diff --git a/src/dstack/_internal/core/compatibility/runs.py b/src/dstack/_internal/core/compatibility/runs.py
index d33462b67..545c729cb 100644
--- a/src/dstack/_internal/core/compatibility/runs.py
+++ b/src/dstack/_internal/core/compatibility/runs.py
@@ -5,7 +5,10 @@
     IncludeExcludeDictType,
     IncludeExcludeSetType,
 )
-from dstack._internal.core.models.configurations import TaskConfiguration
+from dstack._internal.core.models.configurations import (
+    ServiceConfiguration,
+    TaskConfiguration,
+)
 from dstack._internal.core.models.runs import (
     DEFAULT_REPLICA_GROUP_NAME,
     ApplyRunPlanInput,
@@ -89,6 +92,10 @@ def get_run_spec_excludes(run_spec: RunSpec) -> IncludeExcludeDictType:
         if run_spec.configuration.nodes is None:
             # Omit nodes when unset so old servers never see null (pre-hetero nodes was int=1).
             configuration_excludes["nodes"] = True
+    elif isinstance(run_spec.configuration, ServiceConfiguration):
+        if run_spec.configuration.groups is None:
+            # Servers before 0.21.3 have no service `groups` and reject it as an extra field.
+            configuration_excludes["groups"] = True
 
     if configuration_excludes:
         spec_excludes["configuration"] = configuration_excludes
diff --git a/src/tests/_internal/core/models/test_runs.py b/src/tests/_internal/core/models/test_runs.py
index b5c613236..3ec6f8024 100644
--- a/src/tests/_internal/core/models/test_runs.py
+++ b/src/tests/_internal/core/models/test_runs.py
@@ -3,7 +3,10 @@
 
 from dstack._internal.core.compatibility.runs import get_run_spec_excludes
 from dstack._internal.core.models.common import validate_extra_ignore
-from dstack._internal.core.models.configurations import TaskConfiguration
+from dstack._internal.core.models.configurations import (
+    ServiceConfiguration,
+    TaskConfiguration,
+)
 from dstack._internal.core.models.profiles import (
     CreationPolicy,
     Profile,
@@ -42,6 +45,27 @@ def test_unset_task_nodes_are_excluded_for_compatibility():
     assert configuration_excludes["nodes"] is True
 
 
+def test_unset_service_groups_are_excluded_for_compatibility():
+    configuration = ServiceConfiguration(commands=["true"], port=8000)
+
+    configuration_excludes = get_run_spec_excludes(RunSpec(configuration=configuration)).get(
+        "configuration"
+    )
+
+    assert isinstance(configuration_excludes, dict)
+    assert configuration_excludes["groups"] is True
+
+
+def test_set_service_groups_are_not_excluded():
+    configuration = ServiceConfiguration(port=8000, groups=[{"replicas": 1, "commands": ["true"]}])
+
+    configuration_excludes = get_run_spec_excludes(RunSpec(configuration=configuration)).get(
+        "configuration"
+    )
+
+    assert not isinstance(configuration_excludes, dict) or "groups" not in configuration_excludes
+
+
 def test_job_termination_reason_to_status_works_with_all_enum_variants():
     for job_termination_reason in JobTerminationReason:
         job_status = job_termination_reason.to_status()