diff --git a/src/plugin/external.rs b/src/plugin/external.rs
index 33924d8c2..355aac93a 100644
--- a/src/plugin/external.rs
+++ b/src/plugin/external.rs
@@ -73,9 +73,14 @@ impl ExternalPlugin {
 
     /// True when the package's `acadrust` fingerprint matches the host.
     ///
-    /// If the manifest does not declare `acadrust_source`, the gate is skipped
-    /// (legacy fallback). If declared but empty or mismatched, incompatible.
+    /// The acadrust gate only applies to plugins targeting API v4 or newer;
+    /// older API versions predate the gate and are treated as compatible.
+    /// If the manifest does not declare `acadrust_source`, the gate is skipped.
+    /// If declared but empty or mismatched, incompatible.
     pub fn acadrust_compatible(&self) -> bool {
+        if self.api_version < ocs_plugin_api::API_VERSION {
+            return true;
+        }
         if !self.acadrust_declared {
             return true;
         }
@@ -343,13 +348,13 @@ mod loader {
             if !d.lib_present {
                 continue;
             }
-            if d.acadrust_declared && d.acadrust_source.is_none() {
+            if d.api_version >= ocs_plugin_api::API_VERSION && d.acadrust_declared && d.acadrust_source.is_none() {
                 eprintln!(
                     "[plugin] {} declares acadrust metadata but has no fingerprint; cannot verify compatibility",
                     d.id
                 );
             }
-            if !d.acadrust_compatible() {
+            if d.api_version >= ocs_plugin_api::API_VERSION && !d.acadrust_compatible() {
                 let host_src = ocs_plugin_api::version_info::host_acadrust_source();
                 let plugin_hash = d
                     .acadrust_source
@@ -557,6 +562,28 @@ acadrust_source = "{host}"
         assert!(p.acadrust_compatible(), "matching acadrust fingerprint should be compatible");
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn acadrust_gate_only_applies_to_api_v4_and_newer() {
+        let toml = r#"
+[plugin]
+id = "opencad.test"
+name = "Test"
+version = "0.1.0"
+api_version = 2
+
+[opencad]
+acadrust_source = "git+https://github.com/HakanSeven12/cadcodec.git?rev=0908da7#0908da7b6e4f702a6c78359a57f53e2b79cf39eb"
+"#;
+        let mut p = parse_plugin_toml(toml).expect("parsed");
+        p.lib_present = true;
+        assert!(p.acadrust_declared);
+        assert!(
+            p.acadrust_compatible(),
+            "API v2 plugin should bypass acadrust gate"
+        );
+        assert!(p.loadable());
+    }
+
     /// Integration smoke test for the out-of-process plugin path.
     /// Set `OCS_TEST_PLUGIN` to the built cdylib path and make sure the
     /// `OpenCADStudio` binary is built; the test uses it as the runner host.
diff --git a/src/plugin/marketplace.rs b/src/plugin/marketplace.rs
index 7976cd46b..b6e5069a8 100644
--- a/src/plugin/marketplace.rs
+++ b/src/plugin/marketplace.rs
@@ -221,9 +221,11 @@ pub fn fetch_release_info(repo: &str) -> Result<Vec<ReleaseInfo>, String> {
                 .ok_or_else(|| format!("release {} plugin.toml is missing an id", release.tag))?;
             let acadrust_source = manifest.acadrust_source.clone();
             let acadrust_declared = manifest.acadrust_declared;
-            let acadrust_compatible = if !acadrust_declared {
-                // Legacy release that predates acadrust metadata: defer the
-                // decision to the repo-level policy below.
+            let acadrust_compatible = if manifest.api_version < ocs_plugin_api::API_VERSION {
+                // API versions below v4 predate the acadrust gate.
+                true
+            } else if !acadrust_declared {
+                // Legacy v4+ release without metadata: defer to repo-level policy.
                 true
             } else {
                 match acadrust_source.as_deref() {
@@ -249,10 +251,9 @@ pub fn fetch_release_info(repo: &str) -> Result<Vec<ReleaseInfo>, String> {
     }
 
     // Repo-level policy: if any release in this repo declares an acadrust
-    // fingerprint, treat undeclared releases from the same repo as
-    // incompatible — but only for releases targeting the current host API
-    // generation (v4 and above). This preserves API v2/v3 backwards
-    // compatibility for legacy plugins that predate acadrust metadata.
+    // fingerprint, treat undeclared v4+ releases from the same repo as
+    // incompatible. API v2/v3 releases predate the gate and are preserved as
+    // legacy-compatible.
     let any_declared = info.iter().any(|r| r.acadrust_declared);
     if any_declared {
         for r in &mut info {
@@ -333,7 +334,7 @@ pub fn install(release: &Release, repository: &str) -> Result<String, String> {
         ));
     }
 
-    if manifest.acadrust_declared {
+    if manifest.api_version >= ocs_plugin_api::API_VERSION && manifest.acadrust_declared {
         let Some(source) = manifest.acadrust_source.as_deref() else {
             return Err(
                 "Release declares acadrust metadata but has no source; cannot verify ABI compatibility".to_string(),