diff --git a/AGENTS.md b/AGENTS.md
index 1706545..f0af24f 100644
--- a/AGENTS.md
+++ b/AGENTS.md
@@ -829,6 +829,15 @@ session with **no other memory of this project**. So:
     `hidden lg:contents`, so children stay real grid items) with a "Show all 13
     crafts" toggle; container widened `max-w-6xl` → `max-w-7xl`; `StatCard` gained
     a `compact` prop (`+compactNumber`) so big sats don't overflow `text-4xl`.
+  - ⚠️ **Adding a field to a PERSISTED query is a crash risk (2026-10-01).**
+    `growth-stats` is in the `queryPersister` allow-list, so a cache saved before
+    a new field existed lacks it — and `stats.topCountries.length` throws
+    (`Cannot read properties of undefined`), slamming `/stats` for anyone with an
+    old cache. Fix: **bump `PERSIST_BUSTER`** (`src/lib/queryPersister.ts`, wired
+    in `App.tsx`) **AND** read defensively (`stats?.x ?? []`). ⚠️ **The smoke test
+    cannot catch this** — it boots a clean profile with no persisted cache, so it
+    passed while real users crashed. Any new field on an allow-listed query needs
+    both.
 - **NIP-05 names — `you@skate-spots.org` (2026-09-28):** SkateSpots hands out
   free handles so a new skater has a human name from minute one. The registry is
   the Netlify Function **`netlify/functions/nip05.mjs`**
diff --git a/src/lib/queryPersister.ts b/src/lib/queryPersister.ts
index eda6b59..af93f39 100644
--- a/src/lib/queryPersister.ts
+++ b/src/lib/queryPersister.ts
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ import type { Query } from '@tanstack/react-query';
 const IDB_KEY = 'skatespots:react-query-cache';
 
 /** Bump when the persisted data shape changes to invalidate old caches. */
-export const PERSIST_BUSTER = 'v1';
+export const PERSIST_BUSTER = 'v2';
 
 /** Discard any persisted cache older than this (ms). */
 export const PERSIST_MAX_AGE = 24 * 60 * 60 * 1000; // 24h
diff --git a/src/pages/CommunityStatsPage.tsx b/src/pages/CommunityStatsPage.tsx
index 55bf234..8a91ed2 100644
--- a/src/pages/CommunityStatsPage.tsx
+++ b/src/pages/CommunityStatsPage.tsx
@@ -206,6 +206,13 @@ export default function CommunityStatsPage() {
   // Total across ALL Lab creator/service crafts (matches what /lab lists)
   const labTotal = useMemo(() => (stats ? labCraftTotal(stats) : 0), [stats]);
 
+  // Defensive reads: a persisted cache saved before these fields existed would
+  // lack them, and `stats.topCountries.length` would throw. (The persist buster
+  // was bumped too, but never trust a cache blindly.)
+  const tradesByMethod = stats?.tradesByMethod ?? [];
+  const topCountries = stats?.topCountries ?? [];
+  const topCities = stats?.topCities ?? [];
+
   return (
     <>
       <div className="container max-w-7xl px-4 py-10 md:py-14">
@@ -333,9 +340,9 @@ export default function CommunityStatsPage() {
             <StatCard icon={Zap}       value={stats?.tradedSats    ?? 0} label="Sats Traded"      color="#facc15" loading={isLoading} compact />
             <StatCard icon={Zap}       value={stats?.zapCount      ?? 0} label="Zaps to Mappers"  color="#f472b6" loading={isLoading} />
           </div>
-          {stats && stats.tradesByMethod.length > 0 && (
+          {tradesByMethod.length > 0 && (
             <div className="mt-3 flex flex-wrap gap-2">
-              {stats.tradesByMethod.map((m) => (
+              {tradesByMethod.map((m) => (
                 <span
                   key={m.method}
                   className="rounded-full border border-white/10 bg-white/5 px-2.5 py-1 text-[10px] font-bold uppercase tracking-wide text-gray-300"
@@ -353,25 +360,25 @@ export default function CommunityStatsPage() {
         </section>
 
         {/* ── Section 1e: Regions ── */}
-        {stats && (stats.topCountries.length > 0 || stats.topCities.length > 0) && (
+        {(topCountries.length > 0 || topCities.length > 0) && (
           <section className="mb-12">
             <h2 className="text-xs font-black uppercase tracking-widest text-gray-500 mb-4 flex items-center gap-2">
               <Globe className="h-3.5 w-3.5 text-[#4ade80]" /> Where Skaters Are
             </h2>
             <div className="grid md:grid-cols-2 gap-4">
-              {stats.topCountries.length > 0 && (
+              {topCountries.length > 0 && (
                 <Card className="border-white/8">
                   <CardHeader className="pb-2">
                     <CardTitle className="text-sm font-black uppercase tracking-wide text-[#4ade80]">Top Countries</CardTitle>
                   </CardHeader>
                   <CardContent className="space-y-2">
-                    {stats.topCountries.map((c) => (
+                    {topCountries.map((c) => (
                       <div key={c.name} className="flex items-center gap-3">
                         <span className="w-24 truncate text-xs text-gray-300" title={c.name}>{c.name}</span>
                         <div className="h-2 flex-1 overflow-hidden rounded-full bg-white/5">
                           <div
                             className="h-full rounded-full bg-[#4ade80]"
-                            style={{ width: `${Math.max(4, (c.spots / stats.topCountries[0].spots) * 100)}%` }}
+                            style={{ width: `${Math.max(4, (c.spots / topCountries[0].spots) * 100)}%` }}
                           />
                         </div>
                         <span className="w-8 shrink-0 text-right text-xs font-bold tabular-nums text-white">{c.spots}</span>
@@ -380,19 +387,19 @@ export default function CommunityStatsPage() {
                   </CardContent>
                 </Card>
               )}
-              {stats.topCities.length > 0 && (
+              {topCities.length > 0 && (
                 <Card className="border-white/8">
                   <CardHeader className="pb-2">
                     <CardTitle className="text-sm font-black uppercase tracking-wide text-[#38bdf8]">Top Cities</CardTitle>
                   </CardHeader>
                   <CardContent className="space-y-2">
-                    {stats.topCities.map((c) => (
+                    {topCities.map((c) => (
                       <div key={c.name} className="flex items-center gap-3">
                         <span className="w-24 truncate text-xs text-gray-300" title={c.name}>{c.name}</span>
                         <div className="h-2 flex-1 overflow-hidden rounded-full bg-white/5">
                           <div
                             className="h-full rounded-full bg-[#38bdf8]"
-                            style={{ width: `${Math.max(4, (c.spots / stats.topCities[0].spots) * 100)}%` }}
+                            style={{ width: `${Math.max(4, (c.spots / topCities[0].spots) * 100)}%` }}
                           />
                         </div>
                         <span className="w-8 shrink-0 text-right text-xs font-bold tabular-nums text-white">{c.spots}</span>