diff --git a/config/consensus.go b/config/consensus.go
index 07aa9ba84f..61ca55a2f8 100644
--- a/config/consensus.go
+++ b/config/consensus.go
@@ -910,6 +910,9 @@ func initConsensusProtocols() {
 	// Enable application support
 	v24.Application = true
 
+	// Although Inners were not allowed yet, this gates downgrade checks, which must be allowed
+	v24.MinInnerApplVersion = 6
+
 	// Enable rekeying
 	v24.SupportRekeying = true
 
@@ -1090,7 +1093,6 @@ func initConsensusProtocols() {
 	v31.LogicSigVersion = 6
 	v31.EnableInnerTransactionPooling = true
 	v31.IsolateClearState = true
-	v31.MinInnerApplVersion = 6
 
 	// stat proof key registration
 	v31.EnableStateProofKeyregCheck = true
diff --git a/data/transactions/transaction.go b/data/transactions/transaction.go
index 5c67f64dd2..1c63c0c8a4 100644
--- a/data/transactions/transaction.go
+++ b/data/transactions/transaction.go
@@ -726,9 +726,9 @@ func ProgramVersion(bytecode []byte) (version uint64, length int, err error) {
 // matching versions between approval and clearstate.
 const syncProgramsVersion = 6
 
-// CheckContractVersions ensures that for v6 and higher two programs are version
-// matched, and that they are not a downgrade.  If proto.AllowV4InnerAppls, then
-// no downgrades are allowed, regardless of version.
+// CheckContractVersions ensures that for syncProgramsVersion and higher, two programs are version
+// matched, and that they are not a downgrade.  If either program version is
+// >= proto.MinInnerApplVersion, downgrade of that program is not allowed.
 func CheckContractVersions(approval []byte, clear []byte, previous basics.AppParams, proto *config.ConsensusParams) error {
 	av, _, err := ProgramVersion(approval)
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/ledger/internal/apptxn_test.go b/ledger/internal/apptxn_test.go
index 4e2b64c1a3..94f72b0e2c 100644
--- a/ledger/internal/apptxn_test.go
+++ b/ledger/internal/apptxn_test.go
@@ -1890,7 +1890,7 @@ func TestInnerAppVersionCalling(t *testing.T) {
 
 	genBalances, addrs, _ := ledgertesting.NewTestGenesis()
 
-	// 31 allowed inner appls. vFuture enables proto.AllowV4InnerAppls (presumed v33, below)
+	// 31 allowed inner appls. v33 lowered proto.MinInnerApplVersion
 	testConsensusRange(t, 31, 0, func(t *testing.T, ver int) {
 		dl := NewDoubleLedger(t, genBalances, consensusByNumber[ver])
 		defer dl.Close()
@@ -1994,7 +1994,7 @@ itxn_submit`,
 			createAndOptin.ApplicationArgs = [][]byte{six.Program, six.Program}
 			dl.txn(&createAndOptin, "overspend") // passed the checks, but is an overspend
 		} else {
-			// after 32 proto.AllowV4InnerAppls should be in effect, so calls and optins to v5 are ok
+			// after 32 proto.MinInnerApplVersion is lowered to 4, so calls and optins to v5 are ok
 			dl.txn(&call, "overspend")         // it tried to execute, but test doesn't bother funding
 			dl.txn(&optin, "overspend")        // it tried to execute, but test doesn't bother funding
 			optin.ForeignApps[0] = v5withv3csp // but we can't optin to a v5 if it has an old csp
@@ -2070,6 +2070,10 @@ func TestAppDowngrade(t *testing.T) {
 	partitiontest.PartitionTest(t)
 	t.Parallel()
 
+	two, err := logic.AssembleStringWithVersion("int 1", 2)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	three, err := logic.AssembleStringWithVersion("int 1", 3)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
 	four, err := logic.AssembleStringWithVersion("int 1", 4)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	five, err := logic.AssembleStringWithVersion("int 1", 5)
@@ -2078,6 +2082,40 @@ func TestAppDowngrade(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	genBalances, addrs, _ := ledgertesting.NewTestGenesis()
+
+	// Confirm that in old protocol version, downgrade is legal
+	// Start at 28 because we want to v4 app to downgrade to v3
+	testConsensusRange(t, 28, 30, func(t *testing.T, ver int) {
+		dl := NewDoubleLedger(t, genBalances, consensusByNumber[ver])
+		defer dl.Close()
+
+		create := txntest.Txn{
+			Type:              "appl",
+			Sender:            addrs[0],
+			ApprovalProgram:   four.Program,
+			ClearStateProgram: four.Program,
+		}
+
+		vb := dl.fullBlock(&create)
+		app := vb.Block().Payset[0].ApplicationID
+
+		update := txntest.Txn{
+			Type:              "appl",
+			ApplicationID:     app,
+			OnCompletion:      transactions.UpdateApplicationOC,
+			Sender:            addrs[0],
+			ApprovalProgram:   three.Program,
+			ClearStateProgram: three.Program,
+		}
+
+		// No change - legal
+		dl.fullBlock(&update)
+
+		update.ApprovalProgram = two.Program
+		// Also legal, and let's check mismatched version while we're at it.
+		dl.fullBlock(&update)
+	})
+
 	testConsensusRange(t, 31, 0, func(t *testing.T, ver int) {
 		dl := NewDoubleLedger(t, genBalances, consensusByNumber[ver])
 		defer dl.Close()
@@ -2112,7 +2150,7 @@ func TestAppDowngrade(t *testing.T) {
 		update.ClearStateProgram = five.Program
 		dl.fullBlock(&update)
 
-		// Downgrade (allowed for pre 6 programs until AllowV4InnerAppls)
+		// Downgrade (allowed for pre 6 programs until MinInnerApplVersion was lowered)
 		update.ClearStateProgram = four.Program
 		if ver <= 32 {
 			dl.fullBlock(update.Noted("actually a repeat of first upgrade"))