diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 71ee7500e..530b34fb4 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ Changelog for NeoFS Node
 ### Fixed
 - Description of command `netmap nodeinfo` (#1821)
 - Proper status for object.Delete if session token is missing (#1697)
+- Fail startup if metabase has an old version (#1809)
 
 ### Removed
 - Remove WIF and NEP2 support in `neofs-cli`'s --wallet flag (#1128)
diff --git a/pkg/local_object_storage/metabase/control.go b/pkg/local_object_storage/metabase/control.go
index 25cd5ae63..93b9a4458 100644
--- a/pkg/local_object_storage/metabase/control.go
+++ b/pkg/local_object_storage/metabase/control.go
@@ -58,6 +58,8 @@ func (db *DB) Open(readOnly bool) error {
 
 // Init initializes metabase. It creates static (CID-independent) buckets in underlying BoltDB instance.
 //
+// Returns ErrOutdatedVersion if a database at the provided path is outdated.
+//
 // Does nothing if metabase has already been initialized and filled. To roll back the database to its initial state,
 // use Reset.
 func (db *DB) Init() error {
diff --git a/pkg/local_object_storage/metabase/version.go b/pkg/local_object_storage/metabase/version.go
index f5af18c12..5d1d9d84f 100644
--- a/pkg/local_object_storage/metabase/version.go
+++ b/pkg/local_object_storage/metabase/version.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package meta
 
 import (
 	"encoding/binary"
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 
 	"go.etcd.io/bbolt"
@@ -12,6 +13,11 @@ const version = 2
 
 var versionKey = []byte("version")
 
+// ErrOutdatedVersion is returned on initializing
+// an existing metabase that is not compatible with
+// the current code version.
+var ErrOutdatedVersion = errors.New("invalid version")
+
 func checkVersion(tx *bbolt.Tx, initialized bool) error {
 	b := tx.Bucket(shardInfoBucket)
 	if b != nil {
@@ -19,7 +25,7 @@ func checkVersion(tx *bbolt.Tx, initialized bool) error {
 		if len(data) == 8 {
 			stored := binary.LittleEndian.Uint64(data)
 			if stored != version {
-				return fmt.Errorf("invalid version: expected=%d, stored=%d", version, stored)
+				return fmt.Errorf("%w: expected=%d, stored=%d", ErrOutdatedVersion, version, stored)
 			}
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/local_object_storage/shard/control.go b/pkg/local_object_storage/shard/control.go
index 4fdc2e8dc..c48275e09 100644
--- a/pkg/local_object_storage/shard/control.go
+++ b/pkg/local_object_storage/shard/control.go
@@ -116,6 +116,10 @@ func (s *Shard) Init() error {
 	for _, component := range components {
 		if err := component.Init(); err != nil {
 			if component == s.metaBase {
+				if errors.Is(err, meta.ErrOutdatedVersion) {
+					return err
+				}
+
 				err = s.handleMetabaseFailure("init", err)
 				if err != nil {
 					return err