diff --git a/.github/workflows/Create-NewReleases.yml b/.github/workflows/Create-NewReleases.yml
index fdfd46e..3a72afc 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/Create-NewReleases.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/Create-NewReleases.yml
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
       - name: Checkout source code
-        uses: actions/checkout@v6.0.1
+        uses: actions/checkout@v6.0.2
         with:
           fetch-depth: 0
           ref: 'main' # Ensure we're tagging the main branch after the merge
diff --git a/MerlinAU.asp b/MerlinAU.asp
index 84e972e..98db52c 100644
--- a/MerlinAU.asp
+++ b/MerlinAU.asp
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@
 <script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript">
 
 /**----------------------------**/
-/** Last Modified: 2025-Oct-27 **/
+/** Last Modified: 2026-Jan-24 **/
 /**----------------------------**/
 
 // Separate variables for shared and AJAX settings //
@@ -68,6 +68,12 @@ var isEMailConfigEnabledInAMTM = false;
 var scriptAutoUpdateCronSchedHR = 'TBD';
 var fwAutoUpdateCheckCronSchedHR = 'TBD';
 var isScriptUpdateAvailable = 'TBD';
+var fwUpdateEstimatedRunDate = 'TBD';
+var minimumScriptFWRequired = 'TBD';
+
+let pendingScriptUpdateGateCheck = false;
+let scriptUpdateGateTries = 0;
+const scriptUpdateGateMaxTries = 12;
 
 const validationErrorMsg = 'Validation failed. Please correct invalid value and try again.';
 
@@ -170,7 +176,7 @@ function FormatNumericSetting (formInput)
 const numberRegExp = '^[0-9]+$';
 const daysOfWeekNumbr = ['0', '1', '2', '3', '4', '5', '6'];
 const daysOfWeekNames = ['Sun', 'Mon', 'Tue', 'Wed', 'Thu', 'Fri', 'Sat'];
-const daysOfWeekRexpN = '([S|s]un|[M|m]on|[T|t]ue|[W|w]ed|[T|t]hu|[F|f]ri|[S|s]at)';
+const daysOfWeekRexpN = '([Ss]un|[Mm]on|[Tt]ue|[Ww]ed|[Tt]hu|[Ff]ri|[Ss]at)';
 const daysOfWeekRexp1 = `${daysOfWeekRexpN}|[0-6]`;
 const daysOfWeekRexp2 = `${daysOfWeekRexpN}[-]${daysOfWeekRexpN}|[0-6][-][0-6]`;
 const daysOfWeekRexp3 = `${daysOfWeekRexpN}([,]${daysOfWeekRexpN})+|[0-6]([,][0-6])+`;
@@ -248,6 +254,84 @@ const fwScheduleTime =
    }
 };
 
+function ExtractFWVersion(verStr)
+{
+   if (!verStr) { return ''; }
+   let match = String(verStr).trim().match(/\d+(?:\.\d+)+/);
+   return match ? match[0] : String(verStr).trim();
+}
+
+// Prefer hidden #firmver (same nvram source, no formatting risk), else fallback to #fwVersionInstalled //
+function GetInstalledFWVersionFromUI()
+{
+   let firmverInput = document.getElementById('firmver');
+   if (firmverInput && firmverInput.value)
+   { return ExtractFWVersion(firmverInput.value); }
+
+   let fwCell = document.getElementById('fwVersionInstalled');
+   if (fwCell)
+   { return ExtractFWVersion(fwCell.textContent); }
+
+   return '';
+}
+
+function RunScriptUpdateFirmwareGateCheck()
+{
+   if (!pendingScriptUpdateGateCheck) { return; }
+
+   scriptUpdateGateTries++;
+
+   $.ajax({
+      url: '/ext/MerlinAU/checkHelper.js?_=' + new Date().getTime(),
+      dataType: 'script',
+      timeout: 5000,
+
+      success: function()
+      {
+         let requiredStr = ExtractFWVersion(minimumScriptFWRequired);
+         let installedStr = GetInstalledFWVersionFromUI();
+
+         // If required version isn't ready yet, retry a few times //
+         if (!requiredStr || requiredStr === 'TBD')
+         {
+            if (scriptUpdateGateTries < scriptUpdateGateMaxTries)
+            { setTimeout(RunScriptUpdateFirmwareGateCheck, 1000); }
+            else
+            { pendingScriptUpdateGateCheck = false; isFormSubmitting = false; }
+            return;
+         }
+
+         let installedNum = FWVersionStrToNum(installedStr);
+         let requiredNum  = FWVersionStrToNum(requiredStr);
+
+         pendingScriptUpdateGateCheck = false;
+         isFormSubmitting = false;
+
+         if (installedNum === 0 || requiredNum === 0) { return; }
+
+         if (installedNum < requiredNum)
+         {
+            alert(
+               "**SCRIPT UPDATE BLOCKED**\n\n" +
+               "MerlinAU script cannot be updated because your router firmware is " +
+               "below the minimum firmware version supported by the new script update.\n\n" +
+               "Installed firmware version:  " + installedStr + "\n" +
+               "Minimum version supported:  " + requiredStr + "\n\n" +
+               "Please update the router firmware first, then try again to update the script."
+            );
+         }
+      },
+
+      error: function()
+      {
+         if (scriptUpdateGateTries < scriptUpdateGateMaxTries)
+         { setTimeout(RunScriptUpdateFirmwareGateCheck, 1000); }
+         else
+         { pendingScriptUpdateGateCheck = false; isFormSubmitting = false; }
+      }
+   });
+}
+
 /**-------------------------------------**/
 /** Added by Martinski W. [2025-Jan-24] **/
 /**-------------------------------------**/
@@ -910,6 +994,10 @@ function ShowLatestChangelog(e)
                     box.scrollTop -= 40;
                     ev.preventDefault();
                     break;
+                case 'Escape':
+                    $('#changelogModal').hide();
+                    ev.preventDefault();
+                    break;
                 default:
                     break;
             }
@@ -997,7 +1085,7 @@ function ValidateDirectoryPath (formField, dirType)
 function GetExternalCheckResults()
 {
     $.ajax({
-        url: '/ext/MerlinAU/checkHelper.js',
+        url: '/ext/MerlinAU/checkHelper.js?_=' + new Date().getTime(),
         dataType: 'script',
         timeout: 5000,
         error: function(xhr){
@@ -1537,7 +1625,10 @@ function GetLoginPswdCheckStatus()
 
             document.getElementById('LoginPswdStatusText').textContent = pswdStatusText;
             showhide('LoginPswdStatusText',true);
-            loginPswdHint = loginPswdHint.replace (/PswdSTATUS/, pswdStatusHint1);
+            // Rebuild the base hint fresh EACH time (so PswdSTATUS always exists) //
+            let loginUserStr = document.getElementById('http_username')?.value.trim() || 'admin';
+            let baseHint = loginPswdStatHintMsg.replace(/LoginUSER/, loginUserStr);
+            loginPswdHint = baseHint.replace(/PswdSTATUS/, pswdStatusHint1);
 
             pswdField = document.getElementById('routerPassword');
             if (passwordFailed || pswdVerified || pswdUnverified)
@@ -1688,7 +1779,7 @@ function InitializeFields()
         if (script_AutoUpdate_Check)
         {
             script_AutoUpdate_Check.checked = (custom_settings.Allow_Script_Auto_Update === 'ENABLED');
-            UpdateForceScriptCheckboxState(script_AutoUpdate_Check?.checked);
+            UpdateForceScriptCheckboxState(script_AutoUpdate_Check && script_AutoUpdate_Check.checked);
         }
 
         if (betaToReleaseUpdatesEnabled)
@@ -2132,6 +2223,11 @@ function initial()
         hiddenFrame.onload = function()
         {
             console.log("Hidden frame loaded with server response.");
+            if (pendingScriptUpdateGateCheck)
+            {
+                // Wait a moment to allow the backend logic to finish writing checkHelper.js //
+                setTimeout(RunScriptUpdateFirmwareGateCheck, 1000);
+            }
         };
         initializeCollapsibleSections();
     }
@@ -2142,6 +2238,9 @@ function initial()
 /**----------------------------------------**/
 function SaveCombinedConfig()
 {
+    // Reset containers per-save so stale values never leak forward //
+    advanced_settings = {};
+
     // Clear the hidden field before saving //
     document.getElementById('amng_custom').value = '';
 
@@ -2386,6 +2485,10 @@ function UpdateMerlinAUScript()
                         ? 'start_MerlinAUscrptupdate_force'
                         : 'start_MerlinAUscrptupdate';
 
+    pendingScriptUpdateGateCheck = true;
+    scriptUpdateGateTries = 0;
+    isFormSubmitting = true;
+
     document.form.action_script.value = actionScriptValue;
     document.form.action_wait.value   = 10;
     showLoading();
@@ -2612,7 +2715,6 @@ function initializeCollapsibleSections()
 <input type="hidden" id="nvram_model" value="<% nvram_get("model"); %>" />
 <input type="hidden" id="nvram_build_name" value="<% nvram_get("build_name"); %>" />
 <input type="hidden" id="nvram_productid" value="<% nvram_get("productid"); %>" />
-<input type="hidden" name="installedfirm" value="<% nvram_get("innerver"); %>" />
 <input type="hidden" name="amng_custom" id="amng_custom" value="" />
 
 <table class="content" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="margin:0 auto;">
@@ -2636,7 +2738,7 @@ function initializeCollapsibleSections()
 <div class="formfonttitle" id="headerTitle" style="text-align:center;">MerlinAU</div>
 <div style="margin:10px 0 10px 5px;" class="splitLine"></div>
 <div class="formfontdesc">This is the MerlinAU add-on integrated into the router WebUI
-<span style="margin-left:8px;" id="WikiURL"">[
+<span style="margin-left:8px;" id="WikiURL">[
    <a style="font-weight:bolder; text-decoration:underline; cursor:pointer;"
       href="https://github.com/ExtremeFiretop/MerlinAutoUpdate-Router/wiki"
       title="Go to MerlinAU Wiki page" target="_blank">Wiki</a> ]
@@ -2761,7 +2863,7 @@ function initializeCollapsibleSections()
    <input type="submit" id="FWUpdateCheckButton" onclick="CheckFirmwareUpdate();
     return false;" value="F/W Update Check" class="button_gen savebutton" name="button">
    <br>
-   <label style="color:#FFCC00; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom:8x">
+   <label style="color:#FFCC00; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom:8px">
    <input type="checkbox" checked="" id="BypassPostponedDays" name="BypassPostponedDays"
     style="padding:0; vertical-align:middle; position:relative; margin-left:-5px; margin-top:5px; margin-bottom:8px"/>Bypass postponed days</label>
    </br>
@@ -2770,7 +2872,7 @@ function initializeCollapsibleSections()
    <input type="submit" id="LatestChangelogButton" onclick="ShowLatestChangelog();
     return false;" value="Latest Changelog" class="button_gen savebutton" title="View the latest changelog" name="button">
    <br>
-   <label style="color:#FFCC00; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom:8x">
+   <label style="color:#FFCC00; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom:8px">
    <input type="checkbox" id="approveChangelogCheck" name="approveChangelogCheck" onclick="ToggleChangelogApproval(this);"
    style="padding:0; vertical-align:middle; position:relative; margin-left:-5px; margin-top:5px; margin-bottom:8px"/>Approve changelog</label>
    </br>
@@ -2794,7 +2896,7 @@ function initializeCollapsibleSections()
    <input type="submit" id="UninstallButton" onclick="Uninstall(); return false;"
     value="Uninstall" class="button_gen savebutton" name="button">
    <br>
-   <label style="color:#FFCC00; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom:8x">
+   <label style="color:#FFCC00; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom:8px">
    <input type="checkbox" checked="" id="KeepConfigFile" name="KeepConfigFile"
     style="padding:0; vertical-align:middle; position:relative; margin-left:-3px; margin-top:5px; margin-bottom:8px"/>Keep configuration file</label>
    </br>
@@ -2812,7 +2914,7 @@ function initializeCollapsibleSections()
 <tbody>
   <tr>
     <td colspan="2">
-      <form id="advancedOptionsForm">
+      <div id="advancedOptionsForm">
         <table class="FormTable SettingsTable" width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="5" style="table-layout: fixed;">
 <colgroup>
   <col style="width: 37%;" />
@@ -2838,7 +2940,7 @@ function initializeCollapsibleSections()
              onblur="ValidatePasswordString(this,'onBLUR')"
              onkeyup="ValidatePasswordString(this,'onKEYUP')"/>
       <div id="eyeToggle" onclick="togglePassword();"
-           style="position: absolute; display: inline-block; margin-left: 5px; vertical-align: middle; width:24px; height:24px; background:url('/images/icon-visible@2x.png') no-repeat center; background-size: contain; cursor: pointer;">
+           style="position: relative; display: inline-block; margin-left: 5px; vertical-align: middle; width:24px; height:24px; background:url('/images/icon-visible@2x.png') no-repeat center; background-size: contain; cursor: pointer;">
       </div>
     </div>
     <br>
@@ -3086,7 +3188,7 @@ function initializeCollapsibleSections()
    <input type="submit" onclick="SaveCombinedConfig(); return false;"
     value="Save Configuration" class="button_gen savebutton" name="button">
 </div>
-</form></td></tr></tbody></table>
+</div></td></tr></tbody></table>
 <div id="footerTitle" style="margin-top:10px;text-align:center;">MerlinAU</div>
 </td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></table></td>
 <td width="10"></td>
diff --git a/MerlinAU.sh b/MerlinAU.sh
index 9b8e0ec..247fde6 100644
--- a/MerlinAU.sh
+++ b/MerlinAU.sh
@@ -4,16 +4,16 @@
 #
 # Original Creation Date: 2023-Oct-01 by @ExtremeFiretop.
 # Official Co-Author: @Martinski W. - Date: 2023-Nov-01
-# Last Modified: 2026-Jan-02
+# Last Modified: 2026-Feb-07
 ###################################################################
 set -u
 
 ## Set version for each Production Release ##
-readonly SCRIPT_VERSION=1.5.8
-readonly SCRIPT_VERSTAG="26010210"
+readonly SCRIPT_VERSION=1.5.9
+readonly SCRIPT_VERSTAG="26020700"
 readonly SCRIPT_NAME="MerlinAU"
 ## Set to "master" for Production Releases ##
-SCRIPT_BRANCH="master"
+SCRIPT_BRANCH="dev"
 
 ##----------------------------------------##
 ## Modified by Martinski W. [2024-Jul-03] ##
@@ -198,13 +198,18 @@ readonly fwInstalledInnerVers="$(nvram get innerver)"
 readonly fwInstalledBranchVer="${fwInstalledBaseVers}.$(echo "$fwInstalledBuildVers" | awk -F'.' '{print $1}')"
 
 ##------------------------------------------##
-## Modified by ExtremeFiretop [2025-Dec-30] ##
+## Modified by ExtremeFiretop [2026-Jan-23] ##
 ##------------------------------------------##
-# For minimum supported firmware version check #
+# For minimum supported firmware version check.
+# *NOTE*: Due to Gnuton F/W being behind RMerlin
+# F/W releases, remove support for F/W versions
+# that are 5 builds behind the latest production.
+#------------------------------------------------#
 MinFirmwareVerCheckFailed=false
+NewMinSupportedFirmwareVers="TBD"
 readonly MinSupportedFW_3004_386_Ver="3004.386.13.2"
-readonly MinSupportedFW_3004_388_Ver="3004.388.10.0"
-readonly MinSupportedFW_3006_102_Ver="3006.102.4.0"
+readonly MinSupportedFW_3004_388_Ver="3004.388.9.2"
+readonly MinSupportedFW_3006_102_Ver="3004.388.8.4"
 
 ##----------------------------------------##
 ## Modified by Martinski W. [2025-Apr-09] ##
@@ -327,7 +332,7 @@ Say()
    logMsg="$(echo "$1" | \
    sed 's/\\e\[[0-1]m//g; s/\\e\[[3-4][0-9]m//g; s/\\e\[[0-1];[3-4][0-9]m//g; s/\\e\[30;10[1-9]m//g; s/\\n/ /g')"
    _UserLogMsg_ "$logMsg"
-   printf "$logMsg" | logger -t "[${SCRIPT_NAME}] $$"
+   printf "$logMsg" | logger -t "${SCRIPT_NAME}_[$$]"
 }
 
 ##----------------------------------------------##
@@ -2106,11 +2111,30 @@ readonly POST_REBOOT_SCRIPT_HOOK="[ -x $ScriptFilePath ] && $POST_REBOOT_SCRIPT_
 readonly POST_UPDATE_EMAIL_SCRIPT_JOB="$ScriptFilePath postUpdateEmail &"
 readonly POST_UPDATE_EMAIL_SCRIPT_HOOK="[ -x $ScriptFilePath ] && $POST_UPDATE_EMAIL_SCRIPT_JOB $hookScriptTagStr"
 
-if [ -d "$FW_LOG_DIR" ]
-then
-    # Log rotation - delete logs older than 30 days #
+##-------------------------------------##
+## Added by Martinski W. [2026-Feb-07] ##
+##-------------------------------------##
+_CleanUpOldLogFiles_()
+{
+    [ ! -d "$FW_LOG_DIR" ] && return 1
+    local numLogFiles  topLogFile
+
+    numLogFiles="$(ls -1lt "$FW_LOG_DIR"/*.log 2>/dev/null | wc -l)"
+    # Leave one log file (if any available) #
+    [ "$numLogFiles" -lt 2 ] && return 0
+
+    # Save the most recent log file #
+    topFile="$(ls -1t "$FW_LOG_DIR"/*.log 2>/dev/null | head -n1)"
+    [ -n "$topFile" ] && mv -f "$topFile" "${topFile}.SAVED.TEMP.LOG"
+
+    # Delete logs older than 30 days #
     /usr/bin/find -L "$FW_LOG_DIR" -name '*.log' -mtime +30 -exec rm {} \;
-fi
+
+    # Restore the most recent log file #
+    [ -n "$topFile" ] && mv -f "${topFile}.SAVED.TEMP.LOG" "$topFile"
+}
+
+_CleanUpOldLogFiles_
 
 ##----------------------------------------##
 ## Modified by Martinski W. [2024-Jan-27] ##
@@ -2805,17 +2829,128 @@ _DownloadScriptFiles_()
    return "$retCode"
 }
 
+##---------------------------------------##
+## Added by ExtremeFiretop [2026-Jan-23] ##
+##---------------------------------------##
+_GetRemoteMinSupportedFirmwareVers_()
+{
+   # Returns the minimum supported F/W version string for the #
+   # currently-installed F/W branch (e.g. 3004.388), based on #
+   # the *REMOTE* script content. Returns code 0 on success. #
+   local tmpScript srceScriptUrl current_version branchVer branchKey
+   local varName minVers defaultVar
+
+   tmpScript="/tmp/${SCRIPT_NAME}.sh.minfw.tmp"
+   srceScriptUrl="${SCRIPT_URL_REPO}/${SCRIPT_NAME}.sh"
+
+   current_version="$(_GetCurrentFWInstalledLongVersion_)"
+   if [ -n "$fwInstalledBranchVer" ]
+   then branchVer="$fwInstalledBranchVer"
+   else branchVer="$(echo "$current_version" | awk -F '.' '{print $1"."$2}')"
+   fi
+   branchKey="$(echo "$branchVer" | tr '.' '_')"
+   varName="MinSupportedFW_${branchKey}_Ver"
+
+   curl -LSs --retry 4 --retry-delay 5 --retry-connrefused \
+        "$srceScriptUrl" -o "$tmpScript" || return 1
+   [ -s "$tmpScript" ] || { rm -f "$tmpScript"; return 1; }
+
+   minVers="$(grep -m1 "^readonly ${varName}=" "$tmpScript" | \
+             sed -n 's/^readonly [^=]*="\([^"]*\)".*/\1/p')"
+
+   if [ -z "$minVers" ]
+   then
+       defaultVar="$(grep -m1 \
+         '^[[:space:]]*\*\)[[:space:]]*MinSupportedFirmwareVers="\$MinSupportedFW_' \
+         "$tmpScript" | \
+         sed -n 's/.*\$\([A-Za-z0-9_]*\)".*/\1/p')"
+
+       if [ -n "$defaultVar" ]
+       then
+           minVers="$(grep -m1 "^readonly ${defaultVar}=" "$tmpScript" | \
+                     sed -n 's/^readonly [^=]*="\([^"]*\)".*/\1/p')"
+       fi
+   fi
+
+   rm -f "$tmpScript"
+
+   [ -n "$minVers" ] || return 1
+   printf '%s' "$minVers"
+   return 0
+}
+
+##---------------------------------------##
+## Added by ExtremeFiretop [2026-Jan-23] ##
+##---------------------------------------##
+_CheckNewScriptMinFWBeforeUpdate_()
+{
+   # Returns 0 if OK (or unknown), 1 if the NEW script requires newer FW. #
+   # Sets global NewMinSupportedFirmwareVers when known. #
+   local current_version numOfFields numCurrentVers numNewMinVers
+   local newMinVers
+
+   # If already known, reuse it (do not re-download / re-parse remote script) #
+   if [ -n "$NewMinSupportedFirmwareVers" ] && \
+      [ "$NewMinSupportedFirmwareVers" != "TBD" ]
+   then
+       newMinVers="$NewMinSupportedFirmwareVers"
+   else
+       newMinVers="$(_GetRemoteMinSupportedFirmwareVers_)" || return 0
+       [ -n "$newMinVers" ] || return 0
+
+       # Cache for future calls #
+       NewMinSupportedFirmwareVers="$newMinVers"
+   fi
+
+   current_version="$(_GetCurrentFWInstalledLongVersion_)"
+   numOfFields="$(echo "$current_version" | awk -F '.' '{print NF}')"
+
+   numCurrentVers="$(_FWVersionStrToNum_ "$current_version" "$numOfFields")"
+   numNewMinVers="$(_FWVersionStrToNum_ "$newMinVers" "$numOfFields")"
+
+   [ "$numCurrentVers" -lt "$numNewMinVers" ] && return 1
+   return 0
+}
+
 ##-------------------------------------------##
-## Modified by ExtremeFiretop [2025-July-18] ##
+## Modified by ExtremeFiretop [2026-Jan-23] ##
 ##-------------------------------------------##
 _SCRIPT_UPDATE_()
 {
+   local current_version
+
+   ScriptUpdateDeclined=false
    if [ $# -gt 0 ] && [ "$1" = "force" ]
    then
        printf "\n${CYANct}Force downloading latest script version...${NOct}\n"
        _CheckForNewScriptUpdates_ -quietcheck
        printf "${CYANct}Downloading latest version [$DLRepoVersion] of ${SCRIPT_NAME}${NOct}\n"
 
+       current_version="$(_GetCurrentFWInstalledLongVersion_)"
+       if ! _CheckNewScriptMinFWBeforeUpdate_
+       then
+           _WriteVarDefToHelperJSFile_ "minimumScriptFWRequired" "$NewMinSupportedFirmwareVers"
+           printf "\n${CRITct}*WARNING*:${NOct} MerlinAU v${DLRepoVersion} "
+           printf "requires a newer router firmware version.\n"
+           printf "\nCurrent F/W version found: ${REDct}%s${NOct}" "$current_version"
+           printf "\nMinimum version supported: ${GRNct}%s${NOct}\n" "$NewMinSupportedFirmwareVers"
+           printf "\n${BOLDct}RECOMMENDATION:${NOct}\nUpdate the router firmware first before updating the MerlinAU script.\n"
+           if "$isInteractive"
+           then
+               printf "\n${BOLDct}Continue to download and update the script anyway?${NOct}"
+               if ! _WaitForYESorNO_
+               then
+                   ScriptUpdateDeclined=true
+                   printf "\n${GRNct}Update cancelled.${NOct}\n"
+                   return 1
+               fi
+           else
+               # Non-interactive (auto-update): do NOT brick the script #
+               _SendEMailNotification_ FAILED_SCRIPT_UPDATE_MIN_FW_STATUS
+               return 1
+           fi
+       fi
+
        if _DownloadScriptFiles_ update
        then
            printf "${CYANct}$SCRIPT_NAME files were successfully updated.${NOct}\n\n"
@@ -2843,6 +2978,12 @@ _SCRIPT_UPDATE_()
 
    ! _CheckForNewScriptUpdates_ && return 1
 
+   if "$ScriptUpdateDeclined"
+   then
+       ScriptUpdateDeclined=false
+       return 0
+   fi
+
    clear
    _ShowLogo_
 
@@ -2851,7 +2992,19 @@ _SCRIPT_UPDATE_()
    printf "${CYANct}Update Version Available Now: ${YLWct}${DLRepoVersion}${NOct}\n\n"
 
    if "$mountWebGUI_OK"
-   then _SetVersionSharedSettings_ server "$DLRepoVersion" ; fi
+   then _SetVersionSharedSettings_ server "$DLRepoVersion"
+   fi
+
+   current_version="$(_GetCurrentFWInstalledLongVersion_)"
+   if ! _CheckNewScriptMinFWBeforeUpdate_
+   then
+       _WriteVarDefToHelperJSFile_ "minimumScriptFWRequired" "$NewMinSupportedFirmwareVers"
+       printf "\n${CRITct}*WARNING*:${NOct} MerlinAU v${DLRepoVersion} "
+       printf "requires a newer router firmware version.\n"
+       printf "\nCurrent F/W version found: ${REDct}%s${NOct}" "$current_version"
+       printf "\nMinimum version supported: ${GRNct}%s${NOct}\n" "$NewMinSupportedFirmwareVers"
+       printf "\n${BOLDct}RECOMMENDATION:${NOct}\nUpdate the router firmware first before updating the MerlinAU script.\n\n"
+   fi
 
    if [ "$SCRIPT_VERSION" = "$DLRepoVersion" ] && \
       { [ -z "$DLRepoBuildNum" ] || [ "$DLRepoBuildNum" = "$ScriptBuildNum" ]; }
@@ -2962,6 +3115,12 @@ _CheckForNewScriptUpdates_()
         [ "$DLRepoVersionNum" -eq "$ScriptVersionNum" ]
       }
    then
+       if ! _CheckNewScriptMinFWBeforeUpdate_
+       then
+           _WriteVarDefToHelperJSFile_ "minimumScriptFWRequired" "$NewMinSupportedFirmwareVers"
+       else 
+           _WriteVarDefToHelperJSFile_ "minimumScriptFWRequired" "TBD"
+       fi
        scriptUpdateNotify="New script update available.
 ${REDct}v${SCRIPT_VERSION}${NOct} --> ${GRNct}v${DLRepoVersion}${NOct}"
        _WriteVarDefToHelperJSFile_ "isScriptUpdateAvailable" "$DLRepoVersion"
@@ -2975,6 +3134,7 @@ ${REDct}v${SCRIPT_VERSION}${NOct} --> ${GRNct}v${DLRepoVersion}${NOct}"
        fi
    else
        scriptUpdateNotify=0
+       _WriteVarDefToHelperJSFile_ "minimumScriptFWRequired" "TBD"
        _WriteVarDefToHelperJSFile_ "isScriptUpdateAvailable" "TBD"
    fi
    return 0
@@ -3001,9 +3161,9 @@ _GetLatestFWUpdateVersionFromRouter_()
    echo "$newVersionStr" ; return "$retCode"
 }
 
-##----------------------------------------##
-## Modified by Martinski W. [2025-Nov-10] ##
-##----------------------------------------##
+##------------------------------------------##
+## Modified by ExtremeFiretop [2026-Jan-23] ##
+##------------------------------------------##
 _CreateEMailContent_()
 {
    if [ $# -eq 0 ] || [ -z "$1" ] ; then return 1 ; fi
@@ -3102,6 +3262,26 @@ _CreateEMailContent_()
              printf "\nThe currently installed script version is: <b>${NEW_SCRIPT_VERSION}</b>\n"
            } > "$tempEMailBodyMsg"
            ;;
+       FAILED_SCRIPT_UPDATE_MIN_FW_STATUS)
+           # Use already-known minimum version requirement if available; #
+           # otherwise, attempt to compute it again from remote script #
+           minFwRequired="$NewMinSupportedFirmwareVers"
+           if [ -z "$minFwRequired" ]
+           then
+               minFwRequired="$(_GetRemoteMinSupportedFirmwareVers_ 2>/dev/null)"
+           fi
+           [ -z "$minFwRequired" ] && minFwRequired="TBD"
+
+           emailBodyTitle="MerlinAU Script Update Blocked (Unsupported Firmware)"
+           {
+             echo "MerlinAU did NOT install the new Script Update version <b>${DLRepoVersion}</b> on your <b>${MODEL_ID}</b> router."
+             echo "Reason: Your router firmware is below the minimum firmware version supported by the new MerlinAU update."
+             printf "\nCurrent router firmware version installed:\n<b>${fwInstalledVersion}</b>\n"
+             printf "\nMinimum firmware version supported by MerlinAU v${DLRepoVersion}:\n<b>${minFwRequired}</b>\n"
+             printf "\nThe installed script version remains: <b>${SCRIPT_VERSION}</b>\n"
+             printf "\nRECOMMENDATION:\nUpdate the router firmware first, then try again to update the MerlinAU script.\n"
+           } > "$tempEMailBodyMsg"
+           ;;
        FAILED_SCRIPT_UPDATE_STATUS)
            emailBodyTitle="MerlinAU Script Update Failed"
            {
@@ -9858,7 +10038,7 @@ _CheckForMinimumRequirements_()
        requirementsCheckOK=false
        Say "\n${CRITct}*WARNING*:${NOct} The current firmware version is below the minimum supported by this script."
        printf "\nCurrent F/W version found: ${REDct}${FW_InstalledVersion}${NOct}"
-       printf "\nMinimum version required: ${GRNct}${MinSupportedFirmwareVers}${NOct}\n"
+       printf "\nMinimum version supported: ${GRNct}${MinSupportedFirmwareVers}${NOct}\n"
    fi
 
    jffsScriptOK="$(nvram get jffs2_scripts)"
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index a2f11ee..0d7037c 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # MerlinAU - AsusWRT-Merlin Firmware Auto Updater
 
-## v1.5.8
-## 2026-Jan-02
+## v1.5.9
+## 2026-Feb-07
 
 ## WebUI:
 ![image](https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/9c1dff99-9c13-491b-a7fa-aff924d5f02e)
diff --git a/version.txt b/version.txt
index 1cc9c18..2b26b8d 100644
--- a/version.txt
+++ b/version.txt
@@ -1 +1 @@
-1.5.8
+1.5.9