diff --git a/AGENTS.md b/AGENTS.md
index b6e98e2..6bfe6d6 100644
--- a/AGENTS.md
+++ b/AGENTS.md
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ Version 0.1.0 is publicly released. Remote installation through GitHub CLI and l
 - Added deterministic scoring based on freshness, repository activity, stars, discussion size, labels, reactions, and maintainer participation.
 - Added recent claim detection for assignments and common claim phrases.
 - Added a repeatable excluded-label search filter for removing blocked or noisy workflows.
+- Added an optional issue-activity cutoff through `--updated-within`.
 - Added tests, cross-platform CI, security notes, and contributor documentation.
 - Published the repository and v0.1.0 release with GitHub CLI extension discovery metadata.
 
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 3ab1831..f7d243a 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ Focus the search:
 gh issue-scout parser --language Python --min-stars 500
 gh issue-scout --org home-assistant --label "help wanted"
 gh issue-scout --label "good first issue" --exclude-label blocked
-gh issue-scout --repo rust-lang/rust --label E-easy --max-age 30
+gh issue-scout --repo rust-lang/rust --label E-easy --max-age 30 --updated-within 7
 ```
 
 Generate output for another tool:
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ Useful controls:
 --include-claimed     Show claimed candidates and their evidence
 --include-assigned    Include assigned issues in the GitHub search
 --max-repo-idle DAYS  Exclude repositories without a recent push
+--updated-within DAYS Require recent activity on the issue itself
 --query QUALIFIERS    Append raw GitHub search qualifiers
 --show-query          Print the exact generated search query
 --open                Open the top result in a browser
diff --git a/issue_scout/cli.py b/issue_scout/cli.py
index d81a7e7..27a36fb 100644
--- a/issue_scout/cli.py
+++ b/issue_scout/cli.py
@@ -33,6 +33,11 @@ def parser() -> argparse.ArgumentParser:
     command.add_argument("--query", help="append raw GitHub search qualifiers")
     command.add_argument("--min-stars", type=int, default=50, help="minimum repository stars (default: 50)")
     command.add_argument("--max-age", type=int, default=90, help="maximum issue age in days (default: 90)")
+    command.add_argument(
+        "--updated-within",
+        type=int,
+        help="require issue activity within this many days",
+    )
     command.add_argument(
         "--max-repo-idle",
         type=int,
@@ -77,6 +82,7 @@ def main(argv: list[str] | None = None) -> int:
             repository=arguments.repo,
             organization=arguments.org,
             max_age_days=arguments.max_age,
+            updated_within_days=arguments.updated_within,
             include_assigned=arguments.include_assigned,
             extra_query=arguments.query,
         )
diff --git a/issue_scout/query.py b/issue_scout/query.py
index 7e477d3..3d8a1f7 100644
--- a/issue_scout/query.py
+++ b/issue_scout/query.py
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ def build_query(
     repository: str | None = None,
     organization: str | None = None,
     max_age_days: int = 90,
+    updated_within_days: int | None = None,
     include_assigned: bool = False,
     extra_query: str | None = None,
     now: datetime | None = None,
@@ -31,6 +32,8 @@ def build_query(
         raise ValueError("--repo and --org cannot be used together")
     if max_age_days < 1:
         raise ValueError("--max-age must be at least 1 day")
+    if updated_within_days is not None and updated_within_days < 1:
+        raise ValueError("--updated-within must be at least 1 day")
 
     current = now or datetime.now(timezone.utc)
     created_after = (current - timedelta(days=max_age_days)).date().isoformat()
@@ -48,6 +51,9 @@ def build_query(
     if organization:
         parts.append(f"org:{quote_value(organization)}")
     parts.append(f"created:>={created_after}")
+    if updated_within_days is not None:
+        updated_after = (current - timedelta(days=updated_within_days)).date().isoformat()
+        parts.append(f"updated:>={updated_after}")
     if keywords:
         parts.extend(keyword.strip() for keyword in keywords if keyword.strip())
     if extra_query:
diff --git a/tests/test_query.py b/tests/test_query.py
index 81b76c8..d476cc1 100644
--- a/tests/test_query.py
+++ b/tests/test_query.py
@@ -45,5 +45,17 @@ def test_excluded_labels_are_repeatable_and_safely_quoted(self) -> None:
 
         self.assertIn('label:"help wanted" -label:blocked -label:"needs info"', query)
 
+    def test_updated_within_adds_activity_cutoff(self) -> None:
+        query = build_query(
+            updated_within_days=7,
+            now=datetime(2026, 8, 29, tzinfo=timezone.utc),
+        )
+
+        self.assertIn("created:>=2026-05-31 updated:>=2026-08-22", query)
+
+    def test_updated_within_rejects_non_positive_days(self) -> None:
+        with self.assertRaisesRegex(ValueError, "--updated-within must be at least 1 day"):
+            build_query(updated_within_days=0)
+
     def test_quote_value_removes_embedded_quotes(self) -> None:
         self.assertEqual(quote_value('good "first" issue'), '"good first issue"')