diff --git a/docs/adr/0001-core-endpoints-and-wake-routes.md b/docs/adr/0001-core-endpoints-and-wake-routes.md
index 5140662..e5cdb55 100644
--- a/docs/adr/0001-core-endpoints-and-wake-routes.md
+++ b/docs/adr/0001-core-endpoints-and-wake-routes.md
@@ -77,6 +77,13 @@ Current DHCP leases are summary-eligible and may support wake if they include a
 
 `Device.presence` is derived from all endpoints, not only summary-eligible endpoints. This lets concrete offline evidence matter while allowing stronger live evidence to override it.
 
+The control plane derives stored snapshot presence and fleet presence from the
+maximum endpoint signal whenever endpoints exist. A cached summary must not
+override endpoint evidence; endpoint-less legacy rows fall back to their stored
+summary. Presence describes the last observation, not guaranteed current
+reachability. Agent disconnection does not rewrite endpoint presence or expire
+the retained snapshot.
+
 The main fleet API embeds endpoints inside each fleet device. API responses expose all endpoints, including offline and unknown endpoints. The UI may collapse offline/unknown endpoints in the primary row, but details must expose them for copy/debug/history.
 
 ## Wakeability and Wake Route Ordering
diff --git a/src/service/inventory.rs b/src/service/inventory.rs
index 32106b1..fa70230 100644
--- a/src/service/inventory.rs
+++ b/src/service/inventory.rs
@@ -189,11 +189,13 @@ pub fn local_observation_to_fact(
 }
 
 const fn presence_rank(presence: Presence) -> u8 {
+    // Match the core signal order: Unknown has no verdict, while Offline
+    // carries concrete evidence and belongs above it in the inventory list.
     match presence {
         Presence::Online => 3,
         Presence::LikelyOnline => 2,
-        Presence::Unknown => 1,
-        Presence::Offline => 0,
+        Presence::Offline => 1,
+        Presence::Unknown => 0,
     }
 }
 
@@ -224,6 +226,23 @@ mod tests {
         }]
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn inventory_sorts_offline_before_unknown() {
+        let neighbors = [NeighborState::Incomplete, NeighborState::Failed]
+            .into_iter()
+            .enumerate()
+            .map(|(index, state)| NeighborEntry {
+                ip: IpAddr::V4(Ipv4Addr::new(192, 168, 1, index as u8 + 10)),
+                dev: None,
+                mac: None,
+                state,
+            })
+            .collect();
+        let devices = merge_devices(neighbors, Vec::new(), &InventoryQueryBuilder::new().build());
+        assert_eq!(devices[0].presence, Presence::Offline);
+        assert_eq!(devices[1].presence, Presence::Unknown);
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn merge_devices_applies_and_across_categories() {
         let query = InventoryQueryBuilder::new()
diff --git a/wakey-control-plane/src/api/control/fleet/build.rs b/wakey-control-plane/src/api/control/fleet/build.rs
index 7e5fe3d..bf1cfea 100644
--- a/wakey-control-plane/src/api/control/fleet/build.rs
+++ b/wakey-control-plane/src/api/control/fleet/build.rs
@@ -211,7 +211,8 @@ fn add_agent_device_to_entry(
         )
         .min();
     entry.label_ip = entry.label_ip.into_iter().chain(label_ip).min();
-    let device_offline = agent_device.device.presence() == Presence::Offline;
+    let device_presence = agent_device.presence();
+    let device_offline = device_presence == Presence::Offline;
     if let Some(summary) = device_known_device(&agent_device, context)
         && entry.known_device.is_none()
     {
@@ -262,7 +263,6 @@ fn add_agent_device_to_entry(
             .map(|current| current.max(last_seen))
             .unwrap_or(last_seen),
     );
-    let device_presence = agent_device.device.presence();
     entry.presence = std::cmp::max(entry.presence, device_presence);
 
     let agent_id = agent_device.device.agent_id.clone();
diff --git a/wakey-control-plane/src/api/control/fleet/tests.rs b/wakey-control-plane/src/api/control/fleet/tests.rs
index 2adca26..be0d6ea 100644
--- a/wakey-control-plane/src/api/control/fleet/tests.rs
+++ b/wakey-control-plane/src/api/control/fleet/tests.rs
@@ -452,6 +452,42 @@ fn unknown_ip_only_offline_device_is_hidden_by_default() {
     assert!(devices.is_empty());
 }
 
+#[test]
+fn endpoint_presence_overrides_conflicting_cached_summary() {
+    for connected in [false, true] {
+        for (cached, evidence) in [
+            (Presence::Unknown, Presence::Offline),
+            (Presence::Online, Presence::Unknown),
+            (Presence::Offline, Presence::Online),
+        ] {
+            let mut row = offline_ip_only_unknown("agent-a", "ip:192.168.1.2", "192.168.1.2", 20);
+            row.device.presence = cached.as_str().into();
+            let mut endpoint = endpoint_with_presence(
+                EndpointSource::Neighbor,
+                None,
+                Some("192.168.1.2"),
+                evidence,
+                20,
+            );
+            endpoint.hostname = None;
+            row.endpoints = vec![endpoint];
+            let ctx = if connected {
+                context(&["agent-a"])
+            } else {
+                context(&[])
+            };
+            let devices = build_fleet_devices(Vec::new(), vec![row], &ctx);
+            assert_eq!(devices[0].presence, evidence);
+            assert_eq!(devices[0].endpoints[0].presence, evidence);
+            assert_eq!(devices[0].agents[0].connected, connected);
+            if evidence == Presence::Offline {
+                assert_eq!(devices[0].display_name, "Offline device: 192.168.1.2");
+                assert!(devices[0].ips.is_empty());
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn unnamed_endpoint_labels_preserve_presence_and_inactive_ips() {
     for (presence, mac, ip, expected) in [
diff --git a/wakey-control-plane/src/state/store/agent_devices.rs b/wakey-control-plane/src/state/store/agent_devices.rs
index faa4b03..db2fbd2 100644
--- a/wakey-control-plane/src/state/store/agent_devices.rs
+++ b/wakey-control-plane/src/state/store/agent_devices.rs
@@ -37,7 +37,8 @@ impl Store {
             let device_key = device_key_from_id(device_id);
             incoming_keys.insert(device_key.clone());
 
-            let presence = presence_to_str(device.presence);
+            let endpoints = endpoints_for_storage(device);
+            let presence = presence_to_str(endpoint_presence(&endpoints, device.presence));
             let display_name: Option<String> = None;
 
             sqlx::query!(
@@ -118,7 +119,6 @@ impl Store {
             .await
             .context("failed deleting device endpoints")?;
 
-            let endpoints = endpoints_for_storage(device);
             if !endpoints.is_empty() {
                 let mut builder = sqlx::QueryBuilder::new(
                     "INSERT INTO agent_device_endpoints \
@@ -566,6 +566,41 @@ mod tests {
         }
     }
 
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn snapshot_presence_is_derived_from_stored_endpoints() {
+        let ts = TestStore::new().await;
+        let mut device = sample_device("aa:bb:cc:dd:ee:01", "192.168.1.10", "pc");
+        // Compatibility snapshots can lack endpoints but carry raw neighbors.
+        device.presence = Presence::Unknown;
+        device.neighbors[0].state = NeighborState::Failed;
+        ts.store()
+            .replace_agent_device_snapshot("agent-a", &[device.clone()])
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+        let rows = ts
+            .store()
+            .list_agent_device_rows_for_agent("agent-a")
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(rows[0].device.presence, "offline");
+        assert_eq!(rows[0].endpoints[0].presence, Presence::Offline);
+
+        device.presence = Presence::Online;
+        device.endpoints = rows[0].endpoints.clone();
+        device.endpoints[0].presence = Presence::Unknown;
+        ts.store()
+            .replace_agent_device_snapshot("agent-a", &[device])
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+        let rows = ts
+            .store()
+            .list_agent_device_rows_for_agent("agent-a")
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(rows[0].device.presence, "unknown");
+        assert_eq!(rows[0].endpoints[0].presence, Presence::Unknown);
+    }
+
     #[tokio::test]
     async fn snapshot_inserts_devices_and_children() {
         let ts = TestStore::new().await;
diff --git a/wakey-control-plane/src/state/types.rs b/wakey-control-plane/src/state/types.rs
index 7cb277a..8cace1f 100644
--- a/wakey-control-plane/src/state/types.rs
+++ b/wakey-control-plane/src/state/types.rs
@@ -218,6 +218,24 @@ pub struct AgentDeviceWithChildren {
     pub facts: Vec<String>,
 }
 
+impl AgentDeviceWithChildren {
+    /// Last-observed presence, not a claim of current reachability or freshness.
+    pub fn presence(&self) -> Presence {
+        endpoint_presence(&self.endpoints, self.device.presence())
+    }
+}
+
+/// Endpoints are authoritative when present; endpoint-less legacy rows retain
+/// their summary until a new snapshot replaces them. Never merge the cached
+/// summary into endpoint evidence, as it may contain a contradictory signal.
+pub(crate) fn endpoint_presence(endpoints: &[DeviceEndpoint], fallback: Presence) -> Presence {
+    endpoints
+        .iter()
+        .map(|endpoint| endpoint.presence)
+        .max()
+        .unwrap_or(fallback)
+}
+
 fn endpoint_source_from_str(raw: &str) -> Option<EndpointSource> {
     match raw {
         "neighbor" => Some(EndpointSource::Neighbor),