diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index d8755b8..04d8f48 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -7,6 +7,13 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 
 Release numbering now follows the repository `v*` tag line. Starting at `v2.34.0`, the root CLI package and this changelog stay on that shared version stream. Older entries below retain the previous `0.x` CLI numbering.
 
+## [2.40.3](https://github.com/EveryInc/compound-engineering-plugin/compare/v2.40.2...v2.40.3) (2026-03-17)
+
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+* research agents prefer native tools over shell for repo exploration ([b290690](https://github.com/EveryInc/compound-engineering-plugin/commit/b2906906555810fca176fa4e0153bf080446c486))
+
 ## [2.40.2](https://github.com/EveryInc/compound-engineering-plugin/compare/v2.40.1...v2.40.2) (2026-03-17)
 
 
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 1473745..6fb1a69 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@every-env/compound-plugin",
-  "version": "2.40.2",
+  "version": "2.40.3",
   "type": "module",
   "private": false,
   "bin": {