diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 425918b2..80e840d7 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -36,6 +36,9 @@ Format follows [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/). Haven uses [Sema
 - **Link cards in threads (#5620).** A link posted as a reply in a forum
   topic, or in any other thread, now gets the same preview card as it does in
   the channel. Reported by @quakeman00.
+- **Forum topic cards show the protection shield (#5622).** A protected topic
+  now carries the shield on its card, and its right-click menu offers Unprotect
+  instead of Protect a second time. Reported by @quakeman00.
 
 ## [4.6.0] - 2026-09-09
 
diff --git a/public/js/app.js b/public/js/app.js
index 752f0210..2ea9ffba 100644
--- a/public/js/app.js
+++ b/public/js/app.js
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 //           notifications, volume sliders, status bar
 // ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
 
-import SocketMethods   from './modules/app-socket.js?v=4.5.5';
+import SocketMethods   from './modules/app-socket.js?v=4.6.1';
 import UIBindMethods   from './modules/app-ui.js?v=4.6.1';
 import MediaMethods    from './modules/app-media.js?v=4.5.4';
 import ContextMethods  from './modules/app-context.js?v=3.44.6';
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ import AdminMethods    from './modules/app-admin.js?v=4.6.1';
 import PlatformMethods from './modules/app-platform.js?v=4.5.1';
 import SearchMethods   from './modules/app-search.js?v=3.49.0';
 import FerryMethods    from './modules/app-ferry.js?v=3.51.4';
-import ForumMethods    from './modules/app-forum.js?v=4.5.0';
+import ForumMethods    from './modules/app-forum.js?v=4.6.1';
 
 class HavenApp {
   constructor() {
diff --git a/public/js/modules/app-forum.js b/public/js/modules/app-forum.js
index 3a29c29b..427e25b9 100644
--- a/public/js/modules/app-forum.js
+++ b/public/js/modules/app-forum.js
@@ -182,6 +182,9 @@ _createForumTopicEl(msg) {
   el.dataset.userId = msg.user_id;
   el.dataset.time = msg.created_at;
   el.dataset.username = msg.username || '';
+  // Protected topics carry the same flag and shield as a message in chat, so
+  // the card shows it and the context menu offers Unprotect (#5622).
+  if (msg.is_archived) { el.classList.add('archived'); el.dataset.archived = '1'; }
   const tagsOf = this._forumTagsOf();
   const tags = Array.isArray(msg.tags) ? msg.tags : [];
   const thumb = this._forumThumbOf(msg);
@@ -191,7 +194,7 @@ _createForumTopicEl(msg) {
   el.innerHTML = `
     ${thumb ? `<div class="forum-topic-thumb"><img ${this._lazySrcAttr ? this._lazySrcAttr(`src="${this._escapeHtml(thumb)}"`) : `src="${this._escapeHtml(thumb)}"`} class="chat-image forum-thumb-img" alt=""></div>` : `<div class="forum-topic-thumb forum-topic-thumb-empty"><span>⬡</span></div>`}
     <div class="forum-topic-body">
-      <div class="forum-topic-tags">${msg.pinned ? `<span class="forum-tag forum-tag-pinned">📌 ${t('forum.pinned')}</span>` : ''}${tags.map(name => { const tg = tagsOf.find(x => x.name === name); return `<span class="forum-tag">${tg && tg.emoji ? this._escapeHtml(tg.emoji) + ' ' : ''}${this._escapeHtml(name)}</span>`; }).join('')}</div>
+      <div class="forum-topic-tags">${msg.is_archived ? `<span class="forum-tag forum-tag-protected archived-tag" title="${this._escapeHtml(t('app.messages.protected'))}">🛡️</span>` : ''}${msg.pinned ? `<span class="forum-tag forum-tag-pinned">📌 ${t('forum.pinned')}</span>` : ''}${tags.map(name => { const tg = tagsOf.find(x => x.name === name); return `<span class="forum-tag">${tg && tg.emoji ? this._escapeHtml(tg.emoji) + ' ' : ''}${this._escapeHtml(name)}</span>`; }).join('')}</div>
       <div class="forum-topic-title">${this._escapeHtml(this._forumTitleOf(msg))}</div>
       <div class="forum-topic-snippet message-content">${this._escapeHtml(this._forumSnippetOf(msg))}</div>
       <div class="forum-topic-meta">
diff --git a/public/js/modules/app-socket.js b/public/js/modules/app-socket.js
index ee56c697..fdcd4a81 100644
--- a/public/js/modules/app-socket.js
+++ b/public/js/modules/app-socket.js
@@ -2240,12 +2240,20 @@ _setupSocketListeners() {
         if (msgEl.classList.contains('message-compact') && content && !content.querySelector('.archived-tag')) {
           content.insertAdjacentHTML('afterbegin', `<span class="archived-tag" title="${t('app.messages.protected')}">🛡️</span>`);
         }
+        // A forum topic card shows the shield with its tags (#5622).
+        const forumTags = msgEl.classList.contains('forum-topic') ? msgEl.querySelector('.forum-topic-tags') : null;
+        if (forumTags && !forumTags.querySelector('.archived-tag')) {
+          forumTags.insertAdjacentHTML('afterbegin', `<span class="forum-tag forum-tag-protected archived-tag" title="${t('app.messages.protected')}">🛡️</span>`);
+        }
         // Update toolbar: swap archive → unarchive
         const archBtn = msgEl.querySelector('[data-action="archive"]');
         if (archBtn) { archBtn.dataset.action = 'unarchive'; archBtn.title = t('app.messages.unprotect_btn'); }
       }
       this._appendSystemMessage(`🛡️ ${t('header.messages.protected_by', { name: data.archivedBy })}`);
     }
+    // Keep the cached topic in step so a re-rendered card keeps its shield.
+    const topic = this._forumTopics && this._forumTopics.get(data.messageId);
+    if (topic) topic.is_archived = 1;
   });
 
   this.socket.on('message-unarchived', (data) => {
@@ -2265,6 +2273,8 @@ _setupSocketListeners() {
       }
       this._appendSystemMessage(`🛡️ ${t('header.messages.message_unprotected')}`);
     }
+    const topic = this._forumTopics && this._forumTopics.get(data.messageId);
+    if (topic) topic.is_archived = 0;
   });
 
   // ── Admin moderation events ────────────────────────