diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index 833440b..acb672c 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -303,6 +303,13 @@ impl AnchornetContract {
         storage::get_settlement_expiry_ledgers(&env)
     }
 
+    /// Returns `true` if the settlement expiry window has been explicitly
+    /// configured by the admin, including an explicit zero value that disables
+    /// expiry. Returns `false` only when the expiry window has never been set.
+    pub fn is_settlement_expiry_configured(env: Env) -> bool {
+        storage::has_settlement_expiry_ledgers(&env)
+    }
+
     /// Returns up to `limit` currently registered anchors that hold an active
     /// fee waiver, in registration order, scanning the registration history
     /// starting at list index `start` (0-based). Mirrors
diff --git a/src/storage.rs b/src/storage.rs
index 4b7cdcb..108f88a 100644
--- a/src/storage.rs
+++ b/src/storage.rs
@@ -361,6 +361,14 @@ pub fn set_fee_waiver(env: &Env, anchor: &Address, waived: bool) {
     extend(env, &key);
 }
 
+/// Returns `true` if the settlement expiry window has been explicitly
+/// configured, including an explicit zero value that disables expiry.
+pub fn has_settlement_expiry_ledgers(env: &Env) -> bool {
+    env.storage()
+        .instance()
+        .has(&DataKey::SettlementExpiryLedgers)
+}
+
 /// Reads the settlement expiry window in ledgers (zero if never configured,
 /// meaning settlements never expire).
 pub fn get_settlement_expiry_ledgers(env: &Env) -> u32 {
diff --git a/src/test.rs b/src/test.rs
index 4495dcb..e82b92a 100644
--- a/src/test.rs
+++ b/src/test.rs
@@ -1693,6 +1693,7 @@ fn test_settlement_expiry_disabled_by_default() {
     let (client, _admin, _anchor, _asset) = funded(&env, 1_000);
 
     assert_eq!(client.settlement_expiry_ledgers(), 0);
+    assert!(!client.is_settlement_expiry_configured());
 }
 
 #[test]
@@ -1702,9 +1703,12 @@ fn test_set_settlement_expiry_ledgers_updates_value() {
     let (client, admin) = setup(&env);
     client.initialize(&admin);
 
+    assert!(!client.is_settlement_expiry_configured());
+
     client.set_settlement_expiry_ledgers(&100);
 
     assert_eq!(client.settlement_expiry_ledgers(), 100);
+    assert!(client.is_settlement_expiry_configured());
 }
 
 #[test]
@@ -1713,9 +1717,13 @@ fn test_cancel_expired_settlement_disabled_by_default() {
     let (client, _admin, anchor, asset) = funded(&env, 1_000);
     let id = client.open_settlement(&anchor, &asset, &400);
 
+    assert_eq!(client.settlement_expiry_ledgers(), 0);
+    assert!(!client.is_settlement_expiry_configured());
+
     // Expiry is disabled (zero) by default, no matter how far the ledger
     // advances.
     env.ledger().set_sequence_number(1_000_000);
+    assert!(!client.is_settlement_expired(&id));
     let err = client
         .try_cancel_expired_settlement(&id)
         .err()
@@ -2796,8 +2804,15 @@ fn test_settlement_expiry_disabled_at_zero() {
     env.mock_all_auths();
     let (client, _admin, anchor, asset) = funded(&env, 1_000);
 
-    // Explicitly set expiry to 0 (disabling it)
+    assert_eq!(client.settlement_expiry_ledgers(), 0);
+    assert!(!client.is_settlement_expiry_configured());
+
+    // Explicitly set expiry to 0 (disabling it). This must be distinguishable
+    // from the never-configured state even though both report a zero window.
     client.set_settlement_expiry_ledgers(&0);
+    assert_eq!(client.settlement_expiry_ledgers(), 0);
+    assert!(client.is_settlement_expiry_configured());
+
     let id = client.open_settlement(&anchor, &asset, &400);
 
     // Advance the ledger sequence arbitrarily far in the future