diff --git a/.github/scripts/test_verify_relink_recovery_snapshot.py b/.github/scripts/test_verify_relink_recovery_snapshot.py
index 50113aef..0b55bbe1 100644
--- a/.github/scripts/test_verify_relink_recovery_snapshot.py
+++ b/.github/scripts/test_verify_relink_recovery_snapshot.py
@@ -43,7 +43,8 @@ def make_snapshot(path: Path, content: str, context: str = "ספר א") -> None:
 
 
 class RecoverySnapshotVerifierTest(unittest.TestCase):
-    def run_case(self, original_content, rebuilt_content, artifact_record=None, rebuilt_context="ספר א"):
+    def run_case(self, original_content, rebuilt_content, artifact_record=None, rebuilt_context="ספר א",
+                 meta_schema=2, baseline_schema=2):
         temporary = tempfile.TemporaryDirectory()
         self.addCleanup(temporary.cleanup)
         root = Path(temporary.name)
@@ -53,12 +54,12 @@ def run_case(self, original_content, rebuilt_content, artifact_record=None, rebu
         digest = hashlib.sha256(original.read_bytes()).hexdigest()
         payload_meta = root / "meta.json"
         payload_meta.write_text(
-            json.dumps({"schema_version": 2, "snapshot": {"sha256": digest}}),
+            json.dumps({"schema_version": meta_schema, "snapshot": {"sha256": digest}}),
             encoding="utf-8",
         )
         baseline = root / "baseline.json"
         baseline.write_text(
-            json.dumps({"schema_version": 2, "snapshot_sha256": digest}),
+            json.dumps({"schema_version": baseline_schema, "snapshot_sha256": digest}),
             encoding="utf-8",
         )
         artifacts = root / "artifacts" / "Sefaria"
@@ -84,6 +85,23 @@ def test_identical_snapshots_pass(self):
         self.assertEqual(result.returncode, 0, result.stderr)
         self.assertIn("unlinked_image_src_differences=0", result.stdout)
 
+    def test_linker_meta_schema_3_passes(self):
+        # The Linker writes meta.json schema 3 since a9ae2d4; the snapshot sha
+        # field it binds is unchanged, so a recovery must still verify.
+        result = self.run_case("טקסט", "טקסט", meta_schema=3)
+        self.assertEqual(result.returncode, 0, result.stderr)
+        self.assertIn("RECOVERY_SNAPSHOT_SEMANTIC_OK", result.stdout)
+
+    def test_unknown_linker_meta_schema_fails(self):
+        result = self.run_case("טקסט", "טקסט", meta_schema=4)
+        self.assertNotEqual(result.returncode, 0)
+        self.assertIn("Linker meta schema", result.stderr)
+
+    def test_unknown_baseline_schema_fails(self):
+        result = self.run_case("טקסט", "טקסט", baseline_schema=3)
+        self.assertNotEqual(result.returncode, 0)
+        self.assertIn("line baseline schema 2", result.stderr)
+
     def test_unlinked_remote_to_inline_image_passes(self):
         inline = base64.b64encode(b"png").decode()
         result = self.run_case(
diff --git a/.github/scripts/verify_relink_recovery_snapshot.py b/.github/scripts/verify_relink_recovery_snapshot.py
index cabd647b..42462c63 100644
--- a/.github/scripts/verify_relink_recovery_snapshot.py
+++ b/.github/scripts/verify_relink_recovery_snapshot.py
@@ -31,6 +31,8 @@
     re.IGNORECASE,
 )
 MAX_IMAGE_BYTES = 5 * 1024 * 1024
+PAYLOAD_META_SCHEMAS = frozenset({2, 3})
+BASELINE_SCHEMA = 2
 
 
 def _sha256(path: Path) -> str:
@@ -116,8 +118,19 @@ def verify(
         raise SystemExit("original raw snapshot SHA does not match Linker payload metadata")
     if baseline.get("snapshot_sha256") != original_sha:
         raise SystemExit("line baseline is not bound to the original raw snapshot")
-    if meta.get("schema_version") != 2 or baseline.get("schema_version") != 2:
-        raise SystemExit("recovery snapshot comparison requires schema 2")
+    # The Linker bumped meta.json to schema 3 in a9ae2d4 (2026-08-31) without
+    # changing ``snapshot.sha256`` — the only field read here. The line baseline
+    # manifest is still schema 2 (line_baseline.SCHEMA_VERSION).
+    if meta.get("schema_version") not in PAYLOAD_META_SCHEMAS:
+        raise SystemExit(
+            "recovery snapshot comparison requires Linker meta schema "
+            f"{sorted(PAYLOAD_META_SCHEMAS)}, got {meta.get('schema_version')!r}"
+        )
+    if baseline.get("schema_version") != BASELINE_SCHEMA:
+        raise SystemExit(
+            f"recovery snapshot comparison requires line baseline schema {BASELINE_SCHEMA}, "
+            f"got {baseline.get('schema_version')!r}"
+        )
 
     connections = []
     for path in (original, rebuilt):