diff --git a/ops/runner/read-public-gitea-actions-queue.py b/ops/runner/read-public-gitea-actions-queue.py
index bbeb191f..e1f3f061 100644
--- a/ops/runner/read-public-gitea-actions-queue.py
+++ b/ops/runner/read-public-gitea-actions-queue.py
@@ -415,6 +415,14 @@ def build_readback(
         )
         effective_tests_log_classifier["host_pressure_waiting"] = False
         effective_tests_log_classifier["host_pressure_blocked_or_waiting"] = False
+    effective_cd_failure_classifier = build_log_classifier["failure_classifier"]
+    if (
+        not effective_cd_failure_classifier
+        and latest_cd_status in {"Blocked", "Canceled", "Failure"}
+        and cd_jobs_stale_or_mismatched
+        and cd_jobs_payload_classifier
+    ):
+        effective_cd_failure_classifier = cd_jobs_payload_classifier
     latest_cd_no_matching_runner_label = (
         latest_cd_run.get("no_matching_runner_label", "")
         or workflow_no_matching_labels.get("cd.yaml", "")
@@ -617,9 +625,7 @@ def build_readback(
             controlled_profile_no_matching_runner_labels
         ),
         "latest_visible_cd_build_log_http_status": latest_cd_build_log_http_status,
-        "latest_visible_cd_failure_classifier": build_log_classifier[
-            "failure_classifier"
-        ],
+        "latest_visible_cd_failure_classifier": effective_cd_failure_classifier,
         "latest_visible_cd_failure_status_code": build_log_classifier[
             "failure_status_code"
         ],
@@ -937,9 +943,7 @@ def build_readback(
             "controlled_profile_no_matching_runner_labels": (
                 controlled_profile_no_matching_runner_labels
             ),
-            "current_main_cd_failure_classifier": build_log_classifier[
-                "failure_classifier"
-            ],
+            "current_main_cd_failure_classifier": effective_cd_failure_classifier,
             "current_main_cd_inflight_classifier": build_log_classifier[
                 "inflight_classifier"
             ],
diff --git a/ops/runner/test_read_public_gitea_actions_queue.py b/ops/runner/test_read_public_gitea_actions_queue.py
index ef133f39..867adba1 100644
--- a/ops/runner/test_read_public_gitea_actions_queue.py
+++ b/ops/runner/test_read_public_gitea_actions_queue.py
@@ -1219,6 +1219,37 @@ def test_stale_waiting_host_pressure_log_does_not_hide_failed_cd_jobs_payload()
     )
 
 
+def test_failed_cd_with_stale_jobs_payload_gets_failure_classifier() -> None:
+    module = _load_module()
+    payload = module.build_readback(
+        actions_html=_actions_html_failed_cd_run(),
+        actions_list_http_status=401,
+        actions_list_payload={"message": "token is required"},
+        cd_jobs_http_status=200,
+        cd_jobs_payload={
+            "jobs": [
+                {
+                    "run_id": 4043,
+                    "name": "tests",
+                    "head_sha": "9c4e754d3369fa2de7606e7092712cf6d85e18e2",
+                    "conclusion": "success",
+                }
+            ],
+            "total_count": 1,
+        },
+    )
+
+    assert payload["status"] == "cd_jobs_stale_or_mismatched"
+    assert payload["readback"]["latest_visible_cd_run_status"] == "Failure"
+    assert payload["readback"]["cd_run_jobs_head_sha_mismatch"] is True
+    assert payload["readback"]["latest_visible_cd_failure_classifier"] == (
+        "cd_jobs_api_head_sha_mismatch_for_visible_cd_run"
+    )
+    assert payload["rollups"]["current_main_cd_failure_classifier"] == (
+        "cd_jobs_api_head_sha_mismatch_for_visible_cd_run"
+    )
+
+
 def test_interrupted_host_pressure_reports_postgres_recovery_cpu() -> None:
     module = _load_module()
     payload = module.build_readback(