diff --git a/osu.Game/Skinning/Skin.cs b/osu.Game/Skinning/Skin.cs
index 5ae4852288..ccf49d722f 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Skinning/Skin.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Skinning/Skin.cs
@@ -105,7 +105,14 @@ namespace osu.Game.Skinning
                 Debug.Assert(Configuration != null);
             }
             else
-                Configuration = new SkinConfiguration();
+            {
+                Configuration = new SkinConfiguration
+                {
+                    // generally won't be hit as we always write a `skin.ini` on import, but best be safe than sorry.
+                    // see https://github.com/peppy/osu-stable-reference/blob/1531237b63392e82c003c712faa028406073aa8f/osu!/Graphics/Skinning/SkinManager.cs#L297-L298
+                    LegacyVersion = SkinConfiguration.LATEST_VERSION,
+                };
+            }
 
             // skininfo files may be null for default skin.
             foreach (SkinComponentsContainerLookup.TargetArea skinnableTarget in Enum.GetValues<SkinComponentsContainerLookup.TargetArea>())
diff --git a/osu.Game/Skinning/SkinImporter.cs b/osu.Game/Skinning/SkinImporter.cs
index f2103a45c4..1b6fa7f4ed 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Skinning/SkinImporter.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Skinning/SkinImporter.cs
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Skinning
             string nameLine = @$"Name: {item.Name}";
             string authorLine = @$"Author: {item.Creator}";
 
-            string[] newLines =
+            List<string> newLines = new List<string>
             {
                 @"// The following content was automatically added by osu! during import, based on filename / folder metadata.",
                 @"[General]",
@@ -130,6 +130,10 @@ namespace osu.Game.Skinning
 
             if (existingFile == null)
             {
+                // skins without a skin.ini are supposed to import using the "latest version" spec.
+                // see https://github.com/peppy/osu-stable-reference/blob/1531237b63392e82c003c712faa028406073aa8f/osu!/Graphics/Skinning/SkinManager.cs#L297-L298
+                newLines.Add($"Version: {SkinConfiguration.LATEST_VERSION}");
+
                 // In the case a skin doesn't have a skin.ini yet, let's create one.
                 writeNewSkinIni();
             }