diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index dcd0d05..5364e42 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ a deterministic pre-action check that blocks changes falling outside your repo's
 
 Part of the [Umbra platform](https://github.com/bkd-dotcom/umbra-umbrella).
 
-> Prerequisite: `pip install "umbra-core @ git+https://github.com/bkd-dotcom/umbra-core@v0.5.3"` and a `.umbra/admission.yaml` in
+> Prerequisite: `pip install "umbra-core @ git+https://github.com/bkd-dotcom/umbra-core@v0.5.4"` and a `.umbra/admission.yaml` in
 > your repo (a conservative default applies without one).
 
 ## pre-commit
diff --git a/demos/try-guard.sh b/demos/try-guard.sh
index eec7e50..0c39a74 100755
--- a/demos/try-guard.sh
+++ b/demos/try-guard.sh
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 # .umbra/admission.yaml, showing forbidden paths/commands blocked and an in-scope
 # path allowed. Deterministic (umbra-core), never the model.
 #
-# Requirements: bash, git, and `pip install "umbra-core @ git+https://github.com/bkd-dotcom/umbra-core@v0.5.3"`.
+# Requirements: bash, git, and `pip install "umbra-core @ git+https://github.com/bkd-dotcom/umbra-core@v0.5.4"`.
 #
 # Usage:  bash demos/try-guard.sh
 set -euo pipefail
diff --git a/universal/umbra-guard.sh b/universal/umbra-guard.sh
index 077761d..9a1a1d4 100755
--- a/universal/umbra-guard.sh
+++ b/universal/umbra-guard.sh
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 # or manually. It checks proposed file paths and/or a command against the repo's
 # .umbra/admission.yaml and exits non-zero (blocking) on a violation.
 #
-# Requires:  pip install "umbra-core @ git+https://github.com/bkd-dotcom/umbra-core@v0.5.3"
+# Requires:  pip install "umbra-core @ git+https://github.com/bkd-dotcom/umbra-core@v0.5.4"
 #
 # Usage:
 #   umbra-guard.sh --path src/app.py
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 set -euo pipefail
 
 if ! command -v umbra >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-  echo "umbra-guard: umbra-core not installed. Run: pip install 'umbra-core @ git+https://github.com/bkd-dotcom/umbra-core@v0.5.3'" >&2
+  echo "umbra-guard: umbra-core not installed. Run: pip install 'umbra-core @ git+https://github.com/bkd-dotcom/umbra-core@v0.5.4'" >&2
   # Fail open by default so this never blocks a commit unexpectedly; set
   # UMBRA_GUARD_STRICT=1 to fail closed when umbra is missing.
   [ "${UMBRA_GUARD_STRICT:-0}" = "1" ] && exit 1 || exit 0