diff --git a/agent-team/agent_team/db/schema.py b/agent-team/agent_team/db/schema.py
index d354753..a569a55 100644
--- a/agent-team/agent_team/db/schema.py
+++ b/agent-team/agent_team/db/schema.py
@@ -274,15 +274,14 @@ def init_db(db_path: Path) -> None:
         conn.execute(TASK_TRANSITIONS_DDL)
         for stmt in _split_statements(TASK_TRANSITIONS_INDEXES_DDL):
             conn.execute(stmt)
-        # Record the schema version (single-row table). DO NOTHING leaves an
-        # existing row's version untouched (an already-stamped DB just gains any
-        # IF-NOT-EXISTS tables above); migrate() is what steps the version stamp
-        # forward on an existing DB.
-        conn.execute(
-            "INSERT INTO schema_meta (id, schema_version) VALUES (1, ?) "
-            "ON CONFLICT(id) DO NOTHING",
-            (SCHEMA_VERSION,),
-        )
+        # Step the version stamp forward AND apply any version-gated migrations.
+        # init_db is the only schema entry point the daemon calls (Coordinator.
+        # setup -> init_db), so it MUST drive migrate() — otherwise an existing
+        # DB's schema_version is never advanced (migrate() upserts it; init_db's
+        # own writes do not) and version-gated steps in migrate() never run in
+        # production. migrate() is idempotent, so re-running the create/ensure
+        # statements above is harmless.
+        migrate(conn)
     finally:
         conn.close()
 
diff --git a/agent-team/tests/test_schema.py b/agent-team/tests/test_schema.py
index 3904b68..2bcdb2a 100644
--- a/agent-team/tests/test_schema.py
+++ b/agent-team/tests/test_schema.py
@@ -696,6 +696,39 @@ def test_migrate_helper_adds_kind_to_legacy_db(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
     assert ver == SCHEMA_VERSION
 
 
+def test_init_db_advances_existing_version_stamp(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+    """init_db (the daemon's only schema entry point) bumps a stale version stamp.
+
+    Regression: init_db's own schema_meta write was ON CONFLICT DO NOTHING, so an
+    already-stamped DB (e.g. an old v3 ledger) kept its stale version forever —
+    the daemon calls init_db, never migrate(), so the stamp never advanced even
+    though the column was ensured. init_db now drives migrate(), which upserts.
+    """
+    db = tmp_path / "stale.sqlite"
+    conn = connect(db)
+    try:
+        conn.execute(_LEGACY_PENDING_QUESTIONS_DDL)
+        conn.execute(
+            "CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS schema_meta "
+            "(id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY CHECK (id = 1), schema_version INTEGER NOT NULL)"
+        )
+        conn.execute("INSERT INTO schema_meta (id, schema_version) VALUES (1, 3)")
+    finally:
+        conn.close()
+
+    init_db(db)
+
+    conn = connect(db)
+    try:
+        ver = conn.execute(
+            "SELECT schema_version FROM schema_meta WHERE id = 1"
+        ).fetchone()[0]
+        assert "kind" in _pq_columns(conn)
+    finally:
+        conn.close()
+    assert ver == SCHEMA_VERSION
+
+
 def test_kind_plan_decision_round_trips(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
     """A row written with kind='plan_decision' round-trips; default is 'clarify'."""
     db = tmp_path / "db.sqlite"