diff --git a/lib/commands/audit.js b/lib/commands/audit.js
index a8d742cc73a6e..6a55af4313584 100644
--- a/lib/commands/audit.js
+++ b/lib/commands/audit.js
@@ -73,6 +73,19 @@ class Audit extends ArboristWorkspaceCmd {
     await arb.audit({ fix })
     if (fix) {
       await reifyFinish(this.npm, arb)
+      // Report any fix that a `min-release-age`/`before` window blocked from
+      // installing, and exit non-zero so a blocked fix is not missed.
+      const report = arb.auditReport
+      const blocked = report instanceof Map
+        ? [...report.values()].filter(v => v.fixBlockedByReleaseAge).map(v => v.name)
+        : []
+      if (blocked.length) {
+        log.warn('audit', `${blocked.length} package(s) left at a vulnerable version because ` +
+          `a fix is newer than the release-age cutoff: ${blocked.join(', ')}.\n` +
+          'Add the package to min-release-age-exclude, or relax min-release-age or before, ' +
+          'to install the fix.')
+        process.exitCode = 1
+      }
     } else {
       // will throw if there's an error, because this is an audit command
       auditError(this.npm, arb.auditReport)
diff --git a/tap-snapshots/test/lib/docs.js.test.cjs b/tap-snapshots/test/lib/docs.js.test.cjs
index 1dd3b0d7e6b5c..a5f68d63edc15 100644
--- a/tap-snapshots/test/lib/docs.js.test.cjs
+++ b/tap-snapshots/test/lib/docs.js.test.cjs
@@ -404,6 +404,10 @@ sources, the standard precedence applies (cli > env > project > user >
 global), so a higher-priority source can always relax or override a
 lower-priority one.
 
+As with \`min-release-age\`, when this cutoff blocks a fix that \`npm audit
+fix\` would install, npm keeps the vulnerable version, warns, and exits with
+a non-zero code.
+
 Packages whose names match \`min-release-age-exclude\` are exempt from this
 filter.
 
@@ -1279,6 +1283,12 @@ your \`.npmrc\` is preserved when npm internally spawns a sub-process with
 apply, \`before\` wins within a single source and across sources the standard
 precedence rules apply.
 
+When this window stops \`npm audit fix\` from installing a patched version
+(because the fix was published too recently), npm keeps the package at its
+vulnerable version, warns that the fix was blocked, and exits with a
+non-zero code. To install the fix, add the package to
+\`min-release-age-exclude\`, or relax \`min-release-age\` or \`before\`.
+
 Packages whose names match \`min-release-age-exclude\` are exempt from this
 filter.
 
diff --git a/test/lib/commands/audit.js b/test/lib/commands/audit.js
index 3bd5e5033c499..61887417216eb 100644
--- a/test/lib/commands/audit.js
+++ b/test/lib/commands/audit.js
@@ -163,6 +163,86 @@ t.test('audit fix - bulk endpoint', async t => {
   )
 })
 
+t.test('audit fix exits non-zero when min-release-age blocks a fix', async t => {
+  const { npm, logs } = await loadMockNpm(t, {
+    prefixDir: tree,
+    config: { 'min-release-age': 30 },
+  })
+  const registry = new MockRegistry({
+    tap: t,
+    registry: npm.config.get('registry'),
+  })
+  const manifest = registry.manifest({
+    name: 'test-dep-a',
+    packuments: [{ version: '1.0.0' }, { version: '1.0.1' }],
+  })
+  // 1.0.0 is old enough to install; the fix 1.0.1 was published too recently.
+  manifest.time['1.0.0'] = '2020-01-01T00:00:00.000Z'
+  manifest.time['1.0.1'] = new Date().toISOString()
+  await registry.package({
+    manifest,
+    tarballs: {
+      '1.0.0': path.join(npm.prefix, 'test-dep-a-vuln'),
+    },
+    times: 2,
+  })
+  const advisory = registry.advisory({ id: 100, vulnerable_versions: '<1.0.1' })
+  registry.nock.post('/-/npm/v1/security/advisories/bulk', body => {
+    const unzipped = JSON.parse(gunzip(Buffer.from(body, 'hex')))
+    return t.same(unzipped, { 'test-dep-a': ['1.0.0'] })
+  })
+    .reply(200, { 'test-dep-a': [advisory] })
+    .post('/-/npm/v1/security/advisories/bulk', body => {
+      const unzipped = JSON.parse(gunzip(Buffer.from(body, 'hex')))
+      return t.same(unzipped, { 'test-dep-a': ['1.0.0'] })
+    })
+    .reply(200, { 'test-dep-a': [advisory] })
+
+  await npm.exec('audit', ['fix'])
+
+  t.equal(process.exitCode, 1, 'exits non-zero because the fix was blocked')
+  t.ok(
+    logs.warn.some(w =>
+      /left at a vulnerable version because a fix is newer than the release-age cutoff/.test(w)),
+    'warns that the fix was blocked by min-release-age'
+  )
+  const lock = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(path.join(npm.prefix, 'package-lock.json'), 'utf8'))
+  t.equal(lock.packages['node_modules/test-dep-a'].version, '1.0.0',
+    'test-dep-a was left at the vulnerable version')
+})
+
+t.test('json audit reports fixBlockedByReleaseAge when a fix is too new', async t => {
+  const { npm, joinedOutput } = await loadMockNpm(t, {
+    prefixDir: tree,
+    config: {
+      json: true,
+      'min-release-age': 30,
+    },
+  })
+  const registry = new MockRegistry({
+    tap: t,
+    registry: npm.config.get('registry'),
+  })
+  const manifest = registry.manifest({
+    name: 'test-dep-a',
+    packuments: [{ version: '1.0.0' }, { version: '1.0.1' }],
+  })
+  manifest.time['1.0.0'] = '2020-01-01T00:00:00.000Z'
+  manifest.time['1.0.1'] = new Date().toISOString()
+  await registry.package({ manifest })
+  const advisory = registry.advisory({ id: 100, vulnerable_versions: '<1.0.1' })
+  const bulkBody = gzip(JSON.stringify({ 'test-dep-a': ['1.0.0'] }))
+  registry.nock.post('/-/npm/v1/security/advisories/bulk', bulkBody)
+    .reply(200, {
+      'test-dep-a': [advisory],
+    })
+
+  await npm.exec('audit', [])
+  const report = JSON.parse(joinedOutput())
+  t.match(report.vulnerabilities['test-dep-a'].fixBlockedByReleaseAge, { version: '1.0.1' },
+    'json output flags the fix that min-release-age blocked')
+})
+
 t.test('audit fix no package lock', async t => {
   const { npm } = await loadMockNpm(t, {
     config: {
diff --git a/workspaces/arborist/lib/arborist/build-ideal-tree.js b/workspaces/arborist/lib/arborist/build-ideal-tree.js
index 68527972b1fc3..b8b00698c8a59 100644
--- a/workspaces/arborist/lib/arborist/build-ideal-tree.js
+++ b/workspaces/arborist/lib/arborist/build-ideal-tree.js
@@ -579,6 +579,17 @@ module.exports = cls => class IdealTreeBuilder extends cls {
   // and leaving the user subject to getting it overwritten later anyway.
   async #queueVulnDependents (options) {
     for (const vuln of this.auditReport.values()) {
+      // A fix is available in-range but a release-age window blocks the patched
+      // version, so audit fix leaves this package at a vulnerable version.
+      if (vuln.fixBlockedByReleaseAge) {
+        const { version, before } = vuln.fixBlockedByReleaseAge
+        const cutoff = new Date(before).toISOString().slice(0, 10)
+        log.warn('audit', `A fix for ${vuln.name} is available (${vuln.name}@${version}) ` +
+          `but was published after the configured release-age cutoff (${cutoff}), so ` +
+          `${vuln.name} was left at a vulnerable version.\n` +
+          `To install it, add "${vuln.name}" to min-release-age-exclude, or relax ` +
+          'min-release-age or before.')
+      }
       for (const node of vuln.nodes) {
         const bundler = node.getBundler()
 
diff --git a/workspaces/arborist/lib/audit-report.js b/workspaces/arborist/lib/audit-report.js
index 3e74e100b6c53..de2e092a96ac1 100644
--- a/workspaces/arborist/lib/audit-report.js
+++ b/workspaces/arborist/lib/audit-report.js
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ const pickManifest = require('npm-pick-manifest')
 
 const Vuln = require('./vuln.js')
 const Calculator = require('@npmcli/metavuln-calculator')
+const { isReleaseAgeExcluded } = require('./release-age-exclude.js')
 
 const { log, time } = require('proc-log')
 
@@ -173,6 +174,11 @@ class AuditReport extends Map {
                 // depends on root.
                 this.topVulns.set(vuln.name, vuln)
                 vuln.topNodes.add(dep)
+              } else {
+                // An in-range fix exists, but a `min-release-age`/`before`
+                // window may put the patched version out of reach, leaving the
+                // vulnerable version installed.
+                vuln.fixBlockedByReleaseAge = this.#fixBlockedByReleaseAge(vuln, spec)
               }
             } else {
             // calculate a metavuln, if necessary
@@ -251,6 +257,53 @@ class AuditReport extends Map {
     }
   }
 
+  // A fix that `#fixAvailable` reports as installable in-range can still be
+  // unreachable when a release-age window (`before` / `min-release-age`) is set,
+  // because the patched version was published after the cutoff. `npm audit fix`
+  // then resolves back to a version that is still vulnerable, so detect that
+  // here and let callers warn about it. Only meaningful when an in-range fix
+  // exists (fixAvailable === true). Returns the blocked fix as
+  // `{ version, before }`, or `false` when nothing is blocked.
+  #fixBlockedByReleaseAge (vuln, spec) {
+    const { before, minReleaseAgeExclude } = this.options
+    // No window, or this package is explicitly exempt from it.
+    if (!before || isReleaseAgeExcluded(vuln.name, minReleaseAgeExclude)) {
+      return false
+    }
+
+    // For `npm:` aliases the fix resolves against the alias target, so feed
+    // pickManifest the underlying range rather than the alias spec (which it
+    // rejects). Mirrors `#fixAvailable`.
+    const specObj = npa(spec)
+    if (specObj.subSpec) {
+      spec = specObj.subSpec.rawSpec
+    }
+
+    // The version that would be installed if the window were lifted.
+    const { version } = pickManifest(vuln.packument, spec, {
+      ...this.options,
+      before: null,
+      avoid: vuln.range,
+    })
+
+    // What resolution can actually reach within the window. This mirrors how
+    // `build-ideal-tree` re-resolves the edge (non-strict avoid + `before`).
+    let windowed
+    try {
+      windowed = pickManifest(vuln.packument, spec, {
+        ...this.options,
+        avoid: vuln.range,
+      })
+    } catch {
+      // Nothing is old enough to install at all: the fix is blocked.
+      return { version, before }
+    }
+
+    // `_shouldAvoid` means the best version available within the window is still
+    // in the vulnerable range, so the only non-vulnerable fix is too new.
+    return windowed._shouldAvoid ? { version, before } : false
+  }
+
   set () {
     throw new Error('do not call AuditReport.set() directly')
   }
diff --git a/workspaces/arborist/lib/vuln.js b/workspaces/arborist/lib/vuln.js
index 2bffe54f2dacd..e6c6bbab383ea 100644
--- a/workspaces/arborist/lib/vuln.js
+++ b/workspaces/arborist/lib/vuln.js
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ class Vuln {
     this.effects = new Set()
     this.topNodes = new Set()
     this.nodes = new Set()
+    this.fixBlockedByReleaseAge = false
     this.addAdvisory(advisory)
     this.packument = advisory.packument
     this.versions = advisory.versions
@@ -126,6 +127,9 @@ class Vuln {
       range: this.simpleRange,
       nodes: [...this.nodes].map(n => n.location).sort(localeCompare),
       fixAvailable: this.#fixAvailable,
+      ...(this.fixBlockedByReleaseAge
+        ? { fixBlockedByReleaseAge: this.fixBlockedByReleaseAge }
+        : {}),
     }
   }
 
diff --git a/workspaces/arborist/tap-snapshots/test/audit-report.js.test.cjs b/workspaces/arborist/tap-snapshots/test/audit-report.js.test.cjs
index 2d2374afff4af..a31e072da2f79 100644
--- a/workspaces/arborist/tap-snapshots/test/audit-report.js.test.cjs
+++ b/workspaces/arborist/tap-snapshots/test/audit-report.js.test.cjs
@@ -1131,6 +1131,10 @@ exports[`test/audit-report.js TAP audit outdated nyc and mkdirp with before: opt
         "name": "nyc",
         "version": "15.1.0",
         "isSemVerMajor": true
+      },
+      "fixBlockedByReleaseAge": {
+        "version": "0.5.5",
+        "before": "2020-01-01T00:00:00.000Z"
       }
     },
     "nyc": {
diff --git a/workspaces/arborist/test/arborist/build-ideal-tree.js b/workspaces/arborist/test/arborist/build-ideal-tree.js
index 1abd022a6723e..f399bea2864d6 100644
--- a/workspaces/arborist/test/arborist/build-ideal-tree.js
+++ b/workspaces/arborist/test/arborist/build-ideal-tree.js
@@ -630,6 +630,27 @@ t.test('force a new nyc (and update mkdirp nicely)', async t => {
   t.equal(arb.idealTree.children.get('nyc').package.version, '15.1.0')
 })
 
+t.test('audit fix warns when min-release-age blocks a fix', async t => {
+  const path = resolve(fixtures, 'audit-nyc-mkdirp')
+  const registry = createRegistry(t, true)
+  registry.audit({ convert: true, results: require('../fixtures/audit-nyc-mkdirp/audit.json') })
+  const warnings = warningTracker(t)
+
+  // mkdirp's fix (0.5.5) was published after this cutoff, so audit fix can't
+  // install it and should warn that the package is left vulnerable.
+  const arb = newArb(path, { before: new Date('2020-01-01') })
+  await arb.audit()
+  await arb.buildIdealTree()
+
+  t.not(arb.idealTree.children.get('mkdirp').package.version, '0.5.5',
+    'mkdirp was not upgraded to the release-age-blocked fix')
+  t.ok(
+    warnings.some(w => w[1] === 'audit' &&
+      /A fix for mkdirp is available \(mkdirp@0\.5\.5\) but was published after/.test(w[2])),
+    'warned that the mkdirp fix is blocked by the release-age window'
+  )
+})
+
 t.test('force a new mkdirp (but not semver major)', async t => {
   const path = resolve(fixtures, 'mkdirp-pinned')
   const registry = createRegistry(t, true)
diff --git a/workspaces/arborist/test/audit-report.js b/workspaces/arborist/test/audit-report.js
index b0b742bd30fd8..0322b48dbd534 100644
--- a/workspaces/arborist/test/audit-report.js
+++ b/workspaces/arborist/test/audit-report.js
@@ -181,6 +181,71 @@ t.test('audit outdated nyc and mkdirp with before: option', async t => {
   t.equal(report.get('mkdirp').simpleRange, '0.4.1 - 0.5.1')
 })
 
+t.test('min-release-age blocks an available fix', async t => {
+  // mkdirp's fix (0.5.5, published 2020-04) is newer than a 2020-01-01 cutoff,
+  // so the only versions old enough are still vulnerable and audit fix can't
+  // apply the fix it reported as available.
+  const path = resolve(fixtures, 'audit-nyc-mkdirp')
+  const registry = createRegistry(t)
+  registry.audit({ results: require(resolve(path, 'advisory-bulk.json')) })
+  registry.mocks({ dir: join(__dirname, 'fixtures') })
+  const cache = t.testdir()
+  const arb = newArb(path, { before: new Date('2020-01-01'), cache })
+
+  const tree = await arb.loadVirtual()
+  const report = await AuditReport.load(tree, arb.options)
+  t.match(report.get('mkdirp').fixBlockedByReleaseAge, { version: '0.5.5' },
+    'mkdirp fix flagged as blocked by the release-age window')
+})
+
+t.test('min-release-age does not block a fix that is old enough', async t => {
+  const path = resolve(fixtures, 'audit-nyc-mkdirp')
+  const registry = createRegistry(t)
+  registry.audit({ results: require(resolve(path, 'advisory-bulk.json')) })
+  registry.mocks({ dir: join(__dirname, 'fixtures') })
+  const cache = t.testdir()
+  // a cutoff after mkdirp@0.5.5 was published: the fix is reachable
+  const arb = newArb(path, { before: new Date('2021-01-01'), cache })
+
+  const tree = await arb.loadVirtual()
+  const report = await AuditReport.load(tree, arb.options)
+  t.notOk(report.get('mkdirp').fixBlockedByReleaseAge,
+    'fix reachable within the window, so not flagged')
+})
+
+t.test('min-release-age-exclude exempts a package from the block', async t => {
+  const path = resolve(fixtures, 'audit-nyc-mkdirp')
+  const registry = createRegistry(t)
+  registry.audit({ results: require(resolve(path, 'advisory-bulk.json')) })
+  registry.mocks({ dir: join(__dirname, 'fixtures') })
+  const cache = t.testdir()
+  const arb = newArb(path, {
+    before: new Date('2020-01-01'),
+    minReleaseAgeExclude: ['mkdirp'],
+    cache,
+  })
+
+  const tree = await arb.loadVirtual()
+  const report = await AuditReport.load(tree, arb.options)
+  t.notOk(report.get('mkdirp').fixBlockedByReleaseAge,
+    'excluded package is not flagged even when its fix is too new')
+})
+
+t.test('min-release-age blocks when no version is old enough at all', async t => {
+  const path = resolve(fixtures, 'audit-nyc-mkdirp')
+  const registry = createRegistry(t)
+  registry.audit({ results: require(resolve(path, 'advisory-bulk.json')) })
+  registry.mocks({ dir: join(__dirname, 'fixtures') })
+  const cache = t.testdir()
+  // a cutoff before any mkdirp version was published: nothing is installable
+  const arb = newArb(path, { before: new Date('2000-01-01'), cache })
+
+  const tree = await arb.loadVirtual()
+  const report = await AuditReport.load(tree, arb.options)
+  t.match(report.get('mkdirp').fixBlockedByReleaseAge, { version: '0.5.5' },
+    'flagged as blocked when nothing is installable within the window')
+})
+
 t.test('audit returns an error', async t => {
   const path = resolve(fixtures, 'audit-nyc-mkdirp')
   const registry = createRegistry(t)
@@ -421,6 +486,43 @@ t.test('audit supports alias deps', async t => {
   t.equal(report.get('mkdirp').simpleRange, '0.4.1 - 0.5.1')
 })
 
+t.test('release-age block detection unwraps alias specs', async t => {
+  // An npm: alias edge must be resolved against its target, not fed to
+  // pickManifest as an alias spec (which it rejects). With a release-age
+  // window the alias fix (mkdirp@0.5.5) is too new, so it should be flagged.
+  const path = resolve(fixtures, 'audit-nyc-mkdirp')
+  const registry = createRegistry(t)
+  registry.audit({ results: require(resolve(path, 'advisory-bulk.json')) })
+  registry.mocks({ dir: join(__dirname, 'fixtures') })
+  const cache = t.testdir()
+  const arb = newArb(path, { before: new Date('2020-01-01'), cache })
+  const tree = new Node({
+    path,
+    pkg: {
+      name: 'mkdirp',
+      version: '0.5.0',
+      dependencies: {
+        novulnshereiswear: 'npm:mkdirp@^0.5.0',
+      },
+    },
+    children: [
+      {
+        name: 'novulnshereiswear',
+        pkg: {
+          name: 'mkdirp',
+          version: '0.5.1',
+          dependencies: { minimist: '0.0.8' },
+        },
+      },
+      { pkg: { name: 'minimist', version: '0.0.8' } },
+    ],
+  })
+
+  const report = await AuditReport.load(tree, arb.options)
+  t.match(report.get('mkdirp').fixBlockedByReleaseAge, { version: '0.5.5' },
+    'alias spec is unwrapped and the blocked fix is detected')
+})
+
 t.test('linked local package should not be audited against the registry', async t => {
   const path = resolve(fixtures, 'audit-linked-package')
   // No registry.audit() mock needed — no request should be made
diff --git a/workspaces/config/lib/definitions/definitions.js b/workspaces/config/lib/definitions/definitions.js
index a4933facff631..ead04cfc5cc17 100644
--- a/workspaces/config/lib/definitions/definitions.js
+++ b/workspaces/config/lib/definitions/definitions.js
@@ -341,6 +341,10 @@ const definitions = {
       user > global), so a higher-priority source can always relax or
       override a lower-priority one.
 
+      As with \`min-release-age\`, when this cutoff blocks a fix that
+      \`npm audit fix\` would install, npm keeps the vulnerable version, warns,
+      and exits with a non-zero code.
+
       Packages whose names match \`min-release-age-exclude\` are exempt from
       this filter.
     `,
@@ -1475,6 +1479,12 @@ const definitions = {
        \`github:\` dependency); when both apply, \`before\` wins within a
        single source and across sources the standard precedence rules apply.
 
+       When this window stops \`npm audit fix\` from installing a patched
+       version (because the fix was published too recently), npm keeps the
+       package at its vulnerable version, warns that the fix was blocked, and
+       exits with a non-zero code. To install the fix, add the package to
+       \`min-release-age-exclude\`, or relax \`min-release-age\` or \`before\`.
+
        Packages whose names match \`min-release-age-exclude\` are exempt from
        this filter.
     `,