toMatchObject(expected);
+	});
+
+	it.each([
+		0,
+		-1,
+		2.5,
+		3.1,
+		'0.0',
+		'0.1',
+		'01.1',
+		'03',
+		'3.01',
+		'3.',
+		'.1',
+		' 3.2 ',
+		'3.1.2',
+		'v3',
+		'',
+		null,
+		NaN,
+		Infinity,
+		true,
+		{},
+	])('rejects %p', (value) => {
+		expect(parseNodesApiLevel(value)).toBeNull();
+	});
+
+	it.each([2 ** 53, '9007199254740992', '1.9007199254740992'])(
+		'rejects the level %p above the safe integer range',
+		(value) => {
+			expect(parseNodesApiLevel(value)).toBeNull();
+		},
+	);
+});
+
+describe('formatNodesApiLevel', () => {
+	it('writes major and minor', () => {
+		expect(formatNodesApiLevel(parseNodesApiLevel('3.0')!)).toBe('3.0');
+		expect(formatNodesApiLevel(parseNodesApiLevel('3.10')!)).toBe('3.10');
+	});
+});
diff --git a/packages/@n8n/utils/src/nodes-api-level.ts b/packages/@n8n/utils/src/nodes-api-level.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..3253fab7e64
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/@n8n/utils/src/nodes-api-level.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+import { coerce, type SemVer } from 'semver';
+
+// A float is rejected, since an unquoted `3.10` in package.json is read as
+// the number `3.1`. The input must print back from its coerced version as
+// `<major>` or `<major>.<minor>`.
+export function parseNodesApiLevel(value: unknown): SemVer | null {
+	const text = typeof value === 'number' && Number.isInteger(value) ? String(value) : value;
+	if (typeof text !== 'string') return null;
+
+	const version = coerce(text);
+	if (version === null || version.major < 1) return null;
+	if (text !== `${version.major}` && text !== `${version.major}.${version.minor}`) return null;
+
+	return version;
+}
+
+export function formatNodesApiLevel({ major, minor }: SemVer): string {
+	return `${major}.${minor}`;
+}
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/errors/response-errors/incompatible-nodes-api-version.error.ts b/packages/cli/src/errors/response-errors/incompatible-nodes-api-version.error.ts
index d49fe274df1..12036535d13 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/errors/response-errors/incompatible-nodes-api-version.error.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/errors/response-errors/incompatible-nodes-api-version.error.ts
@@ -9,9 +9,9 @@ export class IncompatibleNodesApiVersionError extends ResponseError {
 		message: string,
 		readonly meta: {
 			/** API version the package requires, or `null` if the declared value is malformed. */
-			requiredNodesApiVersion: number | null;
+			requiredNodesApiVersion: string | null;
 			/** Node API version this runtime supports. */
-			supportedNodesApiVersion: number;
+			supportedNodesApiVersion: string;
 		},
 		cause?: unknown,
 	) {
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/modules/community-packages/__tests__/community-packages.integration.test.ts b/packages/cli/src/modules/community-packages/__tests__/community-packages.integration.test.ts
index 1260d797261..7e9bf9e190b 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/modules/community-packages/__tests__/community-packages.integration.test.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/modules/community-packages/__tests__/community-packages.integration.test.ts
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ import { Logger } from '@n8n/backend-common';
 import { mockInstance } from '@n8n/backend-test-utils';
 import { Container } from '@n8n/di';
 import { InstanceSettings } from 'n8n-core';
-import { N8N_NODES_API_VERSION } from 'n8n-workflow';
+import { N8N_NODES_API_VERSION, parseNodesApiLevel } from 'n8n-workflow';
 import { mkdirSync, mkdtempSync, rmSync, writeFileSync } from 'node:fs';
 import { tmpdir } from 'node:os';
 import path from 'path';
@@ -305,9 +305,10 @@ describe('node API compatibility at startup', () => {
 	});
 
 	test('boots with an incompatible package on disk and registers no loader for it', async () => {
+		const { major, minor } = parseNodesApiLevel(N8N_NODES_API_VERSION)!;
 		writePackage('n8n-nodes-future', {
 			nodes: ['dist/nodes/Future.node.js'],
-			n8nNodesApiVersion: N8N_NODES_API_VERSION + 1,
+			n8nNodesApiVersion: `${major}.${minor + 1}`,
 		});
 		writePackage('n8n-nodes-good');
 
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/modules/community-packages/__tests__/community-packages.lifecycle.service.test.ts b/packages/cli/src/modules/community-packages/__tests__/community-packages.lifecycle.service.test.ts
index f58f717d51d..0d261088b60 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/modules/community-packages/__tests__/community-packages.lifecycle.service.test.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/modules/community-packages/__tests__/community-packages.lifecycle.service.test.ts
@@ -310,7 +310,7 @@ describe('CommunityPackagesLifecycleService', () => {
 		communityPackagesService.installPackage.mockRejectedValue(
 			new IncompatibleNodesApiVersionError(
 				'This community node requires n8n node API version 3, but this instance supports up to 1.',
-				{ requiredNodesApiVersion: 3, supportedNodesApiVersion: 1 },
+				{ requiredNodesApiVersion: '3', supportedNodesApiVersion: '1' },
 			),
 		);
 
@@ -318,7 +318,7 @@ describe('CommunityPackagesLifecycleService', () => {
 		await expect(promise).rejects.toBeInstanceOf(IncompatibleNodesApiVersionError);
 		await expect(promise).rejects.toMatchObject({
 			httpStatusCode: 400,
-			meta: { requiredNodesApiVersion: 3, supportedNodesApiVersion: 1 },
+			meta: { requiredNodesApiVersion: '3', supportedNodesApiVersion: '1' },
 			message:
 				'This community node requires n8n node API version 3, but this instance supports up to 1.',
 		});
@@ -666,7 +666,7 @@ describe('CommunityPackagesLifecycleService', () => {
 			communityPackagesService.updatePackage.mockRejectedValue(
 				new IncompatibleNodesApiVersionError(
 					"This community node isn't compatible with your version of n8n. Update n8n to use it.",
-					{ requiredNodesApiVersion: 3, supportedNodesApiVersion: 1 },
+					{ requiredNodesApiVersion: '3', supportedNodesApiVersion: '1' },
 				),
 			);
 
@@ -678,7 +678,7 @@ describe('CommunityPackagesLifecycleService', () => {
 			await expect(promise).rejects.toBeInstanceOf(IncompatibleNodesApiVersionError);
 			await expect(promise).rejects.toMatchObject({
 				httpStatusCode: 400,
-				meta: { requiredNodesApiVersion: 3, supportedNodesApiVersion: 1 },
+				meta: { requiredNodesApiVersion: '3', supportedNodesApiVersion: '1' },
 			});
 		});
 
@@ -691,8 +691,8 @@ describe('CommunityPackagesLifecycleService', () => {
 			communityPackagesService.findInstalledPackage.mockResolvedValue(mockPackage('1.0.0'));
 			communityPackagesService.updatePackage.mockRejectedValue(
 				new IncompatibleNodesApiVersionError('Not compatible', {
-					requiredNodesApiVersion: 3,
-					supportedNodesApiVersion: 1,
+					requiredNodesApiVersion: '3',
+					supportedNodesApiVersion: '1',
 				}),
 			);
 
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/modules/community-packages/__tests__/community-packages.rollback.test.ts b/packages/cli/src/modules/community-packages/__tests__/community-packages.rollback.test.ts
index 0371a5dfd09..8d37af2890e 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/modules/community-packages/__tests__/community-packages.rollback.test.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/modules/community-packages/__tests__/community-packages.rollback.test.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import type { HttpRequestClient, OutboundHttp } from '@n8n/backend-network';
 import { mockInstance } from '@n8n/backend-test-utils';
 import type { InstanceSettings, PackageDirectoryLoader } from 'n8n-core';
 import { N8N_NODES_API_VERSION } from '@n8n/constants';
+import { parseNodesApiLevel } from 'n8n-workflow';
 import { execFile } from 'node:child_process';
 import { existsSync } from 'node:fs';
 import { mkdir, mkdtemp, readdir, readFile, rm, writeFile } from 'node:fs/promises';
@@ -34,6 +35,9 @@ vi.mock('../npm-utils', async () => ({
 const PACKAGE_NAME = 'n8n-nodes-test';
 const TARBALL_NAME = `${PACKAGE_NAME}-2.0.0.tgz`;
 
+const { major: supportedMajor, minor: supportedMinor } = parseNodesApiLevel(N8N_NODES_API_VERSION)!;
+const oneMinorAboveSupported = `${supportedMajor}.${supportedMinor + 1}`;
+
 /**
  * Exercises the install rollback against a real filesystem rather than mocked `fs`
  * calls. The bug being guarded here is a directory that is deleted with no backup
@@ -264,7 +268,7 @@ describe('CommunityPackagesService install rollback (real filesystem)', () => {
 		};
 
 		test('rejects an update and leaves directory, ledger, and database unchanged', async () => {
-			await expect(updateToIncompatible(N8N_NODES_API_VERSION + 1)).rejects.toThrow(
+			await expect(updateToIncompatible(oneMinorAboveSupported)).rejects.toThrow(
 				"isn't compatible with your version of n8n",
 			);
 
@@ -284,7 +288,7 @@ describe('CommunityPackagesService install rollback (real filesystem)', () => {
 		});
 
 		test('rejects an update with a malformed declared version', async () => {
-			await expect(updateToIncompatible('3')).rejects.toThrow('invalid n8n node API version');
+			await expect(updateToIncompatible(3.1)).rejects.toThrow('invalid n8n node API version');
 
 			expect(existsSync(markerPath())).toBe(true);
 			expect(loadNodesAndCredentials.loadPackage).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
@@ -314,7 +318,7 @@ describe('CommunityPackagesService install rollback (real filesystem)', () => {
 				downloadedPackageJson = {
 					name: PACKAGE_NAME,
 					version: '2.0.0',
-					n8n: { n8nNodesApiVersion: N8N_NODES_API_VERSION + 1 },
+					n8n: { n8nNodesApiVersion: oneMinorAboveSupported },
 				};
 
 				await expect(communityPackagesService.installPackage(PACKAGE_NAME)).rejects.toThrow(
@@ -334,7 +338,7 @@ describe('CommunityPackagesService install rollback (real filesystem)', () => {
 				downloadedPackageJson = {
 					name: PACKAGE_NAME,
 					version: '2.0.0',
-					n8n: { n8nNodesApiVersion: N8N_NODES_API_VERSION + 1 },
+					n8n: { n8nNodesApiVersion: oneMinorAboveSupported },
 				};
 				// The follower resolves the version to install from the leader's database record.
 				installedPackageRepository.findOne.mockResolvedValue(
@@ -359,7 +363,7 @@ describe('CommunityPackagesService install rollback (real filesystem)', () => {
 						packageName: PACKAGE_NAME,
 						reason: expect.stringContaining("isn't compatible with your version of n8n"),
 						// The operator log names both versions, unlike the user-facing message.
-						requiredNodesApiVersion: N8N_NODES_API_VERSION + 1,
+						requiredNodesApiVersion: oneMinorAboveSupported,
 						supportedNodesApiVersion: N8N_NODES_API_VERSION,
 					}),
 				);
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/modules/community-packages/__tests__/community-packages.service.test.ts b/packages/cli/src/modules/community-packages/__tests__/community-packages.service.test.ts
index 13a043b1e2f..1e9c447881f 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/modules/community-packages/__tests__/community-packages.service.test.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/modules/community-packages/__tests__/community-packages.service.test.ts
@@ -3,7 +3,11 @@ import type { HttpRequestClient, OutboundHttp } from '@n8n/backend-network';
 import { mockInstance, randomName } from '@n8n/backend-test-utils';
 import { LICENSE_FEATURES } from '@n8n/constants';
 import type { InstanceSettings, PackageDirectoryLoader } from 'n8n-core';
-import { N8N_NODES_API_VERSION, type PublicInstalledPackage } from 'n8n-workflow';
+import {
+	N8N_NODES_API_VERSION,
+	parseNodesApiLevel,
+	type PublicInstalledPackage,
+} from 'n8n-workflow';
 import { execFile } from 'node:child_process';
 import { access, mkdir, readFile, rename, rm, writeFile } from 'node:fs/promises';
 import path, { join } from 'node:path';
@@ -52,6 +56,9 @@ const execMock: typeof execFile = ((...args) => {
 
 vi.mocked(execFile).mockImplementation(execMock);
 
+const { major: supportedMajor, minor: supportedMinor } = parseNodesApiLevel(N8N_NODES_API_VERSION)!;
+const oneMinorAboveSupported = `${supportedMajor}.${supportedMinor + 1}`;
+
 describe('CommunityPackagesService', () => {
 	const license = mock<License>();
 	const configDefaults = {
@@ -675,7 +682,7 @@ describe('CommunityPackagesService', () => {
 			test('should reject the update when the package requires a newer node API version', async () => {
 				license.isCustomNpmRegistryEnabled.mockReturnValue(true);
 
-				await expect(updateToIncompatible(N8N_NODES_API_VERSION + 1)).rejects.toThrow(
+				await expect(updateToIncompatible(oneMinorAboveSupported)).rejects.toThrow(
 					"This community node isn't compatible with your version of n8n. Update n8n to use it.",
 				);
 
@@ -687,7 +694,7 @@ describe('CommunityPackagesService', () => {
 			test('should reject the update when the declared node API version is malformed', async () => {
 				license.isCustomNpmRegistryEnabled.mockReturnValue(true);
 
-				await expect(updateToIncompatible('3')).rejects.toThrow('invalid n8n node API version');
+				await expect(updateToIncompatible(3.1)).rejects.toThrow('invalid n8n node API version');
 
 				expect(loadNodesAndCredentials.loadPackage).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
 				expect(installedPackageRepository.replaceInstalledPackageWithNodes).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
@@ -701,6 +708,16 @@ describe('CommunityPackagesService', () => {
 				expect(loadNodesAndCredentials.loadPackage).toHaveBeenCalledWith(PACKAGE_NAME);
 				expect(installedPackageRepository.replaceInstalledPackageWithNodes).toHaveBeenCalled();
 			});
+
+			test('should update to a package that declares the supported level with an explicit minor', async () => {
+				license.isCustomNpmRegistryEnabled.mockReturnValue(true);
+
+				await expect(updateToIncompatible(`${supportedMajor}.${supportedMinor}`)).resolves.toBe(
+					packageAfterUpdate,
+				);
+
+				expect(loadNodesAndCredentials.loadPackage).toHaveBeenCalledWith(PACKAGE_NAME);
+			});
 		});
 
 		test('should remove the package.json dependency when a fresh install fails', async () => {
@@ -1418,7 +1435,7 @@ describe('CommunityPackagesService', () => {
 				JSON.stringify({
 					name: 'package-1',
 					version: '1.0.0',
-					n8n: { n8nNodesApiVersion: N8N_NODES_API_VERSION + 1 },
+					n8n: { n8nNodesApiVersion: oneMinorAboveSupported },
 				}),
 			);
 
@@ -1438,7 +1455,7 @@ describe('CommunityPackagesService', () => {
 			loadNodesAndCredentials.isKnownNode.mockReturnValue(false);
 			config.reinstallMissing = true;
 			vi.mocked(readFile).mockResolvedValue(
-				JSON.stringify({ name: 'package-1', version: '1.0.0', n8n: { n8nNodesApiVersion: '3' } }),
+				JSON.stringify({ name: 'package-1', version: '1.0.0', n8n: { n8nNodesApiVersion: 3.1 } }),
 			);
 
 			await communityPackagesService.checkForMissingPackages();
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/modules/community-packages/community-node-types-utils.ts b/packages/cli/src/modules/community-packages/community-node-types-utils.ts
index 2fd43093a73..9fae4acc532 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/modules/community-packages/community-node-types-utils.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/modules/community-packages/community-node-types-utils.ts
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ export async function getCommunityNodeTypes(
 	environment: 'staging' | 'production',
 	qs: { filters?: StrapiFilters; fields?: string[] } = {},
 	maxAiNodeSdk: number,
-	maxN8nNodesApiVersion: number,
+	maxN8nNodesApiVersion: string,
 ): Promise<StrapiCommunityNodeType[]> {
 	const url = getUrl(environment);
 	const params = {
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ export async function getCommunityNodeTypes(
 export async function getCommunityNodesMetadata(
 	environment: 'staging' | 'production',
 	maxAiNodeSdk: number,
-	maxN8nNodesApiVersion: number,
+	maxN8nNodesApiVersion: string,
 ): Promise<CommunityNodesMetadata[]> {
 	const url = getUrl(environment);
 	const params = {
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/modules/community-packages/community-packages.config.ts b/packages/cli/src/modules/community-packages/community-packages.config.ts
index 8939db887e9..b1b73d853ce 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/modules/community-packages/community-packages.config.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/modules/community-packages/community-packages.config.ts
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ export class CommunityPackagesConfig {
 	readonly aiNodeSdkVersion: number = AI_NODE_SDK_VERSION;
 
 	/** Highest community node API version this instance supports, sent to Strapi API */
-	readonly nodesApiVersion: number = N8N_NODES_API_VERSION;
+	readonly nodesApiVersion: string = N8N_NODES_API_VERSION;
 
 	@Env('N8N_DISABLED_MODULES')
 	private disabledModules: CommaSeparatedStringArray<string> = [];
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/modules/community-packages/community-packages.service.ts b/packages/cli/src/modules/community-packages/community-packages.service.ts
index 56480e2fecf..87312318dbc 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/modules/community-packages/community-packages.service.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/modules/community-packages/community-packages.service.ts
@@ -304,14 +304,17 @@ export class CommunityPackagesService {
 		const check = checkNodesApiVersion(packageJson);
 		if (check.compatible) return;
 
-		const isMalformed = check.reason === 'malformed';
+		if (check.reason === 'malformed') {
+			throw new IncompatibleNodesApiVersionError(
+				`This community node declares an invalid n8n node API version (${JSON.stringify(check.declared)}). Install a version of the package with valid metadata or contact the package author.`,
+				{ requiredNodesApiVersion: null, supportedNodesApiVersion: N8N_NODES_API_VERSION },
+			);
+		}
 
 		throw new IncompatibleNodesApiVersionError(
-			isMalformed
-				? `This community node declares an invalid n8n node API version (${JSON.stringify(check.declared)}). Install a version of the package with valid metadata or contact the package author.`
-				: "This community node isn't compatible with your version of n8n. Update n8n to use it.",
+			"This community node isn't compatible with your version of n8n. Update n8n to use it.",
 			{
-				requiredNodesApiVersion: isMalformed ? null : Number(check.declared),
+				requiredNodesApiVersion: check.required,
 				supportedNodesApiVersion: N8N_NODES_API_VERSION,
 			},
 		);
@@ -370,7 +373,7 @@ export class CommunityPackagesService {
 				const requirement =
 					apiVersionCheck.reason === 'malformed'
 						? `an invalid n8nNodesApiVersion (${JSON.stringify(apiVersionCheck.declared)})`
-						: `node API version ${String(apiVersionCheck.declared)}, but this n8n version supports up to ${N8N_NODES_API_VERSION}`;
+						: `node API version ${apiVersionCheck.required}, but this n8n version supports up to ${N8N_NODES_API_VERSION}`;
 				this.logger.warn(
 					`Not reinstalling package "${installedPackage.packageName}": it requires ${requirement}. Upgrade n8n to use this package, or uninstall it in Settings > Community nodes.`,
 				);
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/utils/strapi-utils.ts b/packages/cli/src/utils/strapi-utils.ts
index faf82c8968a..2be376fda2a 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/utils/strapi-utils.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/utils/strapi-utils.ts
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ type PaginationRequestParams = {
 		pageSize: number;
 	};
 	maxAiNodeSdk?: number;
-	maxN8nNodesApiVersion?: number;
+	maxN8nNodesApiVersion?: string;
 	version?: number;
 };
 
diff --git a/packages/core/src/nodes-loader/__tests__/scan-directory-for-packages.fs.test.ts b/packages/core/src/nodes-loader/__tests__/scan-directory-for-packages.fs.test.ts
index ac06132f1ad..d3e10e3fa39 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/nodes-loader/__tests__/scan-directory-for-packages.fs.test.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/nodes-loader/__tests__/scan-directory-for-packages.fs.test.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { Logger } from '@n8n/backend-common';
-import { N8N_NODES_API_VERSION } from 'n8n-workflow';
+import { N8N_NODES_API_VERSION, parseNodesApiLevel } from 'n8n-workflow';
 import { mkdirSync, mkdtempSync, rmSync, writeFileSync } from 'node:fs';
 import { tmpdir } from 'node:os';
 import path from 'node:path';
@@ -26,6 +26,9 @@ describe('scanDirectoryForPackages (real filesystem)', () => {
 		rmSync(nodeModulesDir, { recursive: true, force: true });
 	});
 
+	const { major, minor } = parseNodesApiLevel(N8N_NODES_API_VERSION)!;
+	const unsupportedLevel = `${major}.${minor + 1}`;
+
 	const writePackage = (name: string, n8n?: object) => {
 		const dir = path.join(nodeModulesDir, name);
 		mkdirSync(dir);
@@ -93,7 +96,7 @@ describe('scanDirectoryForPackages (real filesystem)', () => {
 	it('registers no loader for a package requiring an unsupported node API version', async () => {
 		writePackage('n8n-nodes-future', {
 			nodes: ['dist/nodes/Future.node.js'],
-			n8nNodesApiVersion: N8N_NODES_API_VERSION + 1,
+			n8nNodesApiVersion: unsupportedLevel,
 		});
 		writePackage('n8n-nodes-good');
 
@@ -102,7 +105,7 @@ describe('scanDirectoryForPackages (real filesystem)', () => {
 		expect(loaders.map((loader) => loader.packageName)).toEqual(['n8n-nodes-good']);
 		expect(logger.warn).toHaveBeenCalledWith(expect.stringContaining('n8n-nodes-future'));
 		const [message] = vi.mocked(logger.warn).mock.calls[0];
-		expect(message).toContain(`node API version ${N8N_NODES_API_VERSION + 1}`);
+		expect(message).toContain(`node API version ${unsupportedLevel}`);
 		expect(message).toContain(`supports up to ${N8N_NODES_API_VERSION}`);
 		expect(message).toContain('Upgrade n8n');
 	});
diff --git a/packages/core/src/nodes-loader/__tests__/scan-directory-for-packages.test.ts b/packages/core/src/nodes-loader/__tests__/scan-directory-for-packages.test.ts
index c4b0e4d998e..f0d8a229e39 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/nodes-loader/__tests__/scan-directory-for-packages.test.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/nodes-loader/__tests__/scan-directory-for-packages.test.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 // eslint-disable-next-line import-x/order
 import { mock } from 'vitest-mock-extended';
 import { Logger } from '@n8n/backend-common';
-import { N8N_NODES_API_VERSION } from 'n8n-workflow';
+import { N8N_NODES_API_VERSION, parseNodesApiLevel } from 'n8n-workflow';
 import * as fs from 'node:fs';
 import type * as fsPromises from 'node:fs/promises';
 
@@ -36,6 +36,9 @@ describe('scanDirectoryForPackages', () => {
 	const firecrawlPackageJson = (n8n?: object) =>
 		JSON.stringify({ name: '@mendable/n8n-nodes-firecrawl', version: '2.1.2', ...{ n8n } });
 
+	const { major, minor } = parseNodesApiLevel(N8N_NODES_API_VERSION)!;
+	const unsupportedLevel = `${major}.${minor + 1}`;
+
 	const enoent = (file: string): NodeJS.ErrnoException => {
 		const error: NodeJS.ErrnoException = new Error(
 			`ENOENT: no such file or directory, open '${file}'`,
@@ -116,7 +119,7 @@ describe('scanDirectoryForPackages', () => {
 	});
 
 	it('skips a package requiring an unsupported node API version and keeps compatible ones', async () => {
-		mockPackageJsonOnDisk(firecrawlPackageJson({ n8nNodesApiVersion: N8N_NODES_API_VERSION + 1 }));
+		mockPackageJsonOnDisk(firecrawlPackageJson({ n8nNodesApiVersion: unsupportedLevel }));
 
 		const loaders = await scanDirectoryForPackages(nodeModulesDir);
 
@@ -127,7 +130,7 @@ describe('scanDirectoryForPackages', () => {
 	});
 
 	it('returns a loader for a package declaring a supported node API version', async () => {
-		mockPackageJsonOnDisk(firecrawlPackageJson({ n8nNodesApiVersion: 1 }));
+		mockPackageJsonOnDisk(firecrawlPackageJson({ n8nNodesApiVersion: '1.0' }));
 
 		const loaders = await scanDirectoryForPackages(nodeModulesDir);
 
@@ -144,7 +147,7 @@ describe('scanDirectoryForPackages', () => {
 	});
 
 	it('logs name, declared version, supported version, and remediation for an unsupported package', async () => {
-		mockPackageJsonOnDisk(firecrawlPackageJson({ n8nNodesApiVersion: N8N_NODES_API_VERSION + 1 }));
+		mockPackageJsonOnDisk(firecrawlPackageJson({ n8nNodesApiVersion: unsupportedLevel }));
 
 		await scanDirectoryForPackages(nodeModulesDir);
 
@@ -152,13 +155,13 @@ describe('scanDirectoryForPackages', () => {
 			expect.stringContaining('@mendable/n8n-nodes-firecrawl'),
 		);
 		const [message] = vi.mocked(logger.warn).mock.calls[0];
-		expect(message).toContain(`node API version ${N8N_NODES_API_VERSION + 1}`);
+		expect(message).toContain(`node API version ${unsupportedLevel}`);
 		expect(message).toContain(`supports up to ${N8N_NODES_API_VERSION}`);
 		expect(message).toContain('Upgrade n8n');
 	});
 
 	it('skips a package with a malformed node API version', async () => {
-		mockPackageJsonOnDisk(firecrawlPackageJson({ n8nNodesApiVersion: '3' }));
+		mockPackageJsonOnDisk(firecrawlPackageJson({ n8nNodesApiVersion: 3.1 }));
 
 		const loaders = await scanDirectoryForPackages(nodeModulesDir);
 
diff --git a/packages/core/src/nodes-loader/scan-directory-for-packages.ts b/packages/core/src/nodes-loader/scan-directory-for-packages.ts
index d24b96039d5..4e354aa5c5e 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/nodes-loader/scan-directory-for-packages.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/nodes-loader/scan-directory-for-packages.ts
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ export async function scanDirectoryForPackages(
 				const requirement =
 					check.reason === 'malformed'
 						? `an invalid n8nNodesApiVersion (${JSON.stringify(check.declared)})`
-						: `node API version ${String(check.declared)}, but this n8n version supports up to ${N8N_NODES_API_VERSION}`;
+						: `node API version ${check.required}, but this n8n version supports up to ${N8N_NODES_API_VERSION}`;
 				logger.warn(
 					`Skipping package "${loader.packageName}": it requires ${requirement}. Upgrade n8n to use this package, or uninstall it in Settings > Community nodes.`,
 				);
diff --git a/packages/core/src/nodes-loader/types.ts b/packages/core/src/nodes-loader/types.ts
index f1f99036f08..d389174c391 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/nodes-loader/types.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/nodes-loader/types.ts
@@ -5,7 +5,8 @@ export namespace n8n {
 		n8n?: {
 			credentials?: string[];
 			nodes?: string[];
-			n8nNodesApiVersion?: number;
+			/** A positive integer or `"<major>.<minor>"`, as declared by the package. */
+			n8nNodesApiVersion?: number | string;
 		};
 		author?: {
 			name?: string;
diff --git a/packages/frontend/editor-ui/src/features/settings/communityNodes/communityNodes.utils.test.ts b/packages/frontend/editor-ui/src/features/settings/communityNodes/communityNodes.utils.test.ts
index 62ef1b61de7..7bc01e9c4d5 100644
--- a/packages/frontend/editor-ui/src/features/settings/communityNodes/communityNodes.utils.test.ts
+++ b/packages/frontend/editor-ui/src/features/settings/communityNodes/communityNodes.utils.test.ts
@@ -52,13 +52,13 @@ describe('isCommunityPackageUpdateAvailable', () => {
 });
 
 describe('isNodesApiVersionError', () => {
-	const incompatibleNodesApiVersionError = (requiredNodesApiVersion: number | null): unknown => ({
+	const incompatibleNodesApiVersionError = (requiredNodesApiVersion: string | null): unknown => ({
 		httpStatusCode: 400,
-		meta: { requiredNodesApiVersion, supportedNodesApiVersion: 1 },
+		meta: { requiredNodesApiVersion, supportedNodesApiVersion: '1' },
 	});
 
 	it('should match the error metadata, not the message', () => {
-		expect(isNodesApiVersionError(incompatibleNodesApiVersionError(3))).toBe(true);
+		expect(isNodesApiVersionError(incompatibleNodesApiVersionError('3.1'))).toBe(true);
 		// Malformed declared values carry `null` and must be recognized too.
 		expect(isNodesApiVersionError(incompatibleNodesApiVersionError(null))).toBe(true);
 		// The same copy without the metadata is a generic error.
diff --git a/packages/frontend/editor-ui/src/features/settings/communityNodes/communityNodes.utils.ts b/packages/frontend/editor-ui/src/features/settings/communityNodes/communityNodes.utils.ts
index b85c285864a..0427db12ffe 100644
--- a/packages/frontend/editor-ui/src/features/settings/communityNodes/communityNodes.utils.ts
+++ b/packages/frontend/editor-ui/src/features/settings/communityNodes/communityNodes.utils.ts
@@ -43,9 +43,9 @@ export function isCommunityPackageUpdateAvailable({
 interface IncompatibleNodesApiVersionErrorResponse {
 	httpStatusCode: number;
 	meta: {
-		/** API version the package requires, or `null` if the declared value is malformed. */
-		requiredNodesApiVersion: number | null;
-		supportedNodesApiVersion: number;
+		/** `null` if the declared value is malformed. */
+		requiredNodesApiVersion: string | null;
+		supportedNodesApiVersion: string;
 	};
 }
 
diff --git a/packages/frontend/editor-ui/src/features/settings/communityNodes/composables/useInstallNode.test.ts b/packages/frontend/editor-ui/src/features/settings/communityNodes/composables/useInstallNode.test.ts
index cf648838c00..39fdf72e5b5 100644
--- a/packages/frontend/editor-ui/src/features/settings/communityNodes/composables/useInstallNode.test.ts
+++ b/packages/frontend/editor-ui/src/features/settings/communityNodes/composables/useInstallNode.test.ts
@@ -400,7 +400,7 @@ describe('useInstallNode', () => {
 				new Error('This community node requires n8n node API version 3.'),
 				{
 					httpStatusCode: 400,
-					meta: { requiredNodesApiVersion: 3, supportedNodesApiVersion: 1 },
+					meta: { requiredNodesApiVersion: '3', supportedNodesApiVersion: '1' },
 				},
 			);
 			vi.mocked(communityNodesStore.installPackage).mockRejectedValue(error);
diff --git a/packages/quality/testing/playwright/tests/e2e/settings/community-nodes/node-api-version-guard.spec.ts b/packages/quality/testing/playwright/tests/e2e/settings/community-nodes/node-api-version-guard.spec.ts
index 5f01e64fac0..aa436d5306f 100644
--- a/packages/quality/testing/playwright/tests/e2e/settings/community-nodes/node-api-version-guard.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/quality/testing/playwright/tests/e2e/settings/community-nodes/node-api-version-guard.spec.ts
@@ -81,9 +81,9 @@ test.describe(
 				expect(response.status()).toBe(400);
 				const rejection = await api.communityPackages.readRejection(response);
 				expect(rejection.message).toContain("isn't compatible with your version of n8n");
-				expect(String(rejection.meta.requiredNodesApiVersion)).toBe('3');
-				expect(String(rejection.meta.supportedNodesApiVersion)).toBe(
-					String(supportedNodesApiVersion),
+				expect(rejection.meta.requiredNodesApiVersion).toBe('3.0');
+				expect(String(rejection.meta.supportedNodesApiVersion)).toMatch(
+					new RegExp(`^${supportedNodesApiVersion}(\\.\\d+)?$`),
 				);
 				await expectAbsent(api, packageDisk, v3);
 			});
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ test.describe(
 				const response = await api.communityPackages.update(legacyV3.name, legacyV3.version);
 				expect(response.status()).toBe(400);
 				const rejection = await api.communityPackages.readRejection(response);
-				expect(String(rejection.meta.requiredNodesApiVersion)).toBe('3');
+				expect(rejection.meta.requiredNodesApiVersion).toBe('3.0');
 
 				await expectInstalled(api, packageDisk, legacy);
 				const state = await packageDisk.stateOf(legacyV3.name);
diff --git a/packages/workflow/src/nodes-api-version.ts b/packages/workflow/src/nodes-api-version.ts
index daacbc65125..0c9696ef04f 100644
--- a/packages/workflow/src/nodes-api-version.ts
+++ b/packages/workflow/src/nodes-api-version.ts
@@ -1,54 +1,53 @@
 import { N8N_NODES_API_VERSION } from '@n8n/constants';
+import { formatNodesApiLevel, parseNodesApiLevel } from '@n8n/utils/nodes-api-level';
 
-export { N8N_NODES_API_VERSION };
+export { N8N_NODES_API_VERSION, formatNodesApiLevel, parseNodesApiLevel };
 
 /** Minimal package.json shape needed to check node API compatibility. */
 export interface NodesApiVersionPackageJson {
 	n8n?: {
-		/**
-		 * Node-authoring API level the package requires. Absent in legacy
-		 * packages, which are treated as requiring level 1.
-		 */
 		n8nNodesApiVersion?: unknown;
 	};
 }
 
 export type NodesApiVersionCheck =
+	| { compatible: true }
 	| {
-			compatible: true;
-			/** Effective required API level; 1 for packages without metadata. */
-			version: number;
+			compatible: false;
+			reason: 'malformed';
+			declared: unknown;
 	  }
 	| {
 			compatible: false;
-			reason: 'malformed' | 'unsupported';
-			/** The declared value, as read from package.json. */
+			reason: 'unsupported';
 			declared: unknown;
+			/** As `<major>.<minor>`, for messages and metadata. */
+			required: string;
 	  };
 
-/**
- * Read a community package's declared node-authoring API level and check it
- * against the level this runtime supports (`required <= N8N_NODES_API_VERSION`).
- *
- * Missing `n8n.n8nNodesApiVersion` means a legacy package and resolves to
- * level 1. Malformed values (non-integer, non-positive, non-number) are
- * reported as incompatible — the runtime cannot distinguish an old package
- * from a corrupt or hostile one if both fall back to legacy.
- */
+function supportedLevel() {
+	const level = parseNodesApiLevel(N8N_NODES_API_VERSION);
+	if (level === null)
+		throw new Error(`N8N_NODES_API_VERSION is not a level: ${N8N_NODES_API_VERSION}`);
+	return level;
+}
+
+// A missing declaration is a legacy package at level 1. A malformed one is
+// incompatible: the runtime cannot tell an old package from a corrupt one.
 export function checkNodesApiVersion(pkgJson: NodesApiVersionPackageJson): NodesApiVersionCheck {
 	const declared = pkgJson?.n8n?.n8nNodesApiVersion;
 
-	if (declared === undefined) {
-		return { compatible: true, version: 1 };
-	}
+	if (declared === undefined) return { compatible: true };
 
-	if (typeof declared !== 'number' || !Number.isInteger(declared) || declared < 1) {
-		return { compatible: false, reason: 'malformed', declared };
-	}
+	const required = parseNodesApiLevel(declared);
+	if (required === null) return { compatible: false, reason: 'malformed', declared };
 
-	if (declared <= N8N_NODES_API_VERSION) {
-		return { compatible: true, version: declared };
-	}
+	if (required.compare(supportedLevel()) <= 0) return { compatible: true };
 
-	return { compatible: false, reason: 'unsupported', declared };
+	return {
+		compatible: false,
+		reason: 'unsupported',
+		declared,
+		required: formatNodesApiLevel(required),
+	};
 }
diff --git a/packages/workflow/test/nodes-api-version.test.ts b/packages/workflow/test/nodes-api-version.test.ts
index ca5fd25e112..7c44a72a086 100644
--- a/packages/workflow/test/nodes-api-version.test.ts
+++ b/packages/workflow/test/nodes-api-version.test.ts
@@ -1,49 +1,82 @@
-import { N8N_NODES_API_VERSION, checkNodesApiVersion } from '../src/nodes-api-version';
+import {
+	N8N_NODES_API_VERSION,
+	checkNodesApiVersion,
+	formatNodesApiLevel,
+	parseNodesApiLevel,
+} from '../src/nodes-api-version';
 
 const pkg = (n8nNodesApiVersion?: unknown) => ({
 	n8n: n8nNodesApiVersion === undefined ? {} : { n8nNodesApiVersion },
 });
 
+const { major: supportedMajor, minor: supportedMinor } = parseNodesApiLevel(N8N_NODES_API_VERSION)!;
+
+describe('N8N_NODES_API_VERSION', () => {
+	it('is a level written as major.minor', () => {
+		expect(N8N_NODES_API_VERSION).toBe(
+			formatNodesApiLevel(parseNodesApiLevel(N8N_NODES_API_VERSION)!),
+		);
+	});
+});
+
 describe('checkNodesApiVersion', () => {
 	it('treats a missing n8n section as legacy level 1', () => {
-		expect(checkNodesApiVersion({})).toEqual({ compatible: true, version: 1 });
+		expect(checkNodesApiVersion({})).toEqual({ compatible: true });
 	});
 
 	it('treats a missing n8nNodesApiVersion as legacy level 1', () => {
-		expect(checkNodesApiVersion(pkg())).toEqual({ compatible: true, version: 1 });
+		expect(checkNodesApiVersion(pkg())).toEqual({ compatible: true });
 	});
 
-	// The rule under test is `required <= supported`. The expectations below
-	// state that rule at its exact boundaries instead of pinning the
-	// constant's value, so they survive a deliberate bump without edits.
-	// They also fail if the constant degenerates (below 1 or non-integer).
-	it('accepts the floor level 1', () => {
-		expect(checkNodesApiVersion(pkg(1))).toEqual({ compatible: true, version: 1 });
+	it('accepts the integer 1', () => {
+		expect(checkNodesApiVersion(pkg(1))).toEqual({ compatible: true });
 	});
 
-	it('accepts a package that requires exactly the supported level', () => {
-		expect(checkNodesApiVersion(pkg(N8N_NODES_API_VERSION))).toEqual({
+	it('accepts the supported level', () => {
+		expect(checkNodesApiVersion(pkg(N8N_NODES_API_VERSION))).toEqual({ compatible: true });
+	});
+
+	it('accepts a minor below the supported one', () => {
+		if (supportedMinor === 0) return;
+		expect(checkNodesApiVersion(pkg(`${supportedMajor}.${supportedMinor - 1}`))).toEqual({
 			compatible: true,
-			version: N8N_NODES_API_VERSION,
 		});
 	});
 
-	it('rejects a package that requires one level above the supported level', () => {
-		const above = N8N_NODES_API_VERSION + 1;
+	it('rejects one minor above the supported level', () => {
+		const above = `${supportedMajor}.${supportedMinor + 1}`;
 		expect(checkNodesApiVersion(pkg(above))).toEqual({
 			compatible: false,
 			reason: 'unsupported',
 			declared: above,
+			required: above,
 		});
 	});
 
-	for (const declared of ['3', 0, -1, 2.5, null, NaN, Infinity, true, {}]) {
-		it(`rejects malformed value ${String(declared)}`, () => {
+	it('rejects the next major at minor 0', () => {
+		const above = `${supportedMajor + 1}.0`;
+		expect(checkNodesApiVersion(pkg(above))).toEqual({
+			compatible: false,
+			reason: 'unsupported',
+			declared: above,
+			required: above,
+		});
+	});
+
+	it('reports an integer level as major.minor', () => {
+		expect(checkNodesApiVersion(pkg(supportedMajor + 1))).toMatchObject({
+			required: `${supportedMajor + 1}.0`,
+		});
+	});
+
+	it.each(['3.1.0', 'three', 0, -1, 2.5, 3.1, null, NaN, true, {}, '9007199254740992'])(
+		'rejects the malformed value %p',
+		(declared) => {
 			expect(checkNodesApiVersion(pkg(declared))).toEqual({
 				compatible: false,
 				reason: 'malformed',
 				declared,
 			});
-		});
-	}
+		},
+	);
 });
diff --git a/pnpm-lock.yaml b/pnpm-lock.yaml
index 3cb2002d4c0..a032984fe4b 100644
--- a/pnpm-lock.yaml
+++ b/pnpm-lock.yaml
@@ -2886,6 +2886,9 @@ importers:
 
   packages/@n8n/eslint-plugin-community-nodes:
     dependencies:
+      '@n8n/utils':
+        specifier: workspace:*
+        version: link:../utils
       '@typescript-eslint/typescript-estree':
         specifier: 'catalog:'
         version: 8.70.0(@typescript/typescript6@6.0.2)(supports-color@8.1.1)
@@ -4589,6 +4592,9 @@ importers:
       nanoid:
         specifier: 'catalog:'
         version: 3.3.18
+      semver:
+        specifier: 7.7.3
+        version: 7.7.3
     devDependencies:
       '@n8n/oxlint-config':
         specifier: workspace:*
@@ -4602,6 +4608,9 @@ importers:
       '@testing-library/jest-dom':
         specifier: catalog:frontend
         version: 6.9.1
+      '@types/semver':
+        specifier: 'catalog:'
+        version: 7.7.0
       fast-check:
         specifier: 'catalog:'
         version: 3.23.2