diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 8ba84ad..f0ce8d4 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+# 1.3
+
 - Fixed switching the edit mode (e.g. to Auto Mode) while a prompt was still running sometimes cycling through several modes and landing on the wrong one instead of the one selected
 - Fixed the model dropdown in the status bar being unable to shrink below roughly half the panel's width — it was inflating its minimum size to fit the widest previously-seen item, even a stale oversized one left over from a misparsed model list (https://github.com/nbplugins/NetbeansPluginClaudeCodeGui/issues/176)
 - Fixed the model dropdown showing full descriptions (including the checkmark and effort text) instead of short model names with newer Claude Code CLI versions that add an extra space after the option number (e.g. "1.  Default (recommended)") (https://github.com/nbplugins/NetbeansPluginClaudeCodeGui/issues/176)
@@ -5,8 +7,6 @@
 - Fixed ChatGPT Subscription token refresh hanging indefinitely (freezing the session) when a profile's custom HTTPS/HTTP proxy hostname was slow or unreachable to resolve via DNS
 - Fixed a choice-dialog prompt (e.g. a Bash-command permission prompt) flickering and repeatedly resizing when Claude's response text re-wrapped to a slightly different width after the dialog first appeared
 
-# 1.3
-
 # 1.3.12 (2026-09-27)
 
 - Fixed the plugin's Auto Mode indicator incorrectly turning on when a permission prompt (e.g. for a Bash command) merely mentioned "auto mode" in its tip text or "switch to auto mode" menu option, instead of the mode actually changing
diff --git a/CLAUDE.md b/CLAUDE.md
index bb67a53..bf06839 100644
--- a/CLAUDE.md
+++ b/CLAUDE.md
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ A release has an explicit **start** and **finish**:
 **During development** — add user-visible changes to `CHANGELOG.md` (see rules below).
 
 **Finishing a release** (only this, nothing else):
-- Add `# MAJOR.MINOR` or `# MAJOR.MINOR (YYYY-MM-DD)` heading at the top of `CHANGELOG.md` (above the unreleased bullets). Commit with message `"Requested release MAJOR.MINOR"`.
+- Add `# MAJOR.MINOR` or `# MAJOR.MINOR (YYYY-MM-DD)` heading as the **very first line (line 1)** of `CHANGELOG.md`, above the unreleased bullets — `autotag.sh` reads only line 1, so a heading anywhere else (e.g. below the bullets) silently triggers no release. Commit with message `"Requested release MAJOR.MINOR"`.
 - This commit must reach `main` via a PR — never push directly to upstream. Create a dedicated branch `req/MAJOR.MINOR` based on `upstream/main`:
   ```bash
   git fetch upstream
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ Version numbers continue from the last released patch: if `0.17.3` was the last
 
 ### CHANGELOG.md rules
 
-The heading `# MAJOR.MINOR` or `# MAJOR.MINOR (YYYY-MM-DD)` is the CI release signal — **only add it when finishing a release**. The date is optional; if omitted, CI inserts today's date automatically (e.g. `# 0.18` or `# 0.18 (2026-04-04)`).
+The heading `# MAJOR.MINOR` or `# MAJOR.MINOR (YYYY-MM-DD)` is the CI release signal — **only add it when finishing a release, and only on line 1 of the file** (`autotag.sh` checks `head -n 1` only; a heading placed lower is ignored and no release is created). The date is optional; if omitted, CI inserts today's date automatically (e.g. `# 0.18` or `# 0.18 (2026-04-04)`).
 
 During development, add bullet lines at the **very top** of `CHANGELOG.md` (above any existing heading), with no section heading. When finishing a release, add the `# MAJOR.MINOR` or `# MAJOR.MINOR (YYYY-MM-DD)` heading above those bullets.