diff --git a/core/itch_client.gd b/core/itch_client.gd
index 39490df..f9d92e2 100644
--- a/core/itch_client.gd
+++ b/core/itch_client.gd
@@ -83,7 +83,8 @@ func _ready() -> void:
 	bootstrap()
 
 
-## Bootstraps the butler binary if it isn't present, then spawns butlerd.
+## Bootstraps the butler binary (downloading it when missing or outdated), then
+## spawns butlerd.
 func bootstrap() -> void:
 	var butler_dir_global := ProjectSettings.globalize_path(butler_dir)
 	_migrate_butler(butler_dir_global)
@@ -96,6 +97,12 @@ func bootstrap() -> void:
 			bootstrap_finished.emit()
 			return
 		logger.info("Successfully installed butler")
+	elif await _butler_is_outdated(butler_bin):
+		logger.info("Updating the butler binary to " + str(await _fetch_latest_butler_version()) + ".")
+		var success := await _install_butler()
+		if not success:
+			# Not fatal: the installed butler still works, it is just behind.
+			logger.warn("Unable to update butler, keeping the installed one.")
 
 	var dbpath := "/".join([butler_dir_global, "butler.db"])
 	var args := [
@@ -139,9 +146,8 @@ func _migrate_butler(dest_dir: String) -> void:
 	logger.info("Migrated butler from " + old_dir + " to " + dest_dir)
 
 
-## Downloads a butler binary for this platform from itch's broth distribution
-## channel (the same one the official itch.io app uses to self-update).
-func _install_butler() -> bool:
+## broth's slug for the platform we are running on, e.g. "linux-amd64".
+func _butler_platform_slug() -> String:
 	var goos := "linux"
 	var goarch := "amd64"
 	if OS.get_name() == "Windows":
@@ -155,10 +161,13 @@ func _install_butler() -> bool:
 		var arch: String = Engine.get_architecture_name()
 		if "arm64" in arch or "aarch64" in arch:
 			goarch = "arm64"
+	return goos + "-" + goarch
 
-	var platform_slug := goos + "-" + goarch
-	var latest_url := "/".join([broth_base, platform_slug, "LATEST"])
 
+## Asks itch's broth channel which butler version is current. Returns "" when
+## the channel can't be reached, so callers can tell "unknown" from "current".
+func _fetch_latest_butler_version() -> String:
+	var latest_url := "/".join([broth_base, _butler_platform_slug(), "LATEST"])
 	var http := HTTPRequest.new()
 	add_child.call_deferred(http)
 	await http.ready
@@ -166,28 +175,65 @@ func _install_butler() -> bool:
 		logger.error("Error fetching latest butler version: " + latest_url)
 		remove_child(http)
 		http.queue_free()
-		return false
+		return ""
 	var args: Array = await http.request_completed
 	var result: int = args[0]
 	var response_code: int = args[1]
 	var body: PackedByteArray = args[3]
+	remove_child(http)
+	http.queue_free()
 	if result != HTTPRequest.RESULT_SUCCESS or response_code != 200:
-		logger.error("Unable to determine latest butler version for " + platform_slug)
-		remove_child(http)
-		http.queue_free()
-		return false
-	var version := body.get_string_from_utf8().strip_edges()
+		logger.error("Unable to determine the latest butler version")
+		return ""
+	return body.get_string_from_utf8().strip_edges()
 
+
+## Reads the version of an installed butler binary, e.g. "15.30.0" out of
+## "v15.30.0, built on Jul 27 2026". Returns "" when the binary can't be run.
+func _butler_installed_version(butler_bin: String) -> String:
+	var out := []
+	if OS.execute(butler_bin, ["version"], out) != OK or out.is_empty():
+		return ""
+	var reported: String = (out[0] as String).strip_edges().get_slice(",", 0)
+	return reported.trim_prefix("v").strip_edges()
+
+
+## True when the installed butler is behind broth's current version. The
+## binary used to be downloaded only when missing, so it silently rotted for
+## months and missed fixes. Unknown version (channel unreachable, binary not
+## runnable) counts as up to date: never replace a working butler on a guess.
+func _butler_is_outdated(butler_bin: String) -> bool:
+	var latest := await _fetch_latest_butler_version()
+	if latest == "":
+		return false
+	var installed := _butler_installed_version(butler_bin)
+	if installed == "" or installed == latest:
+		return false
+	logger.info("butler " + installed + " is behind " + latest + ". Updating it.")
+	return true
+
+
+## Downloads a butler binary for this platform from itch's broth distribution
+## channel (the same one the official itch.io app uses to self-update).
+func _install_butler() -> bool:
+	var platform_slug := _butler_platform_slug()
+	var version := await _fetch_latest_butler_version()
+	if version == "":
+		return false
+
+	var http := HTTPRequest.new()
+	add_child.call_deferred(http)
+	await http.ready
 	var archive_url := "/".join([broth_base, platform_slug, version, "archive", "default"])
 	if http.request(archive_url) != OK:
 		logger.error("Error downloading butler: " + archive_url)
 		remove_child(http)
 		http.queue_free()
 		return false
-	args = await http.request_completed
-	result = args[0]
-	response_code = args[1]
-	body = args[3]
+	var args: Array = await http.request_completed
+	var result: int = args[0]
+	var response_code: int = args[1]
+	var body: PackedByteArray = args[3]
 	remove_child(http)
 	http.queue_free()
 	if result != HTTPRequest.RESULT_SUCCESS or response_code != 200:
diff --git a/plugin.json b/plugin.json
index 3826d28..3e013b2 100644
--- a/plugin.json
+++ b/plugin.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "plugin.id": "itch",
   "plugin.name": "itch.io",
-  "plugin.version": "0.1.41",
+  "plugin.version": "0.1.42",
   "plugin.min-api-version": "1.1.0",
   "plugin.link": "https://forge.thergic.ar/jose/itchio-opengamepadui-plugin",
   "plugin.source": "https://forge.thergic.ar/jose/itchio-opengamepadui-plugin",