diff --git a/minimateplus/client.py b/minimateplus/client.py
index 9941bee..de61826 100644
--- a/minimateplus/client.py
+++ b/minimateplus/client.py
@@ -121,9 +121,10 @@ class MiniMateClient:
           2. SUB 15 — serial number
           3. SUB 01 — full config block (firmware, model strings)
           4. SUB 1A — compliance config (record time, trigger/alarm levels, project strings)
+          5. SUB 08 — event index (stored event count)
 
         Returns:
-            Populated DeviceInfo with compliance_config cached.
+            Populated DeviceInfo with compliance_config and event_count cached.
 
         Raises:
             ProtocolError: on any communication failure.
@@ -151,6 +152,14 @@ class MiniMateClient:
         except ProtocolError as exc:
             log.warning("connect: compliance config read failed: %s — continuing", exc)
 
+        log.info("connect: reading event index (SUB 08)")
+        try:
+            idx_raw = proto.read_event_index()
+            device_info.event_count = _decode_event_count(idx_raw)
+            log.info("connect: device has %d stored event(s)", device_info.event_count)
+        except ProtocolError as exc:
+            log.warning("connect: event index read failed: %s — continuing", exc)
+
         log.info("connect: %s", device_info)
         return device_info
 
diff --git a/minimateplus/models.py b/minimateplus/models.py
index 036310a..182a424 100644
--- a/minimateplus/models.py
+++ b/minimateplus/models.py
@@ -183,6 +183,9 @@ class DeviceInfo:
     # ── From SUB 1A (COMPLIANCE_CONFIG_RESPONSE) ──────────────────────────────
     compliance_config: Optional["ComplianceConfig"] = None  # E5 response, read in connect()
 
+    # ── From SUB 08 (EVENT_INDEX_RESPONSE) ────────────────────────────────────
+    event_count: Optional[int] = None  # stored event count from F7 response 🔶
+
     def __str__(self) -> str:
         fw = self.firmware_version or f"?.{self.firmware_minor}"
         mdl = self.model or "MiniMate Plus"
diff --git a/sfm/server.py b/sfm/server.py
index 47ab414..09a43d0 100644
--- a/sfm/server.py
+++ b/sfm/server.py
@@ -145,6 +145,7 @@ def _serialise_device_info(info: DeviceInfo) -> dict:
         "dsp_version":        info.dsp_version,
         "manufacturer":       info.manufacturer,
         "model":              info.model,
+        "event_count":        info.event_count,
         "compliance_config":  _serialise_compliance_config(info.compliance_config),
     }