diff --git a/.claude-plugin/plugin.json b/.claude-plugin/plugin.json
index 465aeb4..5c38ded 100644
--- a/.claude-plugin/plugin.json
+++ b/.claude-plugin/plugin.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "loop-engineer",
-  "version": "0.6.0",
+  "version": "0.6.1",
   "description": "Design, launch, verify, repair, and improve agent loops. A Claude-Code-native architect+operator for long-running, verifiable, self-improving agentic-coding systems.",
   "author": { "name": "Sollan Systems", "url": "https://github.com/SollanSystems" },
   "homepage": "https://github.com/SollanSystems/loop-engineer",
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 3ab4619..ef3a11d 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ All notable changes to `loop-engineer` are documented here.
   `WORKFLOW.md` and `README.md` are reworded to describe the mechanism; the 0.3.4
   history is left intact.
 
-## Unreleased
+## 0.6.1 — 2026-07-04
 
 **PyPI substrate.** `loop-engineer` becomes a self-contained wheel that runs from
 any directory — the CLI no longer depends on being executed from a source
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 37cd16f..0caf89c 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 [![CI](https://github.com/SollanSystems/loop-engineer/actions/workflows/ci.yml/badge.svg?branch=main)](https://github.com/SollanSystems/loop-engineer/actions/workflows/ci.yml)
 [![Python 3.10–3.12](https://img.shields.io/badge/python-3.10%E2%80%933.12-blue)](https://www.python.org/downloads/)
 [![License: MIT](https://img.shields.io/badge/license-MIT-green)](LICENSE)
-[![Release](https://img.shields.io/badge/release-0.6.0-blue)](https://github.com/SollanSystems/loop-engineer/tags)
+[![Release](https://img.shields.io/badge/release-0.6.1-blue)](https://github.com/SollanSystems/loop-engineer/tags)
 
 Long-running agents commit **false completion**. After context compaction they
 forget what "done" meant, optimize to the visible test, patch in circles, and
@@ -362,8 +362,8 @@ license, and README differentiation.
 
 ## Status
 
-- Version: `0.6.0`
-- Release tag: `loop-engineer--v0.6.0`
+- Version: `0.6.1`
+- Release tag: `v0.6.1` (PyPI publish trigger; plugin tags through 0.6.0 used `loop-engineer--v<version>`)
 - License: MIT
 - Primary interface: Claude Code plugin
 - Portable core: Python CLI + JSON schemas
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index a83eed2..3b4f7b6 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ build-backend = "hatchling.build"
 
 [project]
 name = "loop-engineer"
-version = "0.6.0"
+version = "0.6.1"
 description = "Portable Loop Contract Core: validate and inspect repo-native operating contracts for agent loops."
 readme = "README.md"
 requires-python = ">=3.10"
diff --git a/scripts/test_docs_version.py b/scripts/test_docs_version.py
index 3af2a98..2552266 100644
--- a/scripts/test_docs_version.py
+++ b/scripts/test_docs_version.py
@@ -15,9 +15,9 @@ def test_readme_has_no_stale_seven_skills():
     assert "all 9 skills" in readme
 
 
-def test_plugin_version_is_0_6_0():
+def test_plugin_version_is_0_6_1():
     plugin = json.loads(_read(".claude-plugin/plugin.json"))
-    assert plugin["version"] == "0.6.0"
+    assert plugin["version"] == "0.6.1"
 
 
 def test_pyproject_version_matches_plugin():
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ def test_pyproject_version_matches_plugin():
 
 def test_changelog_has_current_and_historical_entries():
     changelog = _read("CHANGELOG.md")
+    assert "## 0.6.1" in changelog
     assert "## 0.6.0" in changelog
     assert "## 0.5.0" in changelog
     assert "## 0.3.4" in changelog