diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index a123475e..a0d1ca8e 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ packages = [
     {include = "**/*.py", from = "src"},
 ]
 readme = "README.md"
-version = "0.25.0"
+version = "0.25.1"
 
 [tool.poetry.dependencies]
 # For certifi, use ">=" instead of "^" since it upgrades its "major version" every year, not really following semver
diff --git a/src/groundlight/edge/config.py b/src/groundlight/edge/config.py
index 3d476bb1..1b0de76d 100644
--- a/src/groundlight/edge/config.py
+++ b/src/groundlight/edge/config.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 class GlobalConfig(BaseModel):  # pylint: disable=too-few-public-methods
     """Global runtime settings for edge-endpoint behavior."""
 
-    model_config = ConfigDict(extra="forbid")
+    model_config = ConfigDict(extra="ignore")
 
     refresh_rate: float = Field(
         default=60.0,
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ class InferenceConfig(BaseModel):  # pylint: disable=too-few-public-methods
     """
 
     # Keep shared presets immutable (DEFAULT/NO_CLOUD/etc.) so one mutation cannot globally change behavior.
-    model_config = ConfigDict(extra="forbid", frozen=True)
+    model_config = ConfigDict(extra="ignore", frozen=True)
 
     name: str = Field(..., exclude=True, description="A unique name for this inference config preset.")
     enabled: bool = Field(
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ class DetectorConfig(BaseModel):  # pylint: disable=too-few-public-methods
     Configuration for a specific detector.
     """
 
-    model_config = ConfigDict(extra="forbid")
+    model_config = ConfigDict(extra="ignore")
 
     detector_id: str = Field(..., description="Detector ID")
     edge_inference_config: str = Field(..., description="Config for edge inference.")
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ class DetectorConfig(BaseModel):  # pylint: disable=too-few-public-methods
 class ConfigBase(BaseModel):
     """Shared detector/inference configuration behavior for edge config models."""
 
-    model_config = ConfigDict(extra="forbid")
+    model_config = ConfigDict(extra="ignore")
 
     edge_inference_configs: dict[str, InferenceConfig] = Field(default_factory=dict)
     detectors: list[DetectorConfig] = Field(default_factory=list)
diff --git a/test/unit/test_edge_config.py b/test/unit/test_edge_config.py
index 6d313cc0..469e6061 100644
--- a/test/unit/test_edge_config.py
+++ b/test/unit/test_edge_config.py
@@ -235,10 +235,21 @@ def test_edge_endpoint_config_from_yaml_requires_exactly_one_input():
         EdgeEndpointConfig.from_yaml(filename=" ")
 
 
-def test_edge_endpoint_config_rejects_extra_top_level_fields():
-    """Rejects unknown top-level fields to avoid silent config drift."""
-    with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="Extra inputs are not permitted"):
-        EdgeEndpointConfig.model_validate({"global_config": {}, "unknown_field": True})
+def test_edge_endpoint_config_ignores_extra_fields_at_all_levels():
+    """Unknown fields are silently ignored at every nesting level for forward compatibility."""
+    config = EdgeEndpointConfig.model_validate({
+        "global_config": {"refresh_rate": REFRESH_RATE_SECONDS, "unknown_global_field": "ignored"},
+        "edge_inference_configs": {
+            "default": {"enabled": True, "unknown_inference_field": 42},
+        },
+        "detectors": [
+            {"detector_id": "det_1", "edge_inference_config": "default", "unknown_detector_field": [1, 2]},
+        ],
+        "unknown_top_level_field": True,
+    })
+    assert config.global_config.refresh_rate == REFRESH_RATE_SECONDS
+    assert config.edge_inference_configs["default"].enabled is True
+    assert config.detectors[0].detector_id == "det_1"
 
 
 def test_model_dump_shape_for_edge_endpoint_config():