diff --git a/includes/class-updater.php b/includes/class-updater.php
index e6cd9ca..7b908f4 100644
--- a/includes/class-updater.php
+++ b/includes/class-updater.php
@@ -146,10 +146,42 @@ class WC_EDM_Updater {
 			return $update;
 		}
 
+		// Shared by both branches on purpose. When these were two separate
+		// literals the no-release branch was simply missing them, and the
+		// symptom is the grey default plug on Dashboard -> Updates for as long
+		// as the feed stays down.
+		//
+		// Served from the shop's own copy of the plugin rather than from the
+		// release host: one fewer thing that has to be up and reachable for
+		// wp-admin to render correctly, it cannot go mixed content on an HTTPS
+		// shop, and the icon is in the zip anyway.
+		$icons = array(
+			'svg'     => WC_EDM_PLUGIN_URL . 'assets/icon.svg',
+			'default' => WC_EDM_PLUGIN_URL . 'assets/icon.svg',
+		);
+
 		$release = $this->latest_release();
 
+		// 🔴 Answer with the INSTALLED version rather than returning $update
+		// untouched. A plugin that answers neither way is in neither the
+		// `response` nor the `no_update` list, and WP_Plugins_List_Table builds
+		// the per-plugin "Enable auto-updates" link from that transient — so
+		// the row reads "Auto-updates are not available for this plugin",
+		// which reads as a setting rather than as a failed HTTP request. The
+		// shop then quietly stops being offered fixes, and nothing says so.
+		//
+		// The version is true and comparable, so WordPress files it under
+		// no_update and the row behaves normally until the feed answers again.
 		if ( ! $release ) {
-			return $update;
+			return array(
+				'slug'         => dirname( plugin_basename( WC_EDM_PLUGIN_FILE ) ),
+				'version'      => isset( $plugin_data['Version'] ) ? $plugin_data['Version'] : WC_EDM_VERSION,
+				'package'      => '',
+				'url'          => self::update_uri(),
+				'requires'     => isset( $plugin_data['RequiresWP'] ) ? $plugin_data['RequiresWP'] : '',
+				'requires_php' => isset( $plugin_data['RequiresPHP'] ) ? $plugin_data['RequiresPHP'] : '',
+				'icons'        => $icons,
+			);
 		}
 
 		return array(
@@ -163,15 +195,7 @@ class WC_EDM_Updater {
 			// Without this, Dashboard → Updates shows the generic grey plug
 			// next to the plugin. WordPress takes the first of svg, 2x, 1x,
 			// default that is set.
-			//
-			// Served from the shop's own copy of the plugin rather than from
-			// the release host: it is one fewer thing that has to be up and
-			// reachable for wp-admin to render correctly, it cannot go mixed
-			// content on an HTTPS shop, and the icon is in the zip anyway.
-			'icons'        => array(
-				'svg'     => WC_EDM_PLUGIN_URL . 'assets/icon.svg',
-				'default' => WC_EDM_PLUGIN_URL . 'assets/icon.svg',
-			),
+			'icons'        => $icons,
 		);
 	}
 
diff --git a/tests/smoke.php b/tests/smoke.php
index 05d18bb..77edebd 100644
--- a/tests/smoke.php
+++ b/tests/smoke.php
@@ -359,6 +359,26 @@ set_transient(
 $offered = wc_edm()->updater->offer_update( false, get_plugin_data( WC_EDM_PLUGIN_FILE, false, false ), plugin_basename( WC_EDM_PLUGIN_FILE ) );
 wc_edm_is( 'the current version is answered too, not passed over', WC_EDM_VERSION, is_array( $offered ) ? $offered['version'] : null );
 
+// And the case neither assertion above covers: the feed could not be reached.
+// Returning $update untouched there drops the plugin out of BOTH the response
+// and no_update lists, and WP_Plugins_List_Table builds the per-plugin "Enable
+// auto-updates" link from that transient — so the row reads "Auto-updates are
+// not available for this plugin", which looks like a setting rather than a
+// failed HTTP request. The shop then silently stops being offered fixes.
+set_transient( WC_EDM_Updater::TRANSIENT, 'none', 60 );
+$offered = wc_edm()->updater->offer_update( false, get_plugin_data( WC_EDM_PLUGIN_FILE, false, false ), plugin_basename( WC_EDM_PLUGIN_FILE ) );
+wc_edm_is(
+	'an unreachable feed still answers with the installed version',
+	WC_EDM_VERSION,
+	is_array( $offered ) ? $offered['version'] : null
+);
+wc_edm_ok(
+	'and that answer still carries the icon',
+	is_array( $offered ) && ! empty( $offered['icons'] ),
+	'without icons in this branch Dashboard -> Updates shows the grey default plug until the feed answers again'
+);
+delete_transient( WC_EDM_Updater::TRANSIENT );
+
 // 🔴 The filter name is built from the HOSTNAME, not the repository. Every
 // plugin updating from gitea.nolimit.dk shares the hook
 // update_plugins_gitea.nolimit.dk, and WordPress runs every callback on it for