diff --git a/docs/SETUP-PATHS.md b/docs/SETUP-PATHS.md
index 667fd375..91957910 100644
--- a/docs/SETUP-PATHS.md
+++ b/docs/SETUP-PATHS.md
@@ -100,6 +100,15 @@ vk delete "$TASK_ID" --json
 
 If the read check succeeds but the write check returns `401` or `403`, the CLI is reaching VK but does not have write-capable auth. Recheck `VERITAS_API_KEYS`, restart the server, and confirm `VK_API_KEY` is exported in the same shell running `vk`.
 
+For release-candidate verification, run the combined scripted CLI/MCP smoke
+after `pnpm build`:
+
+```bash
+export VK_API_URL=http://localhost:3001
+export VK_API_KEY=replace-with-a-long-secret
+pnpm smoke:cli-mcp
+```
+
 ## MCP Setup
 
 Build the MCP server:
@@ -154,6 +163,11 @@ echo "{\"jsonrpc\":\"2.0\",\"id\":3,\"method\":\"tools/call\",\"params\":{\"name
 
 If the `list_tasks` read check works but `create_task` fails, the MCP process is installed but does not have write-capable API auth. Put `VK_API_KEY` in the MCP client env block and restart the client.
 
+The scripted release smoke above also exercises MCP `tools/list`,
+`resources/list`, `resources/read`, `list_tasks`, `create_task`, and
+`delete_task`, and fails closed on CLI/MCP/server version skew unless the
+operator explicitly passes `--allow-version-skew`.
+
 ## Optional Layers
 
 ### OpenClaw
diff --git a/docs/V5-COMPATIBILITY-AND-RELEASE-POLICY.md b/docs/V5-COMPATIBILITY-AND-RELEASE-POLICY.md
index a5f236e5..88b2e7e9 100644
--- a/docs/V5-COMPATIBILITY-AND-RELEASE-POLICY.md
+++ b/docs/V5-COMPATIBILITY-AND-RELEASE-POLICY.md
@@ -99,5 +99,9 @@ Before publishing stable:
 5. Run the signed `Desktop Release` workflow only with Apple credentials set.
 6. Verify `/api/health.version`, `X-API-Version`, `vk --version`, MCP package
    version, desktop app version, and updater metadata all match the release.
-7. Verify migration dry-run, migration run, recovery-state, and restore-backup
+7. Run `pnpm smoke:cli-mcp` against the release-candidate server with
+   `VK_API_URL` and a scoped write-capable `VK_API_KEY`. Version skew is
+   unsupported unless the operator records an explicit
+   `--allow-version-skew` warning as release evidence.
+8. Verify migration dry-run, migration run, recovery-state, and restore-backup
    against the release fixture.
diff --git a/docs/V5-GA-CHECKLIST.md b/docs/V5-GA-CHECKLIST.md
index 6e8f144b..a8d50cb9 100644
--- a/docs/V5-GA-CHECKLIST.md
+++ b/docs/V5-GA-CHECKLIST.md
@@ -112,6 +112,7 @@ pnpm lint:budget
 pnpm test:unit
 pnpm build
 pnpm validate:release
+pnpm smoke:cli-mcp
 pnpm desktop:package:mac:unsigned
 pnpm test:load:smoke
 ```
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 10378cb5..db8842a1 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@
     "qa:mantine": "node scripts/check-mantine-qa-gate.mjs",
     "test:load:smoke": "k6 run load-tests/k6/smoke.js",
     "test:load": "k6 run load-tests/k6/smoke.js && k6 run load-tests/k6/read-load.js && k6 run load-tests/k6/write-load.js && k6 run load-tests/k6/mixed-load.js && k6 run load-tests/k6/ws-stress.js && k6 run load-tests/k6/v5-remote-mix.js",
+    "smoke:cli-mcp": "node scripts/smoke-cli-mcp-compat.mjs",
     "validate:release": "node scripts/validate-release.mjs",
     "clean": "pnpm -r clean && rm -rf node_modules",
     "audit": "pnpm audit --prod",
diff --git a/scripts/smoke-cli-mcp-compat.mjs b/scripts/smoke-cli-mcp-compat.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..703f907b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/smoke-cli-mcp-compat.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,553 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env node
+import { spawn } from 'node:child_process';
+import { readFile, access } from 'node:fs/promises';
+import { constants } from 'node:fs';
+import path from 'node:path';
+import { clearTimeout, setTimeout } from 'node:timers';
+import { URL, fileURLToPath } from 'node:url';
+
+const rootDir = path.resolve(path.dirname(fileURLToPath(import.meta.url)), '..');
+const cliBin = path.join(rootDir, 'cli/dist/index.js');
+const mcpBin = path.join(rootDir, 'mcp/dist/index.js');
+const requestTimeoutMs = 20_000;
+
+const checks = [];
+let cliTaskId;
+let mcpTaskId;
+
+function usage() {
+  console.log(`Usage: pnpm smoke:cli-mcp -- [options]
+
+Runs the v5 release-candidate CLI and MCP compatibility smoke against a running
+Veritas Kanban server. Requires a write-capable scoped API key.
+
+Options:
+  --api-url <url>           API origin. Defaults to VK_API_URL or http://localhost:3001.
+  --api-key <key>           Scoped API key. Defaults to VK_API_KEY.
+  --expected-version <ver>  Expected root/CLI/MCP/server version. Defaults to package.json.
+  --allow-version-skew      Report version skew but continue the smoke.
+  --help                    Show this help text.
+`);
+}
+
+function parseArgs(argv) {
+  const options = {
+    allowVersionSkew: false,
+    apiKey: process.env.VK_API_KEY,
+    apiUrl: process.env.VK_API_URL ?? 'http://localhost:3001',
+    expectedVersion: undefined,
+  };
+
+  for (let index = 0; index < argv.length; index += 1) {
+    const arg = argv[index];
+
+    if (arg === '--') continue;
+    if (arg === '--help' || arg === '-h') {
+      usage();
+      process.exit(0);
+    }
+    if (arg === '--allow-version-skew') {
+      options.allowVersionSkew = true;
+      continue;
+    }
+    if (arg === '--api-url') {
+      options.apiUrl = argv[index + 1];
+      index += 1;
+      continue;
+    }
+    if (arg.startsWith('--api-url=')) {
+      options.apiUrl = arg.slice('--api-url='.length);
+      continue;
+    }
+    if (arg === '--api-key') {
+      options.apiKey = argv[index + 1];
+      index += 1;
+      continue;
+    }
+    if (arg.startsWith('--api-key=')) {
+      options.apiKey = arg.slice('--api-key='.length);
+      continue;
+    }
+    if (arg === '--expected-version') {
+      options.expectedVersion = argv[index + 1];
+      index += 1;
+      continue;
+    }
+    if (arg.startsWith('--expected-version=')) {
+      options.expectedVersion = arg.slice('--expected-version='.length);
+      continue;
+    }
+
+    fail('CLI options', `Unknown option: ${arg}`);
+  }
+
+  return options;
+}
+
+function record(status, name, detail = '') {
+  checks.push({ status, name, detail });
+}
+
+function pass(name, detail = '') {
+  record('pass', name, detail);
+}
+
+function fail(name, detail = '') {
+  record('fail', name, detail);
+}
+
+function warn(name, detail = '') {
+  record('warn', name, detail);
+}
+
+function check(name, condition, detail = '') {
+  if (condition) pass(name, detail);
+  else fail(name, detail);
+}
+
+function printableDetail(detail) {
+  return detail ? ` - ${detail}` : '';
+}
+
+function sanitizeError(value) {
+  return String(value)
+    .replace(/(x-api-key|authorization|api[_-]?key|token)\s*[:=]\s*[^\s"',}]+/gi, '$1=[redacted]')
+    .replace(/Bearer\s+[A-Za-z0-9._~+/-]+=*/gi, 'Bearer [redacted]');
+}
+
+async function readJson(file) {
+  return JSON.parse(await readFile(path.join(rootDir, file), 'utf8'));
+}
+
+async function assertFile(file, label) {
+  try {
+    await access(file, constants.F_OK);
+    pass(label, path.relative(rootDir, file));
+  } catch {
+    fail(label, `${path.relative(rootDir, file)} missing. Run pnpm build first.`);
+  }
+}
+
+function envFor(options) {
+  return {
+    ...process.env,
+    VK_API_URL: options.apiUrl,
+    VK_API_KEY: options.apiKey,
+  };
+}
+
+async function runCommand(command, args, options) {
+  return new Promise((resolve) => {
+    const child = spawn(command, args, {
+      cwd: rootDir,
+      env: envFor(options),
+      stdio: ['ignore', 'pipe', 'pipe'],
+    });
+    let stdout = '';
+    let stderr = '';
+    const timer = setTimeout(() => {
+      child.kill('SIGTERM');
+    }, requestTimeoutMs);
+
+    child.stdout.setEncoding('utf8');
+    child.stderr.setEncoding('utf8');
+    child.stdout.on('data', (chunk) => {
+      stdout += chunk;
+    });
+    child.stderr.on('data', (chunk) => {
+      stderr += chunk;
+    });
+    child.on('error', (error) => {
+      clearTimeout(timer);
+      resolve({ ok: false, status: 1, stdout, stderr: error.message });
+    });
+    child.on('close', (status, signal) => {
+      clearTimeout(timer);
+      resolve({
+        ok: status === 0,
+        status: status ?? 1,
+        signal,
+        stdout: stdout.trim(),
+        stderr: stderr.trim(),
+      });
+    });
+  });
+}
+
+async function requestJson(url, options) {
+  const response = await globalThis.fetch(url, {
+    headers: {
+      'content-type': 'application/json',
+      'x-api-key': options.apiKey,
+    },
+  });
+  const body = await response.json().catch(() => ({}));
+  return {
+    ok: response.ok,
+    status: response.status,
+    apiVersion: response.headers.get('x-api-version') ?? '',
+    body,
+  };
+}
+
+async function mcpRequest(payload, options) {
+  return new Promise((resolve) => {
+    const child = spawn(process.execPath, [mcpBin], {
+      cwd: rootDir,
+      env: envFor(options),
+      stdio: ['pipe', 'pipe', 'pipe'],
+    });
+    let stdout = '';
+    let stderr = '';
+    const timer = setTimeout(() => {
+      child.kill('SIGTERM');
+    }, requestTimeoutMs);
+
+    child.stdout.setEncoding('utf8');
+    child.stderr.setEncoding('utf8');
+    child.stdout.on('data', (chunk) => {
+      stdout += chunk;
+    });
+    child.stderr.on('data', (chunk) => {
+      stderr += chunk;
+    });
+    child.on('error', (error) => {
+      clearTimeout(timer);
+      resolve({ ok: false, error: error.message, stdout, stderr });
+    });
+    child.on('close', (status, signal) => {
+      clearTimeout(timer);
+      const firstJsonLine = stdout
+        .split(/\r?\n/)
+        .map((line) => line.trim())
+        .find((line) => line.startsWith('{'));
+      if (!firstJsonLine) {
+        resolve({
+          ok: false,
+          error: `No JSON-RPC response. stderr: ${sanitizeError(stderr)}`,
+          stdout,
+          stderr,
+          status,
+          signal,
+        });
+        return;
+      }
+      try {
+        const parsed = JSON.parse(firstJsonLine);
+        resolve({
+          ok: status === 0 && !parsed.error,
+          response: parsed,
+          stdout,
+          stderr,
+          status,
+          signal,
+        });
+      } catch (error) {
+        resolve({
+          ok: false,
+          error: error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error),
+          stdout,
+          stderr,
+          status,
+          signal,
+        });
+      }
+    });
+
+    child.stdin.end(`${JSON.stringify(payload)}\n`);
+  });
+}
+
+function assertJsonRpcResult(result, label) {
+  if (!result.ok) {
+    fail(label, sanitizeError(result.error ?? result.stderr ?? 'MCP request failed'));
+    return undefined;
+  }
+  pass(label);
+  return result.response.result;
+}
+
+function parseJson(text, label) {
+  try {
+    return JSON.parse(text);
+  } catch (error) {
+    fail(label, error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error));
+    return undefined;
+  }
+}
+
+function extractMcpTaskId(text) {
+  const match = text.match(/^Task created: ([^\n]+)/);
+  return match?.[1];
+}
+
+async function runCliSmoke(options) {
+  const version = await runCommand(process.execPath, [cliBin, '--version'], options);
+  check('CLI version command', version.ok, sanitizeError(version.stderr));
+
+  const list = await runCommand(process.execPath, [cliBin, 'list', '--json'], options);
+  check('CLI read smoke: vk list --json', list.ok, sanitizeError(list.stderr));
+  const listBody = parseJson(list.stdout || '[]', 'CLI read smoke returned JSON');
+  check('CLI read smoke returned an array', Array.isArray(listBody));
+
+  const title = `v5 CLI compatibility smoke ${Date.now()}`;
+  const create = await runCommand(
+    process.execPath,
+    [
+      cliBin,
+      'create',
+      title,
+      '--type',
+      'automation',
+      '--priority',
+      'low',
+      '--description',
+      'Temporary task created by v5 CLI compatibility smoke.',
+      '--json',
+    ],
+    options
+  );
+  check('CLI write smoke: vk create', create.ok, sanitizeError(create.stderr));
+  const created = parseJson(create.stdout || '{}', 'CLI create returned JSON');
+  cliTaskId = typeof created?.id === 'string' ? created.id : undefined;
+  check('CLI write smoke captured task id', Boolean(cliTaskId), cliTaskId ?? 'missing id');
+
+  if (cliTaskId) {
+    const show = await runCommand(process.execPath, [cliBin, 'show', cliTaskId, '--json'], options);
+    check('CLI read-after-write smoke: vk show', show.ok, sanitizeError(show.stderr));
+    const shown = parseJson(show.stdout || '{}', 'CLI show returned JSON');
+    check('CLI read-after-write returned created task', shown?.id === cliTaskId, shown?.id ?? '');
+
+    const deleted = await cleanupCliTask(options);
+    check('CLI cleanup: vk delete', deleted, cliTaskId);
+    if (deleted) cliTaskId = undefined;
+  }
+}
+
+async function cleanupCliTask(options) {
+  if (!cliTaskId) return true;
+  const result = await runCommand(
+    process.execPath,
+    [cliBin, 'delete', cliTaskId, '--json'],
+    options
+  );
+  return result.ok;
+}
+
+async function runMcpSmoke(options) {
+  const toolsResult = assertJsonRpcResult(
+    await mcpRequest({ jsonrpc: '2.0', id: 1, method: 'tools/list' }, options),
+    'MCP tools/list'
+  );
+  const toolNames = Array.isArray(toolsResult?.tools)
+    ? toolsResult.tools.map((tool) => tool.name)
+    : [];
+  check(
+    'MCP tools/list exposes task tools',
+    ['list_tasks', 'create_task', 'delete_task'].every((tool) => toolNames.includes(tool)),
+    toolNames.join(', ')
+  );
+
+  const resourcesResult = assertJsonRpcResult(
+    await mcpRequest({ jsonrpc: '2.0', id: 2, method: 'resources/list' }, options),
+    'MCP resources/list'
+  );
+  const resources = Array.isArray(resourcesResult?.resources) ? resourcesResult.resources : [];
+  check(
+    'MCP resources/list exposes kanban://tasks',
+    resources.some((resource) => resource.uri === 'kanban://tasks')
+  );
+
+  const readResult = assertJsonRpcResult(
+    await mcpRequest(
+      {
+        jsonrpc: '2.0',
+        id: 3,
+        method: 'resources/read',
+        params: { uri: 'kanban://tasks' },
+      },
+      options
+    ),
+    'MCP resources/read kanban://tasks'
+  );
+  const readText = readResult?.contents?.[0]?.text;
+  const readTasks = parseJson(
+    typeof readText === 'string' ? readText : '[]',
+    'MCP resource read JSON'
+  );
+  check('MCP resource read returned an array', Array.isArray(readTasks));
+
+  const listResult = assertJsonRpcResult(
+    await mcpRequest(
+      {
+        jsonrpc: '2.0',
+        id: 4,
+        method: 'tools/call',
+        params: { name: 'list_tasks', arguments: {} },
+      },
+      options
+    ),
+    'MCP tool read smoke: list_tasks'
+  );
+  const listText = listResult?.content?.[0]?.text;
+  const listTasks = parseJson(
+    typeof listText === 'string' ? listText : '[]',
+    'MCP list_tasks JSON'
+  );
+  check('MCP list_tasks returned an array', Array.isArray(listTasks));
+
+  const title = `v5 MCP compatibility smoke ${Date.now()}`;
+  const createResult = assertJsonRpcResult(
+    await mcpRequest(
+      {
+        jsonrpc: '2.0',
+        id: 5,
+        method: 'tools/call',
+        params: {
+          name: 'create_task',
+          arguments: {
+            title,
+            type: 'automation',
+            priority: 'low',
+            description: 'Temporary task created by v5 MCP compatibility smoke.',
+          },
+        },
+      },
+      options
+    ),
+    'MCP tool write smoke: create_task'
+  );
+  const createText = createResult?.content?.[0]?.text;
+  mcpTaskId = typeof createText === 'string' ? extractMcpTaskId(createText) : undefined;
+  check('MCP write smoke captured task id', Boolean(mcpTaskId), mcpTaskId ?? 'missing id');
+
+  if (mcpTaskId) {
+    const deleteResult = assertJsonRpcResult(
+      await mcpRequest(
+        {
+          jsonrpc: '2.0',
+          id: 6,
+          method: 'tools/call',
+          params: { name: 'delete_task', arguments: { id: mcpTaskId } },
+        },
+        options
+      ),
+      'MCP cleanup: delete_task'
+    );
+    const deleteText = deleteResult?.content?.[0]?.text;
+    check(
+      'MCP cleanup deleted created task',
+      typeof deleteText === 'string' && deleteText.startsWith(`Task deleted: ${mcpTaskId}`),
+      typeof deleteText === 'string' ? deleteText : ''
+    );
+    if (typeof deleteText === 'string' && deleteText.startsWith(`Task deleted: ${mcpTaskId}`)) {
+      mcpTaskId = undefined;
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+async function cleanupMcpTask(options) {
+  if (!mcpTaskId) return true;
+  const result = await mcpRequest(
+    {
+      jsonrpc: '2.0',
+      id: 99,
+      method: 'tools/call',
+      params: { name: 'delete_task', arguments: { id: mcpTaskId } },
+    },
+    options
+  );
+  return result.ok;
+}
+
+async function main() {
+  const options = parseArgs(process.argv.slice(2));
+  const rootPackage = await readJson('package.json');
+  const cliPackage = await readJson('cli/package.json');
+  const mcpPackage = await readJson('mcp/package.json');
+  const expectedVersion = options.expectedVersion ?? rootPackage.version;
+
+  check('VK_API_URL is configured', Boolean(options.apiUrl), options.apiUrl);
+  check(
+    'VK_API_KEY is configured for write-capable CLI/MCP smoke',
+    Boolean(options.apiKey),
+    options.apiKey ? 'set' : 'missing'
+  );
+  check(
+    'Root package version matches expected',
+    rootPackage.version === expectedVersion,
+    rootPackage.version
+  );
+  check(
+    'CLI package version matches expected',
+    cliPackage.version === expectedVersion,
+    cliPackage.version
+  );
+  check(
+    'MCP package version matches expected',
+    mcpPackage.version === expectedVersion,
+    mcpPackage.version
+  );
+  await assertFile(cliBin, 'CLI build output exists');
+  await assertFile(mcpBin, 'MCP build output exists');
+
+  if (!options.apiUrl || !options.apiKey) {
+    printAndExit();
+  }
+
+  const healthUrl = new URL('/api/health', options.apiUrl).toString();
+  const health = await requestJson(healthUrl, options);
+  check('Server health is reachable', health.ok, `${health.status} ${healthUrl}`);
+  const serverVersion = health.body?.version;
+  if (serverVersion === expectedVersion) {
+    pass('Server version matches expected', serverVersion);
+  } else if (options.allowVersionSkew) {
+    warn(
+      'Server version skew accepted by operator',
+      `server=${serverVersion ?? 'unknown'} expected=${expectedVersion}`
+    );
+  } else {
+    fail(
+      'Server version matches expected',
+      `server=${serverVersion ?? 'unknown'} expected=${expectedVersion}. Re-run with --allow-version-skew only for explicit unsupported-skew evidence.`
+    );
+  }
+
+  const apiProbeUrl = new URL('/api/tasks', options.apiUrl).toString();
+  const apiProbe = await requestJson(apiProbeUrl, options);
+  check('API v1 probe is reachable', apiProbe.ok, `${apiProbe.status} ${apiProbeUrl}`);
+  check(
+    'API resource response uses v1',
+    apiProbe.apiVersion === 'v1',
+    apiProbe.apiVersion || 'missing'
+  );
+
+  await runCliSmoke(options);
+  await runMcpSmoke(options);
+  await cleanupCliTask(options);
+  await cleanupMcpTask(options);
+  printAndExit();
+}
+
+function printAndExit() {
+  let failures = 0;
+  let warnings = 0;
+  for (const entry of checks) {
+    if (entry.status === 'fail') failures += 1;
+    if (entry.status === 'warn') warnings += 1;
+    const icon = entry.status === 'pass' ? 'PASS' : entry.status === 'warn' ? 'WARN' : 'FAIL';
+    console.log(`${icon} ${entry.name}${printableDetail(entry.detail)}`);
+  }
+  console.log(`\nCLI/MCP compatibility smoke: ${failures} failure(s), ${warnings} warning(s)`);
+  process.exit(failures > 0 ? 1 : 0);
+}
+
+main().catch(async (error) => {
+  fail(
+    'Unhandled smoke error',
+    sanitizeError(error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error))
+  );
+  await cleanupCliTask(parseArgs(process.argv.slice(2))).catch(() => undefined);
+  await cleanupMcpTask(parseArgs(process.argv.slice(2))).catch(() => undefined);
+  printAndExit();
+});
diff --git a/scripts/validate-release.mjs b/scripts/validate-release.mjs
index 0d373e5e..8b81c150 100644
--- a/scripts/validate-release.mjs
+++ b/scripts/validate-release.mjs
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ const requiredScripts = [
   'lint',
   'lint:budget',
   'qa:mantine',
+  'smoke:cli-mcp',
   'test:e2e',
   'test:load',
   'test:load:smoke',