diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 9bc59cec..606b1055 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # Rune
 
-**Current release: v0.66.43**
+**Current release: v0.66.44**
 
 **Rune is a persistent personal agent designed to accumulate experience, develop reusable competence, and remain recognisably the same agent even when its underlying foundation model changes.**
 
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 9f382acc..6b993a6c 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ build-backend = "setuptools.build_meta"
 
 [project]
 name = "rune"
-version = "0.66.43"
+version = "0.66.44"
 description = "Rune — a stateful coding assistant with persistent memory, orchestration, and TUI"
 requires-python = ">=3.10"
 
diff --git a/src/rune/__init__.py b/src/rune/__init__.py
index ada1e028..c0aaf5eb 100644
--- a/src/rune/__init__.py
+++ b/src/rune/__init__.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ This is the main entry point for the Rune program.
 import json
 from pathlib import Path
 
-__version__ = "0.66.43"
+__version__ = "0.66.44"
 
 # One build identity (handoff 2026-09-10 §4): the semantic version above is
 # the repo-level truth (auto-bumped at merge); the DEPLOYED revision (exact
diff --git a/src/rune/canary_gitea_automation.py b/src/rune/canary_gitea_automation.py
index c86ef884..a1559b34 100644
--- a/src/rune/canary_gitea_automation.py
+++ b/src/rune/canary_gitea_automation.py
@@ -231,7 +231,7 @@ def main() -> int:
     )
     check(
         "Rune minor version advertises provisioning and restore verification",
-        '__version__ = "0.66.43"' in rune_version,
+        '__version__ = "0.66.44"' in rune_version,
         failures,
     )
     # #169 policy update: auto-bump on merge is sanctioned (Nick directive:
diff --git a/src/rune/rune_tui.py b/src/rune/rune_tui.py
index 440a38d3..301a435b 100644
--- a/src/rune/rune_tui.py
+++ b/src/rune/rune_tui.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ mode system, subject header, shared memory and identity.
 
 This is not an interface. This is how I see, speak, and interact with the world.
 
-Version: v0.66.43
+Version: v0.66.44
 Features: 41 (24 original + 17 new native commands)
 
 Usage:
@@ -1856,7 +1856,7 @@ class RuneApp(App):
         # Show version info
         self.chat_channel.add_message(
             "system",
-            f"[dim]Rune v0.66.43 | Textual TUI | {len(loaded)} native modules[/dim]",
+            f"[dim]Rune v0.66.44 | Textual TUI | {len(loaded)} native modules[/dim]",
         )
 
         # Auto-show night mode suggestion if evening/night hours