diff --git a/Marlin/Version.h b/Marlin/Version.h
index 5b355faf483c..ec087f5e5fd8 100644
--- a/Marlin/Version.h
+++ b/Marlin/Version.h
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@
  * here we define this default string as the date where the latest release
  * version was tagged.
  */
-//#define STRING_DISTRIBUTION_DATE "2026-06-30"
+//#define STRING_DISTRIBUTION_DATE "2026-07-01"
 
 /**
  * The protocol for communication to the host. Protocol indicates communication
diff --git a/Marlin/src/inc/Version.h b/Marlin/src/inc/Version.h
index e3be05277606..2328844f1af9 100644
--- a/Marlin/src/inc/Version.h
+++ b/Marlin/src/inc/Version.h
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@
  * version was tagged.
  */
 #ifndef STRING_DISTRIBUTION_DATE
-  #define STRING_DISTRIBUTION_DATE "2026-06-30"
+  #define STRING_DISTRIBUTION_DATE "2026-07-01"
 #endif
 
 /**
diff --git a/Marlin/src/lcd/HD44780/marlinui_HD44780.cpp b/Marlin/src/lcd/HD44780/marlinui_HD44780.cpp
index fc8c741146eb..2ff4c0edbce9 100644
--- a/Marlin/src/lcd/HD44780/marlinui_HD44780.cpp
+++ b/Marlin/src/lcd/HD44780/marlinui_HD44780.cpp
@@ -393,7 +393,7 @@ void MarlinUI::init_lcd() {
   #elif ENABLED(LCD_I2C_TYPE_MCP23017)
     lcd.setMCPType(LTI_TYPE_MCP23017);
     lcd.begin(LCD_WIDTH, LCD_HEIGHT);
-    update_indicators();
+    update_indicators(true);   // Force turning off the LEDs at startup
 
   #elif ENABLED(LCD_I2C_TYPE_MCP23008)
     lcd.setMCPType(LTI_TYPE_MCP23008);
@@ -1386,7 +1386,7 @@ void MarlinUI::draw_status_screen() {
 
   #if ENABLED(LCD_HAS_STATUS_INDICATORS)
 
-    void MarlinUI::update_indicators() {
+    void MarlinUI::update_indicators(const bool forceUpdate) {
       // Set the LEDS - referred to as backlights by the LiquidTWI2 library
       static uint8_t ledsprev = 0;
       uint8_t leds = 0;
@@ -1408,7 +1408,7 @@ void MarlinUI::draw_status_screen() {
 
       if (TERN0(HAS_MULTI_HOTEND, thermalManager.degTargetHotend(1) > 0)) leds |= LED_C;
 
-      if (leds != ledsprev) {
+      if (leds != ledsprev || forceUpdate) {
         lcd.setBacklight(leds);
         ledsprev = leds;
       }
diff --git a/Marlin/src/lcd/marlinui.h b/Marlin/src/lcd/marlinui.h
index 5cc5b07cdf59..efb3fca23ef2 100644
--- a/Marlin/src/lcd/marlinui.h
+++ b/Marlin/src/lcd/marlinui.h
@@ -57,6 +57,10 @@
   #include "dwin/marlinui/marlinui_dwin.h" // for LCD_WIDTH
 #endif
 
+#if ENABLED(LCD_I2C_TYPE_MCP23017)
+  #include "HD44780/marlinui_HD44780.h" // Needed for LCD_HAS_STATUS_INDICATORS
+#endif
+
 typedef bool (*statusResetFunc_t)();
 
 #if HAS_WIRED_LCD
@@ -249,7 +253,7 @@ class MarlinUI {
   }
 
   #if ENABLED(LCD_HAS_STATUS_INDICATORS)
-    static void update_indicators();
+    static void update_indicators(const bool forceUpdate=false);
   #endif
 
   #if ALL(HAS_MARLINUI_MENU, TOUCH_SCREEN_CALIBRATION)