diff --git a/internal/core/migrate.go b/internal/core/migrate.go
index 5a6f9e5..cfbe8ae 100644
--- a/internal/core/migrate.go
+++ b/internal/core/migrate.go
@@ -31,6 +31,23 @@ func Migrate(ctx context.Context, db *sql.DB, fsys fs.FS, log *slog.Logger) erro
 	}
 	log.Debug("schema version", "current", current, "available", len(names))
 
+	highest := 0
+	for _, name := range names {
+		n, err := migrationNumber(name)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		if n > highest {
+			highest = n
+		}
+	}
+	// A version above every embedded migration means this binary is older than
+	// the database. Without this, the loop below skips everything and starts up
+	// against a schema it cannot read.
+	if current > highest {
+		return fmt.Errorf("database schema is version %d but this binary only knows %d: this binary is older than the database — upgrade the binary or restore a backup", current, highest)
+	}
+
 	for _, name := range names {
 		n, err := migrationNumber(name)
 		if err != nil {
diff --git a/internal/core/migrate_test.go b/internal/core/migrate_test.go
index 8d36952..8ea7ed1 100644
--- a/internal/core/migrate_test.go
+++ b/internal/core/migrate_test.go
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package core
 import (
 	"context"
 	"database/sql"
+	"fmt"
 	"io"
 	"io/fs"
 	"log/slog"
@@ -104,6 +105,25 @@ func TestForeignKeyEnforcementIsOn(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestMigrateRefusesDatabaseNewerThanBinary(t *testing.T) {
+	ctx := context.Background()
+	db := openTempDB(t)
+
+	// A database migrated by a newer binary.
+	newer := highestMigrationNumber(t) + 1
+	if _, err := db.ExecContext(ctx, fmt.Sprintf("PRAGMA user_version = %d", newer)); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("set user_version: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	err := Migrate(ctx, db, migrations.FS, discardLogger())
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("expected error when user_version is above the highest embedded migration, got nil")
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), fmt.Sprintf("version %d", newer)) {
+		t.Errorf("error should name the database version, got: %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestMigrationNumber(t *testing.T) {
 	cases := map[string]int{
 		"0001_core.sql":       1,