diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index da4d824e00..84193f1847 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -222,6 +222,8 @@ The install script placed beside the binary is **reported, not deleted** — uni
 - **`CROSS_*` edges** link nodes across multiple repos indexed under the same store
 - **Multi-galaxy 3D UI layout** for cross-repo architecture visualization
 - **Cross-repo architecture summary** combining services, routes, and dependencies across the indexed fleet
+- **Run status**: `index_status` (and the UI layout next to `linked_projects`) carries a `cross_repo` object, `{"status":"never_run"}` until `index_repository(mode="cross-repo-intelligence")` has run with that project as the source, then `"ran"` with `last_run_at`, `outcome`, `targets`, `projects_scanned`, `total_cross_edges` and `skipped_projects`. That is how you tell "never linked" apart from "linked, nothing matched". The status is stored in the project's own index next to its `CROSS_*` edges, so a reindex that rebuilds the index drops both at once and the status goes back to `never_run`.
+- **Skipped stores**: `target_projects: ["*"]` skips an index built before the #768 schema change rather than failing the whole run. The response lists each one as `skipped_projects: [{"name", "reason": "pre_768_schema", "hint": "reindex this project"}]`.
 
 ### Edge types (selected)
 - `CALLS` — a callable is invoked at the source site
diff --git a/src/mcp/mcp.c b/src/mcp/mcp.c
index 28d42230c3..25a23910bd 100644
--- a/src/mcp/mcp.c
+++ b/src/mcp/mcp.c
@@ -6940,6 +6940,7 @@ static char *handle_index_status(cbm_mcp_server_t *srv, const char *args) {
         }
         add_coverage_report(doc, root, store, project, have_proj_info ? proj_info.indexed_at : NULL,
                             coverage_samples);
+        (void)cbm_cross_repo_add_status_json(doc, root, store, project);
         safe_str_free(&proj_info.name);
         safe_str_free(&proj_info.indexed_at);
         safe_str_free(&proj_info.root_path);
@@ -10098,6 +10099,7 @@ static char *handle_cross_repo_mode(cbm_mcp_server_t *srv, const char *repo_path
     yyjson_doc_free(jdoc);
 
     if (result.no_targets || result.failed) {
+        cbm_cross_repo_result_free(&result);
         free(project);
         return cbm_mcp_text_result(
             result.no_targets
@@ -10135,9 +10137,23 @@ static char *handle_cross_repo_mode(cbm_mcp_server_t *srv, const char *repo_path
     yyjson_mut_obj_add_int(doc, root, "cross_trpc_calls", result.trpc_edges);
     yyjson_mut_obj_add_int(doc, root, "total_cross_edges", total);
     yyjson_mut_obj_add_real(doc, root, "elapsed_ms", result.elapsed_ms);
+    /* ["*"] skips stores it cannot link (#2133); name them so a partial fleet
+     * is visible instead of silently smaller. Only emitted when non-empty. */
+    if (result.skipped_count > 0) {
+        yyjson_mut_val *skipped = yyjson_mut_arr(doc);
+        for (int i = 0; i < result.skipped_count; i++) {
+            yyjson_mut_val *item = yyjson_mut_obj(doc);
+            yyjson_mut_obj_add_strcpy(doc, item, "name", result.skipped_projects[i].project);
+            yyjson_mut_obj_add_str(doc, item, "reason", result.skipped_projects[i].reason);
+            yyjson_mut_obj_add_str(doc, item, "hint", "reindex this project");
+            yyjson_mut_arr_append(skipped, item);
+        }
+        yyjson_mut_obj_add_val(doc, root, "skipped_projects", skipped);
+    }
 
     char *json = yy_doc_to_str(doc);
     yyjson_mut_doc_free(doc);
+    cbm_cross_repo_result_free(&result);
     free(project);
     char *out = cbm_mcp_text_result(json, result.cancelled);
     free(json);
diff --git a/src/pipeline/pass_cross_repo.c b/src/pipeline/pass_cross_repo.c
index b86d8cee43..09384a8e99 100644
--- a/src/pipeline/pass_cross_repo.c
+++ b/src/pipeline/pass_cross_repo.c
@@ -13,12 +13,14 @@
 #include "pipeline/pipeline_internal.h" // cbm_route_canon_path
 #include "foundation/constants.h"
 #include "foundation/log.h"
+#include "foundation/mem_core.h"
 #include "foundation/platform.h"
 #include "foundation/compat.h"
 #include "foundation/compat_fs.h"
 #include "foundation/str_util.h"
 
 #include <sqlite3/sqlite3.h>
+#include <yyjson/yyjson.h>
 #include <stdint.h>
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
@@ -153,27 +155,38 @@ static bool cr_store_has_exact_project(cbm_store_t *store, const char *project)
     return matches;
 }
 
-/* True when `project` is a usable cross-repo input: its store holds exactly
- * that project AND carries the schema the read-write open in
+typedef enum {
+    CR_PROJECT_USABLE = 0,
+    CR_PROJECT_MISSING, /* no store, or the store is not exactly this project */
+    CR_PROJECT_LEGACY,  /* exact project, but a pre-#768 schema (reindex required) */
+} cr_project_state_t;
+
+/* Classify `project` as a cross-repo input: usable when its store holds
+ * exactly that project AND carries the schema the read-write open in
  * cr_open_existing_project requires. Checking only the first let a pre-#768
  * store (still readable, so list_projects shows it) pass validation and the
  * ["*"] enumeration, then abort the whole run at its write open — after the
  * source's previous CROSS_* generation had already been deleted. The probe is
  * read-only, so the legacy store is left untouched for its reindex. (#2133) */
-static bool cr_project_exists(const char *project) {
+static cr_project_state_t cr_project_state(const char *project) {
     char path[CR_PATH_BUF];
     if (!cr_db_path(project, path, sizeof(path))) {
-        return false;
+        return CR_PROJECT_MISSING;
     }
     cbm_store_t *store = cbm_store_open_path_query(path);
-    bool exists = cr_store_has_exact_project(store, project);
-    if (exists && !cbm_store_edges_schema_current(store)) {
+    cr_project_state_t state =
+        cr_store_has_exact_project(store, project) ? CR_PROJECT_USABLE : CR_PROJECT_MISSING;
+    if (state == CR_PROJECT_USABLE && !cbm_store_edges_schema_current(store)) {
         cbm_log_warn("cross_repo.project_unusable", "project", project, "reason",
                      "pre_768_schema_reindex_required");
-        exists = false;
+        state = CR_PROJECT_LEGACY;
     }
     cbm_store_close(store);
-    return exists;
+    return state;
+}
+
+static bool cr_project_exists(const char *project) {
+    return cr_project_state(project) == CR_PROJECT_USABLE;
 }
 
 static cbm_store_t *cr_open_existing_project(const char *project) {
@@ -1139,8 +1152,33 @@ static cr_match_result_t match_typed_routes(cbm_store_t *src_store, const char *
 
 static void free_project_list(char **projects, int count);
 
+/* Remember a store the ["*"] enumeration skipped, so the caller can name it
+ * instead of the run silently covering fewer projects than exist. */
+static bool cr_record_skip(cbm_cross_repo_result_t *result, const char *project,
+                           const char *reason) {
+    if (!result) {
+        return true;
+    }
+    cbm_cross_repo_skip_t *grown =
+        cbm_realloc(CBM_MEM_CLASS_OTHER, result->skipped_projects,
+                    ((size_t)result->skipped_count + 1U) * sizeof(*result->skipped_projects));
+    if (!grown) {
+        return false;
+    }
+    result->skipped_projects = grown;
+    char *name = cbm_mem_strdup(CBM_MEM_CLASS_OTHER, project);
+    if (!name) {
+        return false;
+    }
+    grown[result->skipped_count].project = name;
+    grown[result->skipped_count].reason = reason;
+    result->skipped_count++;
+    return true;
+}
+
 /* When target_projects = ["*"], scan the cache directory for all .db files. */
-static int collect_all_projects(char ***out, cr_run_context_t *ctx) {
+static int collect_all_projects(char ***out, cr_run_context_t *ctx,
+                                cbm_cross_repo_result_t *result) {
     *out = NULL;
     const char *dir = cr_cache_dir();
     cbm_dir_t *d = cbm_opendir(dir);
@@ -1188,7 +1226,15 @@ static int collect_all_projects(char ***out, cr_run_context_t *ctx) {
         }
         memcpy(project, ent->name, project_length);
         project[project_length] = '\0';
-        if (!cbm_validate_project_name(project) || !cr_project_exists(project)) {
+        if (!cbm_validate_project_name(project)) {
+            continue;
+        }
+        cr_project_state_t state = cr_project_state(project);
+        if (state == CR_PROJECT_LEGACY && !cr_record_skip(result, project, "pre_768_schema")) {
+            failed = true;
+            break;
+        }
+        if (state != CR_PROJECT_USABLE) {
             continue;
         }
         if (count >= cap) {
@@ -1273,6 +1319,106 @@ static int collect_named_projects(const char **targets, int target_count, char *
     return unique_count;
 }
 
+/* ── Last-run marker ─────────────────────────────────────────────── */
+
+static bool cr_status_key(const char *project, char *buf, size_t bufsz) {
+    int written = snprintf(buf, bufsz, "cross_repo_last_run:%s", project);
+    return written > 0 && (size_t)written < bufsz;
+}
+
+/* Record this run in the SOURCE store's store_meta, next to the CROSS_*
+ * edges it just rewrote: a reindex that rebuilds the store drops both
+ * together, so the marker can never outlive the links it describes. Written
+ * once the source's previous CROSS_* generation was cleaned, whatever the
+ * outcome, because from then on the old summary no longer matches the graph.
+ * Project names are validated ([A-Za-z0-9._-]) or "*", so no JSON escaping is
+ * needed. Best-effort: a marker failure is logged, never fails the run. */
+static void cr_record_last_run(cbm_store_t *src_store, const char *project, const char **targets,
+                               int target_count, const cbm_cross_repo_result_t *result) {
+    char key[CR_QN_BUF];
+    if (!cr_status_key(project, key, sizeof(key))) {
+        return;
+    }
+    size_t cap = CR_PROPS_BUF;
+    for (int i = 0; i < target_count; i++) {
+        cap += (targets[i] ? strlen(targets[i]) : 0) + CR_COL_4;
+    }
+    char *json = cbm_alloc(CBM_MEM_CLASS_OTHER, cap);
+    if (!json) {
+        return;
+    }
+    char when[CBM_SZ_32];
+    time_t now = time(NULL);
+    struct tm tm_now;
+    if (!cbm_gmtime_r(&now, &tm_now) ||
+        strftime(when, sizeof(when), "%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ", &tm_now) == 0) {
+        when[0] = '\0';
+    }
+    const char *outcome = result->failed ? "failed" : result->cancelled ? "cancelled" : "complete";
+    size_t len = (size_t)snprintf(
+        json, cap, "{\"last_run_at\":\"%s\",\"outcome\":\"%s\",\"targets\":[", when, outcome);
+    for (int i = 0; i < target_count && len < cap; i++) {
+        len += (size_t)snprintf(json + len, cap - len, "%s\"%s\"", i ? "," : "",
+                                targets[i] ? targets[i] : "");
+    }
+    if (len < cap) {
+        int total = result->http_edges + result->async_edges + result->channel_edges +
+                    result->grpc_edges + result->graphql_edges + result->trpc_edges;
+        len += (size_t)snprintf(json + len, cap - len,
+                                "],\"projects_scanned\":%d,\"total_cross_edges\":%d,"
+                                "\"skipped_projects\":%d}",
+                                result->projects_scanned, total, result->skipped_count);
+    }
+    if (len >= cap || cbm_store_meta_put(src_store, key, json) != CBM_STORE_OK) {
+        cbm_log_warn("cross_repo.status_unrecorded", "project", project);
+    }
+    cbm_free(CBM_MEM_CLASS_OTHER, json);
+}
+
+bool cbm_cross_repo_add_status_json(struct yyjson_mut_doc *doc, struct yyjson_mut_val *parent,
+                                    cbm_store_t *store, const char *project) {
+    char key[CR_QN_BUF];
+    if (!doc || !parent || !store || !project || !cr_status_key(project, key, sizeof(key))) {
+        return false;
+    }
+    char *raw = NULL;
+    int rc = cbm_store_meta_get(store, key, &raw);
+    yyjson_doc *recorded = rc == CBM_STORE_OK ? yyjson_read(raw, strlen(raw), 0) : NULL;
+    cbm_free(CBM_MEM_CLASS_STORE, raw);
+    yyjson_val *recorded_root = recorded ? yyjson_doc_get_root(recorded) : NULL;
+    yyjson_mut_val *status = NULL;
+    if (yyjson_is_obj(recorded_root)) {
+        status = yyjson_val_mut_copy(doc, recorded_root);
+    }
+    if (!status) {
+        status = yyjson_mut_obj(doc);
+    }
+    yyjson_doc_free(recorded);
+    if (!status) {
+        return false;
+    }
+    /* "never_run" is the honest reading of an absent marker: no run with this
+     * project as the source has completed its cleanup since the store was
+     * (re)built. A target-side run still leaves its CROSS_* edges here. */
+    const char *state = rc == CBM_STORE_NOT_FOUND         ? "never_run"
+                        : yyjson_mut_obj_size(status) > 0 ? "ran"
+                                                          : "unavailable";
+    yyjson_mut_obj_add_str(doc, status, "status", state);
+    return yyjson_mut_obj_add_val(doc, parent, "cross_repo", status);
+}
+
+void cbm_cross_repo_result_free(cbm_cross_repo_result_t *result) {
+    if (!result) {
+        return;
+    }
+    for (int i = 0; i < result->skipped_count; i++) {
+        cbm_free(CBM_MEM_CLASS_OTHER, result->skipped_projects[i].project);
+    }
+    cbm_free(CBM_MEM_CLASS_OTHER, result->skipped_projects);
+    result->skipped_projects = NULL;
+    result->skipped_count = 0;
+}
+
 static cr_run_status_t add_match_count(int *total, cr_match_result_t matched) {
     *total += matched.count;
     return matched.status;
@@ -1304,7 +1450,7 @@ cbm_cross_repo_result_t cbm_cross_repo_match_cancellable(const char *project,
     int resolved_count = 0;
 
     if (target_count == SKIP_ONE && target_projects[0] && strcmp(target_projects[0], "*") == 0) {
-        resolved_count = collect_all_projects(&resolved, &run);
+        resolved_count = collect_all_projects(&resolved, &run, &result);
     } else {
         resolved_count = collect_named_projects(target_projects, target_count, &resolved, &run);
     }
@@ -1442,6 +1588,7 @@ cbm_cross_repo_result_t cbm_cross_repo_match_cancellable(const char *project,
         result.projects_scanned++;
     }
 
+    cr_record_last_run(src_store, project, target_projects, target_count, &result);
     cbm_store_close(src_store);
 
     free_project_list(resolved, resolved_count);
diff --git a/src/pipeline/pass_cross_repo.h b/src/pipeline/pass_cross_repo.h
index 898283c3e3..85c832b2d9 100644
--- a/src/pipeline/pass_cross_repo.h
+++ b/src/pipeline/pass_cross_repo.h
@@ -9,6 +9,12 @@
 
 #include <stdatomic.h>
 
+/* A store the ["*"] enumeration skipped instead of linking. */
+typedef struct {
+    char *project;      /* heap-owned */
+    const char *reason; /* static, e.g. "pre_768_schema" (reindex required) */
+} cbm_cross_repo_skip_t;
+
 /* Result of a cross-repo matching run. */
 typedef struct {
     int http_edges;    /* CROSS_HTTP_CALLS edges created */
@@ -23,8 +29,26 @@ typedef struct {
     bool no_targets;      /* failed: nothing but the source project resolved (#1133) */
     bool cancelled;       /* stopped at a bounded cancellation checkpoint */
     bool partial_results; /* committed writes before cancellation were retained */
+    cbm_cross_repo_skip_t *skipped_projects; /* ["*"] only; free with ..._result_free */
+    int skipped_count;
 } cbm_cross_repo_result_t;
 
+/* Release the heap-owned parts of a result (safe on a zeroed result). */
+void cbm_cross_repo_result_free(cbm_cross_repo_result_t *result);
+
+struct yyjson_mut_doc;
+struct yyjson_mut_val;
+
+/* Add a "cross_repo" object to `parent` describing the last cross-repo run
+ * with `project` as the source, as recorded in that project's store:
+ *   {"status":"never_run"}  -- no run recorded since the store was (re)built
+ *   {"status":"ran","last_run_at","outcome","targets","projects_scanned",
+ *    "total_cross_edges","skipped_projects"}
+ * Read-only (works on a query store). Returns false only on invalid input or
+ * allocation failure. */
+bool cbm_cross_repo_add_status_json(struct yyjson_mut_doc *doc, struct yyjson_mut_val *parent,
+                                    cbm_store_t *store, const char *project);
+
 /* Run cross-repo matching for `project` against `target_projects`.
  * If target_count == 1 and target_projects[0] == "*", matches against all
  * indexed projects. Writes CROSS_* edges bidirectionally into both the
diff --git a/src/store/store.c b/src/store/store.c
index 375834a25a..846a34447d 100644
--- a/src/store/store.c
+++ b/src/store/store.c
@@ -2723,6 +2723,77 @@ int cbm_store_generation(cbm_store_t *s, char *buf, size_t bufsz) {
     return CBM_STORE_OK;
 }
 
+int cbm_store_meta_get(cbm_store_t *s, const char *key, char **out) {
+    if (!out) {
+        return CBM_STORE_ERR;
+    }
+    *out = NULL;
+    if (!s || !s->db || !key) {
+        return CBM_STORE_ERR;
+    }
+    sqlite3_stmt *get = NULL;
+    /* A store that never advanced its generation has no store_meta table:
+     * that is "no value recorded", not an error. */
+    if (sqlite3_prepare_v2(s->db, "SELECT v FROM store_meta WHERE k = ?1;", CBM_NOT_FOUND, &get,
+                           NULL) != SQLITE_OK) {
+        sqlite3_finalize(get);
+        return CBM_STORE_NOT_FOUND;
+    }
+    bind_text(get, SKIP_ONE, key);
+    int rc = sqlite3_step(get);
+    if (rc == SQLITE_ROW) {
+        const char *value = (const char *)sqlite3_column_text(get, 0);
+        *out = cbm_mem_strdup(CBM_MEM_CLASS_STORE, value ? value : "");
+        sqlite3_finalize(get);
+        return *out ? CBM_STORE_OK : CBM_STORE_ERR;
+    }
+    sqlite3_finalize(get);
+    return rc == SQLITE_DONE ? CBM_STORE_NOT_FOUND : CBM_STORE_ERR;
+}
+
+int cbm_store_meta_put(cbm_store_t *s, const char *key, const char *value) {
+    static const char savepoint[] = "SAVEPOINT cbm_meta_put;";
+    static const char rollback[] = "ROLLBACK TO cbm_meta_put;";
+    static const char release[] = "RELEASE cbm_meta_put;";
+    if (!s || !s->db || !key || !value) {
+        return CBM_STORE_ERR;
+    }
+    if (exec_sql(s, savepoint) != CBM_STORE_OK) {
+        return CBM_STORE_ERR;
+    }
+    /* store_meta is only ever created by the generation seed, which writes
+     * db_uid + mutation_gen with it. Creating the table here without them
+     * would make cbm_store_generation() report malformed metadata, so an
+     * absent table is seeded through that one path. */
+    bool absent = false;
+    char uid[17] = {0};
+    char counter[21] = {0};
+    uint64_t counter_value = 0;
+    if (generation_metadata_read(s, &absent, uid, counter, &counter_value) != CBM_STORE_OK ||
+        (absent && cbm_store_generation_advance(s) != CBM_STORE_OK)) {
+        return rollback_savepoint_preserving_error(s, rollback, release);
+    }
+    sqlite3_stmt *set = NULL;
+    if (sqlite3_prepare_v2(s->db, "INSERT OR REPLACE INTO store_meta (k, v) VALUES (?1, ?2);",
+                           CBM_NOT_FOUND, &set, NULL) != SQLITE_OK) {
+        store_set_error_sqlite(s, "store_meta put prepare");
+        sqlite3_finalize(set);
+        return rollback_savepoint_preserving_error(s, rollback, release);
+    }
+    bind_text(set, SKIP_ONE, key);
+    bind_text(set, ST_COL_2, value);
+    int rc = sqlite3_step(set);
+    sqlite3_finalize(set);
+    if (rc != SQLITE_DONE) {
+        store_set_error_sqlite(s, "store_meta put");
+        return rollback_savepoint_preserving_error(s, rollback, release);
+    }
+    if (exec_sql(s, release) != CBM_STORE_OK) {
+        return rollback_savepoint_preserving_error(s, rollback, release);
+    }
+    return CBM_STORE_OK;
+}
+
 int cbm_store_get_project(cbm_store_t *s, const char *name, cbm_project_t *out) {
     sqlite3_stmt *stmt =
         prepare_cached(s, &s->stmt_get_project,
diff --git a/src/store/store.h b/src/store/store.h
index fd690b5daf..3cea85b90e 100644
--- a/src/store/store.h
+++ b/src/store/store.h
@@ -523,6 +523,17 @@ int cbm_store_generation_advance(cbm_store_t *s);
  * an error. */
 int cbm_store_generation(cbm_store_t *s, char *buf, size_t bufsz);
 
+/* Per-store feature metadata in store_meta (key/value text). Keys are
+ * namespaced by the owning feature, e.g. "cross_repo_last_run:<project>".
+ * get: CBM_STORE_OK with *out owned by the caller (release with
+ * cbm_free(CBM_MEM_CLASS_STORE, *out)), or
+ * CBM_STORE_NOT_FOUND when the key -- or store_meta itself -- is absent.
+ * Read-only: safe on a store opened for query.
+ * put: upserts the key; seeds store_meta through the generation path when a
+ * legacy store lacks it. Atomic (savepoint); needs a read-write store. */
+int cbm_store_meta_get(cbm_store_t *s, const char *key, char **out);
+int cbm_store_meta_put(cbm_store_t *s, const char *key, const char *value);
+
 /* Seal a fully-written staging database before atomic publication.
  * Raises synchronous to FULL, requires an exclusive TRUNCATE checkpoint to
  * complete, then leaves the database in verified DELETE journal mode so the
diff --git a/src/ui/http_server.c b/src/ui/http_server.c
index 66f1affb88..ae0dd27542 100644
--- a/src/ui/http_server.c
+++ b/src/ui/http_server.c
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 #include "ui/layout3d.h"
 #include "mcp/mcp.h"
 #include "store/store.h"
+#include "pipeline/pass_cross_repo.h"
 #include "watcher/watcher.h"
 #include "cli/cli.h"
 #include "git/git_context.h"
@@ -1729,6 +1730,9 @@ static void handle_layout(cbm_http_conn_t *c, const cbm_http_req_t *req) {
         free(linked[li]);
     }
 
+    /* Next to linked_projects: an empty list alone cannot tell "never linked"
+     * from "linked, nothing matched". */
+    (void)cbm_cross_repo_add_status_json(mdoc, mroot, store, project);
     cbm_store_close(store);
     yyjson_mut_obj_add_val(mdoc, mroot, "linked_projects", lp_arr);
 
diff --git a/tests/repro/repro_issue523.c b/tests/repro/repro_issue523.c
index 82d45b38d2..14191e0047 100644
--- a/tests/repro/repro_issue523.c
+++ b/tests/repro/repro_issue523.c
@@ -195,6 +195,7 @@ TEST(repro_issue523_crossrepo_http_calls_edge) {
     /* ── Cleanup ──────────────────────────────────────────────── */
     rh_cleanup(&client, NULL);
     rh_cleanup(&server, NULL);
+    cbm_cross_repo_result_free(&result);
 
     /*
      * WHY RED: result.http_edges == 0 on current code.
@@ -315,6 +316,7 @@ TEST(repro_issue523_scheme_stripped_url_match) {
 
     rh_cleanup(&client, NULL);
     rh_cleanup(&server, NULL);
+    cbm_cross_repo_result_free(&r);
     ASSERT_GTE(r.http_edges, 1);
     PASS();
 }
@@ -355,6 +357,7 @@ TEST(repro_issue523_template_fuzzy_match) {
 
     rh_cleanup(&client, NULL);
     rh_cleanup(&server, NULL);
+    cbm_cross_repo_result_free(&r);
     ASSERT_GTE(r.http_edges, 1);
     PASS();
 }
@@ -398,6 +401,7 @@ TEST(repro_issue523_reverse_direction_match) {
 
     rh_cleanup(&client, NULL);
     rh_cleanup(&server, NULL);
+    cbm_cross_repo_result_free(&r);
     ASSERT_GTE(r.http_edges, 1);
     ASSERT_GTE(client_cross, 1);
     PASS();
@@ -464,6 +468,9 @@ TEST(repro_issue523_idempotent_cross_edges) {
 
     rh_cleanup(&client, NULL);
     rh_cleanup(&server, NULL);
+    cbm_cross_repo_result_free(&r1);
+    cbm_cross_repo_result_free(&r2);
+    cbm_cross_repo_result_free(&r3);
 
     ASSERT_EQ(client_1, 1);
     ASSERT_EQ(server_1, 1);
diff --git a/tests/test_cross_repo.c b/tests/test_cross_repo.c
index cb4ab06071..23d74fb5b4 100644
--- a/tests/test_cross_repo.c
+++ b/tests/test_cross_repo.c
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 #include "pipeline/pipeline_internal.h"
 
 #include <sqlite3/sqlite3.h>
+#include <yyjson/yyjson.h>
 #include <stdatomic.h>
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
@@ -270,12 +271,14 @@ TEST(cross_repo_null_target_fails_without_dereference) {
     const char *targets[] = {NULL};
     cbm_cross_repo_result_t result = cbm_cross_repo_match("null-target-source", targets, 1);
     rejected = result.failed;
+    cbm_cross_repo_result_free(&result);
 #else
     fflush(NULL);
     pid_t child = fork();
     if (child == 0) {
         const char *targets[] = {NULL};
         cbm_cross_repo_result_t result = cbm_cross_repo_match("null-target-source", targets, 1);
+        cbm_cross_repo_result_free(&result);
         _exit(result.failed ? 0 : 2);
     }
     int status = 0;
@@ -307,6 +310,7 @@ TEST(cross_repo_wildcard_keeps_projects_containing_internal_tokens) {
     const char *targets[] = {"*"};
     cbm_cross_repo_result_t result = cbm_cross_repo_match("wildcard-source", targets, 1);
     cross_repo_fixture_end(&fixture);
+    cbm_cross_repo_result_free(&result);
 
     ASSERT_FALSE(result.failed);
     ASSERT_EQ(result.projects_scanned, 4);
@@ -366,6 +370,7 @@ TEST(cross_repo_wildcard_skips_pre768_store_issue2133) {
     cbm_cross_repo_result_t result = cbm_cross_repo_match("wild-src", targets, 1);
     int edges = cross_repo_count_edges(&fixture, "wild-src", "CROSS_HTTP_CALLS");
     cross_repo_fixture_end(&fixture);
+    cbm_cross_repo_result_free(&result);
 
     ASSERT_FALSE(result.failed);
     ASSERT_EQ(result.projects_scanned, 1);
@@ -393,6 +398,8 @@ TEST(cross_repo_named_pre768_target_fails_before_cleanup_issue2133) {
     cbm_cross_repo_result_t result = cbm_cross_repo_match("named-src", with_pre768, 2);
     int after = cross_repo_count_edges(&fixture, "named-src", "CROSS_HTTP_CALLS");
     cross_repo_fixture_end(&fixture);
+    cbm_cross_repo_result_free(&initial);
+    cbm_cross_repo_result_free(&result);
 
     ASSERT_FALSE(initial.failed);
     ASSERT_EQ(before, 1);
@@ -401,6 +408,96 @@ TEST(cross_repo_named_pre768_target_fails_before_cleanup_issue2133) {
     PASS();
 }
 
+/* Render the "cross_repo" status object the MCP/UI surfaces attach for
+ * `project`, read from its store the way index_status does (query open). */
+static char *cross_repo_status_json(const cross_repo_fixture_t *fixture, const char *project) {
+    char path[512];
+    if (!cross_repo_project_path(fixture, project, path, sizeof(path))) {
+        return NULL;
+    }
+    cbm_store_t *store = cbm_store_open_path_query(path);
+    if (!store) {
+        return NULL;
+    }
+    yyjson_mut_doc *doc = yyjson_mut_doc_new(NULL);
+    yyjson_mut_val *root = yyjson_mut_obj(doc);
+    yyjson_mut_doc_set_root(doc, root);
+    char *json = NULL;
+    if (cbm_cross_repo_add_status_json(doc, root, store, project)) {
+        json = yyjson_mut_write(doc, 0, NULL);
+    }
+    yyjson_mut_doc_free(doc);
+    cbm_store_close(store);
+    return json;
+}
+
+/* #2133 follow-up: an empty CROSS_* set could mean "never linked" or "linked,
+ * nothing matched" and no surface told them apart. The source store records
+ * each run; before any run the status says so explicitly. */
+TEST(cross_repo_status_distinguishes_never_run_from_ran_without_links) {
+    cross_repo_fixture_t fixture;
+    bool setup = cross_repo_fixture_begin(&fixture) &&
+                 cross_repo_create_project(&fixture, "status-src") &&
+                 cross_repo_create_project(&fixture, "status-api");
+    if (!setup) {
+        cross_repo_fixture_end(&fixture);
+        FAIL("failed to seed status fixture");
+    }
+
+    char *before = cross_repo_status_json(&fixture, "status-src");
+    const char *targets[] = {"status-api"};
+    cbm_cross_repo_result_t result = cbm_cross_repo_match("status-src", targets, 1);
+    char *after = cross_repo_status_json(&fixture, "status-src");
+    cross_repo_fixture_end(&fixture);
+
+    bool before_never = before && strstr(before, "\"cross_repo\":{\"status\":\"never_run\"}");
+    bool after_ran =
+        after && strstr(after, "\"status\":\"ran\"") && strstr(after, "\"outcome\":\"complete\"") &&
+        strstr(after, "\"targets\":[\"status-api\"]") && strstr(after, "\"projects_scanned\":1") &&
+        strstr(after, "\"total_cross_edges\":0") && strstr(after, "\"last_run_at\":\"20");
+    free(before);
+    free(after);
+    cbm_cross_repo_result_free(&result);
+
+    ASSERT_FALSE(result.failed);
+    ASSERT_TRUE(before_never);
+    ASSERT_TRUE(after_ran);
+    PASS();
+}
+
+/* #2133 follow-up: ["*"] skips a pre-#768 store (it cannot be linked until a
+ * reindex); the result must name it rather than silently covering fewer
+ * projects, and the recorded status counts it. */
+TEST(cross_repo_wildcard_reports_skipped_pre768_store) {
+    cross_repo_fixture_t fixture;
+    bool setup = cross_repo_fixture_begin(&fixture) &&
+                 cross_repo_seed_http_pair(&fixture, "skip-src", "skip-api", "/orders", "s") &&
+                 cross_repo_create_pre768_project(&fixture, "aa-pre768-store");
+    if (!setup) {
+        cross_repo_fixture_end(&fixture);
+        FAIL("failed to seed skipped-store fixture");
+    }
+
+    const char *targets[] = {"*"};
+    cbm_cross_repo_result_t result = cbm_cross_repo_match("skip-src", targets, 1);
+    char *status = cross_repo_status_json(&fixture, "skip-src");
+    cross_repo_fixture_end(&fixture);
+
+    bool named = result.skipped_count == 1 && result.skipped_projects &&
+                 strcmp(result.skipped_projects[0].project, "aa-pre768-store") == 0 &&
+                 strcmp(result.skipped_projects[0].reason, "pre_768_schema") == 0;
+    bool status_counts =
+        status && strstr(status, "\"skipped_projects\":1") && strstr(status, "\"targets\":[\"*\"]");
+    free(status);
+    cbm_cross_repo_result_free(&result);
+
+    ASSERT_FALSE(result.failed);
+    ASSERT_EQ(result.projects_scanned, 1);
+    ASSERT_TRUE(named);
+    ASSERT_TRUE(status_counts);
+    PASS();
+}
+
 static bool cross_repo_seed_bounded_scan(const cross_repo_fixture_t *fixture,
                                          const char *source_project, const char *target_project) {
     enum { TEST_SCAN_ROWS = 4097 };
@@ -488,6 +585,7 @@ TEST(cross_repo_scan_bound_counts_examined_rows_not_matches) {
     const char *target = "bounded-target";
     cbm_cross_repo_result_t result = cbm_cross_repo_match("bounded-source", &target, 1);
     cross_repo_fixture_end(&fixture);
+    cbm_cross_repo_result_free(&result);
 
     ASSERT_FALSE(result.failed);
     ASSERT_EQ(result.projects_scanned, 1);
@@ -517,6 +615,8 @@ TEST(cross_repo_propagates_delete_failure) {
         failed = cbm_cross_repo_match("delete-source", &target, 1);
     }
     cross_repo_fixture_end(&fixture);
+    cbm_cross_repo_result_free(&initial);
+    cbm_cross_repo_result_free(&failed);
 
     ASSERT_TRUE(trigger_created);
     ASSERT_TRUE(failed.failed);
@@ -540,6 +640,7 @@ TEST(cross_repo_failed_bidirectional_insert_is_not_counted) {
     const char *target = "insert-target";
     cbm_cross_repo_result_t result = cbm_cross_repo_match("insert-source", &target, 1);
     cross_repo_fixture_end(&fixture);
+    cbm_cross_repo_result_free(&result);
 
     ASSERT_TRUE(result.failed);
     ASSERT_EQ(result.http_edges, 0);
@@ -592,6 +693,7 @@ TEST(cross_repo_cancel_mid_run_keeps_completed_target_and_stops_before_later_tar
     int later_target_edges =
         cross_repo_count_edges(&fixture, "cancel-target-c", "CROSS_HTTP_CALLS");
     cross_repo_fixture_end(&fixture);
+    cbm_cross_repo_result_free(&result);
 
     ASSERT_EQ(hook.fired, 1);
     ASSERT_TRUE(result.cancelled);
@@ -623,6 +725,8 @@ TEST(cross_repo_pre_cancel_preserves_existing_cross_edges) {
         cbm_cross_repo_match_cancellable("pre-cancel-source", &target, 1, &cancelled);
     int after = cross_repo_count_edges(&fixture, "pre-cancel-source", "CROSS_HTTP_CALLS");
     cross_repo_fixture_end(&fixture);
+    cbm_cross_repo_result_free(&initial);
+    cbm_cross_repo_result_free(&result);
 
     ASSERT_FALSE(initial.failed);
     ASSERT_TRUE(before > 0);
@@ -656,6 +760,8 @@ TEST(cross_repo_self_only_target_fails_and_keeps_edges_issue1133) {
     cbm_cross_repo_result_t result = cbm_cross_repo_match("self-source", &self, 1);
     int after = cross_repo_count_edges(&fixture, "self-source", "CROSS_HTTP_CALLS");
     cross_repo_fixture_end(&fixture);
+    cbm_cross_repo_result_free(&initial);
+    cbm_cross_repo_result_free(&result);
 
     ASSERT_FALSE(initial.failed);
     ASSERT_TRUE(before > 0);
@@ -679,6 +785,7 @@ TEST(cross_repo_wildcard_with_no_other_project_fails_issue1133) {
     const char *targets[] = {"*"};
     cbm_cross_repo_result_t result = cbm_cross_repo_match("lonely-source", targets, 1);
     cross_repo_fixture_end(&fixture);
+    cbm_cross_repo_result_free(&result);
 
     ASSERT_TRUE(result.failed);
     ASSERT_TRUE(result.no_targets);
@@ -729,6 +836,7 @@ TEST(cross_repo_accepts_project_with_missed_shadow_row_issue1609) {
     const char *target = "shadow-target";
     cbm_cross_repo_result_t result = cbm_cross_repo_match("shadow-source", &target, 1);
     cross_repo_fixture_end(&fixture);
+    cbm_cross_repo_result_free(&result);
 
     ASSERT_FALSE(result.failed);
     ASSERT_EQ(result.projects_scanned, 1);
@@ -756,6 +864,8 @@ TEST(cross_repo_caller_local_handler_blocks_cross_http_issue1459) {
     int mono_edges = cross_repo_count_edges(&fixture, "mono-1459", "CROSS_HTTP_CALLS");
     int api_edges = cross_repo_count_edges(&fixture, "api-1459", "CROSS_HTTP_CALLS");
     cross_repo_fixture_end(&fixture);
+    cbm_cross_repo_result_free(&fwd);
+    cbm_cross_repo_result_free(&rev);
 
     ASSERT_FALSE(fwd.failed);
     ASSERT_FALSE(rev.failed);
@@ -789,6 +899,8 @@ TEST(cross_repo_methodless_call_to_local_get_route_blocks_cross_http_issue1459)
     int mono_edges = cross_repo_count_edges(&fixture, "mono2-1459", "CROSS_HTTP_CALLS");
     int api_edges = cross_repo_count_edges(&fixture, "api3-1459", "CROSS_HTTP_CALLS");
     cross_repo_fixture_end(&fixture);
+    cbm_cross_repo_result_free(&fwd);
+    cbm_cross_repo_result_free(&rev);
 
     ASSERT_FALSE(fwd.failed);
     ASSERT_FALSE(rev.failed);
@@ -817,6 +929,8 @@ TEST(cross_repo_caller_without_local_handler_keeps_cross_http_issue1459) {
     const char *consumer = "client-1459";
     cbm_cross_repo_result_t rev = cbm_cross_repo_match("api2-1459", &consumer, 1);
     cross_repo_fixture_end(&fixture);
+    cbm_cross_repo_result_free(&fwd);
+    cbm_cross_repo_result_free(&rev);
 
     ASSERT_FALSE(fwd.failed);
     ASSERT_FALSE(rev.failed);
@@ -836,6 +950,8 @@ SUITE(cross_repo) {
     RUN_TEST(cross_repo_wildcard_keeps_projects_containing_internal_tokens);
     RUN_TEST(cross_repo_wildcard_skips_pre768_store_issue2133);
     RUN_TEST(cross_repo_named_pre768_target_fails_before_cleanup_issue2133);
+    RUN_TEST(cross_repo_status_distinguishes_never_run_from_ran_without_links);
+    RUN_TEST(cross_repo_wildcard_reports_skipped_pre768_store);
     RUN_TEST(cross_repo_scan_bound_counts_examined_rows_not_matches);
     RUN_TEST(cross_repo_propagates_delete_failure);
     RUN_TEST(cross_repo_failed_bidirectional_insert_is_not_counted);
diff --git a/tests/test_mcp.c b/tests/test_mcp.c
index a8bea9024f..eb8bb998cb 100644
--- a/tests/test_mcp.c
+++ b/tests/test_mcp.c
@@ -13758,6 +13758,102 @@ TEST(tool_cross_repo_dedupes_targets_before_scanning_and_counting) {
     PASS();
 }
 
+/* A store written before the #768 edges.local_name_gen column: readable, but
+ * refused by every read-write open until a reindex. */
+static bool mcp_cross_repo_create_pre768_store(const char *cache, const char *project) {
+    char db_path[CBM_SZ_1K];
+    snprintf(db_path, sizeof(db_path), "%s/%s.db", cache, project);
+    sqlite3 *db = NULL;
+    if (sqlite3_open(db_path, &db) != SQLITE_OK) {
+        sqlite3_close(db);
+        return false;
+    }
+    char sql[CBM_SZ_1K];
+    snprintf(sql, sizeof(sql),
+             "CREATE TABLE projects(name TEXT PRIMARY KEY, indexed_at TEXT NOT NULL,"
+             " root_path TEXT NOT NULL);"
+             "CREATE TABLE nodes(id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY AUTOINCREMENT, project TEXT NOT NULL,"
+             " label TEXT NOT NULL, name TEXT NOT NULL, qualified_name TEXT NOT NULL,"
+             " file_path TEXT DEFAULT '', start_line INTEGER DEFAULT 0,"
+             " end_line INTEGER DEFAULT 0, properties TEXT DEFAULT '{}',"
+             " UNIQUE(project, qualified_name));"
+             "CREATE TABLE edges(id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY AUTOINCREMENT, project TEXT NOT NULL,"
+             " source_id INTEGER NOT NULL, target_id INTEGER NOT NULL, type TEXT NOT NULL,"
+             " properties TEXT DEFAULT '{}', UNIQUE(source_id, target_id, type));"
+             "INSERT INTO projects VALUES('%s', '2026-06-01T00:00:00Z', '/pre768');",
+             project);
+    bool ok = sqlite3_exec(db, sql, NULL, NULL, NULL) == SQLITE_OK;
+    sqlite3_close(db);
+    return ok;
+}
+
+/* #2133 follow-up, both user-visible halves: index_status tells "never run"
+ * from "ran" via a `cross_repo` object, and a ["*"] run names the legacy
+ * store it skipped (with the reindex hint) instead of silently linking fewer
+ * projects. */
+TEST(tool_cross_repo_status_and_wildcard_skipped_projects) {
+    char cache[256];
+    snprintf(cache, sizeof(cache), "%s/cbm-mcp-cross-status-XXXXXX", cbm_tmpdir());
+    ASSERT_NOT_NULL(cbm_mkdtemp(cache));
+
+    const char *saved_cache = getenv("CBM_CACHE_DIR");
+    char *saved_cache_copy = saved_cache ? strdup(saved_cache) : NULL;
+    cbm_setenv("CBM_CACHE_DIR", cache, 1);
+
+    char *source_project = cbm_project_name_from_path(cache);
+    ASSERT_NOT_NULL(source_project);
+    const char *target_project = "cross-status-target";
+    const char *legacy_project = "cross-status-pre768";
+    ASSERT_TRUE(mcp_cross_repo_seed_http_match(cache, source_project, target_project, cache));
+    ASSERT_TRUE(mcp_cross_repo_create_pre768_store(cache, legacy_project));
+
+    cbm_mcp_server_t *srv = cbm_mcp_server_new(NULL);
+    ASSERT_NOT_NULL(srv);
+    ASSERT_TRUE(cbm_mcp_server_set_session_context(srv, cache, NULL));
+
+    char status_args[CBM_SZ_1K];
+    snprintf(status_args, sizeof(status_args), "{\"project\":\"%s\",\"format\":\"json\"}",
+             source_project);
+    char *before = cbm_mcp_handle_tool(srv, "index_status", status_args);
+    bool before_never =
+        response_contains_json_fragment(before, "\"cross_repo\":{\"status\":\"never_run\"}");
+
+    char args[CBM_SZ_2K];
+    snprintf(args, sizeof(args),
+             "{\"repo_path\":\"%s\",\"mode\":\"cross-repo-intelligence\","
+             "\"target_projects\":[\"*\"]}",
+             cache);
+    char *run = cbm_mcp_handle_tool(srv, "index_repository", args);
+    bool run_ok = run && strstr(run, "\"isError\":true") == NULL &&
+                  response_contains_json_fragment(run, "\"total_cross_edges\":1");
+    bool skipped_named = response_contains_json_fragment(
+        run, "\"skipped_projects\":[{\"name\":\"cross-status-pre768\","
+             "\"reason\":\"pre_768_schema\",\"hint\":\"reindex this project\"}]");
+
+    char *after = cbm_mcp_handle_tool(srv, "index_status", status_args);
+    bool after_ran = response_contains_json_fragment(after, "\"status\":\"ran\"") &&
+                     response_contains_json_fragment(after, "\"total_cross_edges\":1") &&
+                     response_contains_json_fragment(after, "\"skipped_projects\":1");
+
+    free(before);
+    free(run);
+    free(after);
+    cbm_mcp_server_free(srv);
+    cleanup_project_db(cache, source_project);
+    cleanup_project_db(cache, target_project);
+    cleanup_project_db(cache, legacy_project);
+    free(source_project);
+    restore_cache_dir(saved_cache_copy);
+    free(saved_cache_copy);
+    cbm_rmdir(cache);
+
+    ASSERT_TRUE(before_never);
+    ASSERT_TRUE(run_ok);
+    ASSERT_TRUE(skipped_named);
+    ASSERT_TRUE(after_ran);
+    PASS();
+}
+
 /* `name` is the documented index project-name override and must identify the
  * cross-repo source too. Deriving from repo_path here makes custom-named
  * projects impossible to rescan even though ordinary indexing created them. */
@@ -23454,6 +23550,7 @@ SUITE(mcp_mutation_guard) {
     RUN_TEST(tool_cross_repo_checks_cancellation_after_acquiring_leases);
     RUN_TEST(tool_cross_repo_missing_inputs_fail_without_creating_ghost_databases);
     RUN_TEST(tool_cross_repo_dedupes_targets_before_scanning_and_counting);
+    RUN_TEST(tool_cross_repo_status_and_wildcard_skipped_projects);
     RUN_TEST(tool_cross_repo_honors_source_name_override);
     RUN_TEST(tool_corrupt_store_cleanup_guard_is_balanced_and_not_nested);
     RUN_TEST(tool_corrupt_store_cleanup_guard_denial_preserves_db_and_wal);