diff --git a/CLAUDE.md b/CLAUDE.md
index 10ca8d5..5e06912 100644
--- a/CLAUDE.md
+++ b/CLAUDE.md
@@ -202,6 +202,13 @@ See the `deploy-arr-summary` skill for the Forgejo push-to-deploy
 pipeline, manual container restart steps, deploy verification, and the
 Nginx Proxy Manager / TLS setup and its Cox-port-80/DNS-01 constraint.
 
+**Every commit should be matched with a version change.** Bump
+`APP_VERSION` / `APP_VERSION_DATE` near the top of `app.py` as part of
+the same commit. This is what makes the footer (`v<APP_VERSION> ·
+<APP_VERSION_DATE>`) a trustworthy signal that a given deploy actually
+landed — a commit without a version bump can't be distinguished from
+"not deployed yet" by looking at the live site.
+
 ## Logins
 
 See the `manage-accounts` skill for the multi-user vs. legacy