diff --git a/crates/cockpit-server/Cargo.toml b/crates/cockpit-server/Cargo.toml
index dca31978b1..be063f0d15 100644
--- a/crates/cockpit-server/Cargo.toml
+++ b/crates/cockpit-server/Cargo.toml
@@ -96,7 +96,9 @@ arc-swap = "1.9"
 # `lance-graph` -> `lance` -> `arrow` — declaring them directly here changes
 # no resolved version, it just makes the capability this crate USES a thing
 # this crate ASKS FOR. Same move lance-graph PR #931 made for `object_store`.
-lance = "=13.0.0"
+# Float the patch, never `=X.0.0` (lance-graph pin rule, 2026-09-18): the
+# lance family moves in lockstep by MAJOR; lancedb picks the exact patch.
+lance = "13.*"
 arrow = { version = "58", features = ["prettyprint"] }