diff --git a/how-i-work.md b/how-i-work.md
index 165ab13..5d1e18c 100644
--- a/how-i-work.md
+++ b/how-i-work.md
@@ -38,6 +38,10 @@ Universal preferences for any coding agent working with me, on any project. Load
 - No defensive patches without diagnosis. Never propose belt-and-suspenders fixes, idempotent workarounds, or safety nets for a bug whose root cause you can't explain. "I don't know why X happens; here's what I'd look at next" is a fine answer. "Let's add a safety net regardless" is not. Fixes follow understanding.
 - Report failures honestly. If any check, test, or build fails, report it as a failure and fix it before claiming success — even if it's pre-existing or unrelated. Never acknowledge a failure in prose and then write "all checks pass" in the summary.
 
+## Building and releasing
+
+- **Bump the version before building an s9pk package.** For any project that is also a Start9 `s9pk` package, increment the package version (in the manifest) before running `make x86` or `make install`. This targets Start9 0.4.x: without a version bump my Start9 servers don't recognize the rebuilt package as updated, so the install silently does nothing. Bump first, then build and install.
+
 ## Maintaining instruction files (AGENTS.md, guides, this file)
 
 Instruction files are the durable, visible record of how I want you to work — prefer them over hidden per-tool memory. If it matters enough to remember, it matters enough to be visible to me. Treat them as living documents: refine, don't just append.