diff --git a/src/reader/_storage.py b/src/reader/_storage.py
index 8854d92b..5cdaee5a 100644
--- a/src/reader/_storage.py
+++ b/src/reader/_storage.py
@@ -703,10 +703,11 @@ def set_feed_updates_enabled(self, url: str, enabled: bool) -> None:
             rowcount_exactly_one(cursor, lambda: FeedNotFoundError(url))
 
     @wrap_exceptions(StorageError)
-    def mark_as_stale(self, url: str) -> None:
+    def set_feed_stale(self, url: str, stale: bool) -> None:
         with self.get_db() as db:
             cursor = db.execute(
-                "UPDATE feeds SET stale = 1 WHERE url = :url;", dict(url=url)
+                "UPDATE feeds SET stale = :stale WHERE url = :url;",
+                dict(url=url, stale=stale),
             )
             rowcount_exactly_one(cursor, lambda: FeedNotFoundError(url))
 
diff --git a/src/reader/_types.py b/src/reader/_types.py
index e9a497d0..db3157ed 100644
--- a/src/reader/_types.py
+++ b/src/reader/_types.py
@@ -269,7 +269,7 @@ class FeedForUpdate(NamedTuple):
     http_last_modified: str | None
 
     #: Whether the next update should update *all* entries,
-    #: regardless of their .updated.
+    #: regardless of their :attr:`hash` or :attr:`updated`.
     stale: bool
 
     #: The date the feed was last updated, according to reader; none if never.
@@ -675,12 +675,11 @@ class StorageType(Protocol):  # pragma: no cover
     Update methods:
 
     * get_feeds_for_update
-    * get_entries_for_update
     * update_feed
+    * set_feed_stale
+    * get_entries_for_update
     * add_or_update_entries
         * is this a good name?
-    * mark_as_stale
-        * only used in tests, remove? if not, rename
     * get_entry_recent_sort
     * set_entry_recent_sort
 
@@ -742,7 +741,7 @@ def set_feed_user_title(self, url: str, title: str | None) -> None:
     def set_feed_updates_enabled(self, url: str, enabled: bool) -> None:
         ...
 
-    def mark_as_stale(self, url: str) -> None:
+    def set_feed_stale(self, url: str, stale: bool) -> None:
         ...
 
     def set_entry_read(
diff --git a/tests/test_reader.py b/tests/test_reader.py
index 7f3755ae..8fb2a1a2 100644
--- a/tests/test_reader.py
+++ b/tests/test_reader.py
@@ -1988,7 +1988,7 @@ def test_change_feed_url_feeds_for_update(reader):
     reader._parser.condition = lambda url: url == '1'
     reader.update_feeds()
 
-    reader._storage.mark_as_stale('1')
+    reader._storage.set_feed_stale('1', True)
 
     def get_feed(feed):
         return next(
diff --git a/tests/test_reader_private.py b/tests/test_reader_private.py
index d528e830..f6fba5cb 100644
--- a/tests/test_reader_private.py
+++ b/tests/test_reader_private.py
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ def test_update_stale(reader, update_feed, entry_updated):
     entry = parser.entry(1, 1, entry_updated)
 
     with pytest.raises(FeedNotFoundError):
-        reader._storage.mark_as_stale(feed.url)
+        reader._storage.set_feed_stale(feed.url, True)
 
     reader.add_feed(feed.url)
 
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ def test_update_stale(reader, update_feed, entry_updated):
 
     # but it does if we mark the feed as stale
     parser.calls[:] = []
-    reader._storage.mark_as_stale(feed.url)
+    reader._storage.set_feed_stale(feed.url, True)
     reader._now = lambda: naive_datetime(2010, 1, 3)
     update_feed(reader, feed.url)
     assert parser.calls == [(feed.url, None, None)]
diff --git a/tests/test_storage.py b/tests/test_storage.py
index 999c7166..e1abf0ee 100644
--- a/tests/test_storage.py
+++ b/tests/test_storage.py
@@ -196,8 +196,8 @@ def set_feed_updates_enabled(storage, feed, __):
     storage.set_feed_updates_enabled(feed.url, 1)
 
 
-def mark_as_stale(storage, feed, __):
-    storage.mark_as_stale(feed.url)
+def set_feed_stale(storage, feed, __):
+    storage.set_feed_stale(feed.url, True)
 
 
 def set_entry_read(storage, feed, entry):
@@ -314,7 +314,7 @@ def get_entry_last(storage, feed, entry):
         get_entries_for_update,
         set_feed_user_title,
         set_feed_updates_enabled,
-        mark_as_stale,
+        set_feed_stale,
         set_entry_read,
         set_entry_important,
         get_entry_recent_sort,