diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index b0f139e..237a256 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-1.13.7
+1.13.8
diff --git a/VERSIONS.md b/VERSIONS.md
index 2b6de89..cd8c2d6 100644
--- a/VERSIONS.md
+++ b/VERSIONS.md
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ Git tags: `vMAJOR.FEATURE.FIX` (e.g. `v1.8.0`). File `VERSION` omits the `v` pre
 
 | Tag | Date (UTC) | Notes |
 |-----|------------|--------|
+| **v1.13.8** | 2026-07-19 | **Bugfix:** monpages **TOP** meta/marker failures (missing generated/version-link/taler-mon-page, empty race body) are **WARN only** — no longer self-red the run; optional `MONPAGES_TOP_STRICT=1` restores ERROR. |
 | **v1.13.7** | 2026-07-19 | **Bugfix:** move optional/meta scripts under `meta/` (deprecated mail/mm units, firecuda outside-runner, legacy multi-host site-gen); production path stays host-agent + `site-gen/console_to_html.py`. |
 | **v1.13.6** | 2026-07-19 | **Bugfix:** machine paths and SSH hosts only via env (`~/.config/taler-monitoring/env` / `taler-monitoring-env`); suite loads env before defaults; no `/home/hernani` or bogus host hardcodes. |
 | **v1.13.5** | 2026-07-19 | **Bugfix:** progress bar — env-aware phase estimates (CHECK_BANK/LANDING, mon hosts); re-fit total after each phase (done+remaining); drop fake +12 for host-agent monpages post-check (fixes stage 42/139→46/46 snap). |
diff --git a/check_monitoring_pages.sh b/check_monitoring_pages.sh
index 6135612..707853a 100755
--- a/check_monitoring_pages.sh
+++ b/check_monitoring_pages.sh
@@ -356,8 +356,14 @@ validate_mon_content() {
   pct=$(_progress_max_pct "$f")
 
   if [ "$top_ok" != "1" ]; then
+    # TOP missing is WARN-only (v1.13.8+): mid-run races and incomplete
+    # /monitoring stubs used to self-red the next HTML. Hard ERROR still for
+    # missing page / code 21 / non-suite body. Override: MONPAGES_TOP_STRICT=1.
     _MON_CONTENT_MSG="TOP: $_MON_CONTENT_MSG"
-    return 1
+    if [ "${MONPAGES_TOP_STRICT:-0}" = "1" ]; then
+      return 1
+    fi
+    return 2
   fi
   if [ "$body_ok" != "1" ]; then
     _MON_CONTENT_MSG="BODY: $_MON_CONTENT_MSG"
@@ -495,9 +501,17 @@ check_one() {
         return 0
         ;;
       2)
-        # mid-run: bottom may be incomplete — not ERROR
-        warn "public mon page mid-run" "$url -> ${_MON_CONTENT_MSG}"
-        ok "public mon page" "$url -> HTTP 200 suite HTML (mid-run bottom relaxed)"
+        # soft: TOP incomplete / mid-run bottom — WARN, never hard fail
+        case "${_MON_CONTENT_MSG}" in
+          TOP:*)
+            warn "public mon page content" \
+              "$url -> ${_MON_CONTENT_MSG} (WARN only; set MONPAGES_TOP_STRICT=1 to ERROR)"
+            ;;
+          *)
+            warn "public mon page mid-run" "$url -> ${_MON_CONTENT_MSG}"
+            ok "public mon page" "$url -> HTTP 200 suite HTML (mid-run bottom relaxed)"
+            ;;
+        esac
         rm -f "$body"
         return 0
         ;;
@@ -508,6 +522,17 @@ check_one() {
           sleep "$sleep_s" 2>/dev/null || sleep 1
           continue
         fi
+        # TOP failures should already be soft (return 2); belt-and-braces:
+        case "${_MON_CONTENT_MSG}" in
+          TOP:*)
+            if [ "${MONPAGES_TOP_STRICT:-0}" != "1" ]; then
+              warn "public mon page content" \
+                "$url -> ${_MON_CONTENT_MSG} (WARN only; set MONPAGES_TOP_STRICT=1 to ERROR)"
+              rm -f "$body"
+              return 0
+            fi
+            ;;
+        esac
         # Pre-publish inventory in host-agent PHASES: WARN only (post-check is hard)
         if [ "$pre_pub" = "1" ] || [ "$soft" = "1" ]; then
           warn "public mon page content" \