diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 8602beb..7b95ea3 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,6 +1,15 @@
 # Changelog
 
-## v7.1.0 (unreleased)
+## v7.1.1 (unreleased)
+
+### Fix
+- The compatibility check accepts a package with the same major as the Helm Chart `appVersion` and a
+  minor greater or equal to the Helm Chart minor. A minor release of the package keeps the Helm Chart
+  contract, so it no longer needs a new Helm Chart release. A Helm Chart minor newer than the package
+  minor still aborts, because the Helm Chart can use options that the package does not know.
+  v7.1.0 refused to start with the Helm Chart `appVersion` 7.0.0.
+
+## v7.1.0 (2026-10-20)
 
 v7.1.0 replaces v8.0.0. Chartreuse keeps major 7, because the
 [Chartreuse Helm Chart](https://github.com/wiremind/wiremind-helm-charts/tree/main/charts/chartreuse)
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 2bafe71..039dc71 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ helm repo add wiremind https://wiremind.github.io/wiremind-helm-charts
 helm install wiremind-crds wiremind/wiremind-crds --version 0.1.0
 ```
 
-- Please make sure Chartreuse Python **Package version** and Chartreuse **Helm Chart version**, you use, share `major.minor` otherwise Chartreuse won't start.
+- Please make sure Chartreuse Python **Package version** and Chartreuse **Helm Chart version**, you use, share the same major, and that the Package minor is greater or equal to the Helm Chart minor, otherwise Chartreuse won't start.
 
 ## Configuration
 
diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index a3fcc71..21c8c7b 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-7.1.0
+7.1.1
diff --git a/src/chartreuse/chartreuse_upgrade.py b/src/chartreuse/chartreuse_upgrade.py
index 81f5716..90947fa 100755
--- a/src/chartreuse/chartreuse_upgrade.py
+++ b/src/chartreuse/chartreuse_upgrade.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import logging
 import os
+import re
 
 from chartreuse import get_version
 
@@ -10,14 +11,20 @@
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
+def _get_major_minor(version: str) -> tuple[str, int]:
+    """Return ("1", 2) for "1.2.3". A missing minor ("1", "1.") counts as 0."""
+    major, _, rest = version.partition(".")
+    minor_digits = re.match(r"\d*", rest)
+    return major, int(minor_digits.group()) if minor_digits and minor_digits.group() else 0
+
+
 def ensure_safe_run() -> None:
     """
-    The compatibility between the Chartreuse package and Chartreuse Helm Chart is only ensured for
-    versions with the same "major.minor".
+    The Chartreuse package supports a Helm Chart appVersion with the same major and a minor lower or
+    equal to its own. A minor release of the package keeps the Helm Chart contract, but a newer Helm
+    Chart can use options that an older package does not know.
     """
     package_v: str = get_version()
-    # Get "1.2" from "1.2.3"
-    package_v_major_minor: list[str] = package_v.split(".", 2)[:2]
 
     helm_chart_v: str = os.getenv("HELM_CHART_APP_VERSION", "")
     if not helm_chart_v:
@@ -25,12 +32,14 @@ def ensure_safe_run() -> None:
             "Couldn't get the Chartreuse's Helm Chart appVersion from the env var HELM_CHART_APP_VERSION,"
             " couldn't make sure that the package is of a compatible version, ABORTING!"
         )
-    helm_chart_v_major_minor: list[str] = helm_chart_v.split(".", 2)[:2]
-    if helm_chart_v_major_minor != package_v_major_minor:
+
+    package_major, package_minor = _get_major_minor(package_v)
+    helm_chart_major, helm_chart_minor = _get_major_minor(helm_chart_v)
+    if helm_chart_major != package_major or package_minor < helm_chart_minor:
         raise ValueError(
             f"Chartreuse's Helm Chart version '{helm_chart_v}' and the package's version '{package_v}' "
-            f"don't have the same 'major.minor' ({helm_chart_v_major_minor} != {package_v_major_minor}),"
-            " they may be incompatible. Make sure they're semver, align them and retry, ABORTING!"
+            "are incompatible: the package needs the same major and a minor greater or equal to the"
+            " Helm Chart's. Align them and retry, ABORTING!"
         )
 
 
diff --git a/src/chartreuse/tests/unit_tests/test_chartreuse_restore.py b/src/chartreuse/tests/unit_tests/test_chartreuse_restore.py
index 085b920..423d25d 100644
--- a/src/chartreuse/tests/unit_tests/test_chartreuse_restore.py
+++ b/src/chartreuse/tests/unit_tests/test_chartreuse_restore.py
@@ -32,10 +32,10 @@ def test_chartreuse_restore_restores_stopped_pods(mocker: MockerFixture) -> None
 def test_chartreuse_restore_incompatible_helm_chart_version(mocker: MockerFixture) -> None:
     """
     Test that chartreuse_restore aborts before touching anything when the package and the
-    Helm Chart don't have the same major.minor.
+    Helm Chart don't have the same major.
     """
     mocked_kdm = _configure_deployment_manager_mock(mocker)
-    mocker.patch("chartreuse.chartreuse_upgrade.get_version", return_value="5.1.0")
+    mocker.patch("chartreuse.chartreuse_upgrade.get_version", return_value="6.0.0")
     configure_os_environ_mock(mocker=mocker, additional_environment={"HELM_CHART_APP_VERSION": "5.0.0"})
 
     with pytest.raises(ValueError):
diff --git a/src/chartreuse/tests/unit_tests/test_chartreuse_upgrade.py b/src/chartreuse/tests/unit_tests/test_chartreuse_upgrade.py
index d3df7d7..a1bfe77 100644
--- a/src/chartreuse/tests/unit_tests/test_chartreuse_upgrade.py
+++ b/src/chartreuse/tests/unit_tests/test_chartreuse_upgrade.py
@@ -70,13 +70,17 @@ def test_chartreuse_upgrade_no_migration_disabled_stop_pods(
         ("1.32.1", "1.32.21-dev.12", False),
         ("12.32.1", "12.32.33.dev.yes.we.can", False),
         ("2.0.0", "", True),
-        ("2.0.0", "2.2.3", True),
+        ("2.0.0", "2.2.3", False),
         ("2.2.0", "1.8.5", True),
         ("2.0", "2.0.3.344", False),
         ("2.0.", "2.0.3.344", False),
         ("2.0.", "2.0", False),
-        ("2", "2.0", True),
-        ("2", "2.0.0", True),
+        ("2", "2.0", False),
+        ("2", "2.0.0", False),
+        ("3.0.0", "2.9.9", True),
+        ("2.3.0", "2.2.9", True),
+        ("2.10.0", "2.9.0", True),
+        ("2.9.0", "2.10.0", False),
     ],
 )
 def test_chartreuse_upgrade_compatibility_check(
diff --git a/src/chartreuse/tests/unit_tests/test_chartreuse_upgrade_extended.py b/src/chartreuse/tests/unit_tests/test_chartreuse_upgrade_extended.py
index 3ced5c5..76fcc31 100644
--- a/src/chartreuse/tests/unit_tests/test_chartreuse_upgrade_extended.py
+++ b/src/chartreuse/tests/unit_tests/test_chartreuse_upgrade_extended.py
@@ -12,24 +12,32 @@ class TestEnsureSafeRun:
     """Test cases for ensure_safe_run function."""
 
     def test_ensure_safe_run_matching_versions(self, mocker: MockerFixture) -> None:
-        """Test ensure_safe_run with matching major.minor versions."""
+        """Test ensure_safe_run with matching major versions."""
         mocker.patch("chartreuse.chartreuse_upgrade.get_version", return_value="5.2.1")
         mocker.patch.dict(os.environ, {"HELM_CHART_APP_VERSION": "5.2.0"})
 
         # Should not raise any exception
         ensure_safe_run()
 
-    def test_ensure_safe_run_mismatched_versions(self, mocker: MockerFixture) -> None:
-        """Test ensure_safe_run with mismatched major.minor versions."""
-        mocker.patch("chartreuse.chartreuse_upgrade.get_version", return_value="5.1.3")
-        mocker.patch.dict(os.environ, {"HELM_CHART_APP_VERSION": "5.2.0"})
+    def test_ensure_safe_run_package_newer_minor(self, mocker: MockerFixture) -> None:
+        """Test ensure_safe_run accepts a package minor newer than the Helm Chart minor."""
+        mocker.patch("chartreuse.chartreuse_upgrade.get_version", return_value="7.1.0")
+        mocker.patch.dict(os.environ, {"HELM_CHART_APP_VERSION": "7.0.0"})
+
+        # Should not raise any exception
+        ensure_safe_run()
+
+    def test_ensure_safe_run_helm_chart_newer_minor(self, mocker: MockerFixture) -> None:
+        """Test ensure_safe_run refuses a Helm Chart minor newer than the package minor."""
+        mocker.patch("chartreuse.chartreuse_upgrade.get_version", return_value="7.0.2")
+        mocker.patch.dict(os.environ, {"HELM_CHART_APP_VERSION": "7.1.0"})
 
         with pytest.raises(ValueError) as exc_info:
             ensure_safe_run()
 
-        assert "don't have the same 'major.minor'" in str(exc_info.value)
-        assert "5.1.3" in str(exc_info.value)
-        assert "5.2.0" in str(exc_info.value)
+        assert "are incompatible" in str(exc_info.value)
+        assert "7.0.2" in str(exc_info.value)
+        assert "7.1.0" in str(exc_info.value)
 
     def test_ensure_safe_run_missing_helm_version(self, mocker: MockerFixture) -> None:
         """Test ensure_safe_run with missing HELM_CHART_APP_VERSION environment variable."""
@@ -59,7 +67,9 @@ def test_ensure_safe_run_different_major_versions(self, mocker: MockerFixture) -
         with pytest.raises(ValueError) as exc_info:
             ensure_safe_run()
 
-        assert "(['5', '2'] != ['4', '2'])" in str(exc_info.value)
+        assert "are incompatible" in str(exc_info.value)
+        assert "4.2.1" in str(exc_info.value)
+        assert "5.2.0" in str(exc_info.value)
 
     def test_ensure_safe_run_complex_version_formats(self, mocker: MockerFixture) -> None:
         """Test ensure_safe_run with complex version formats."""