diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index ca485ffe..59273f15 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ build-backend = "hatchling.build"
 
 [project]
 name = "turnstone"
-version = "1.6.0a8"
+version = "1.6.0a9"
 description = "Multi-node AI orchestration platform with tool use, agent routing, and cluster simulation."
 readme = "README.md"
 license = "BUSL-1.1"
diff --git a/turnstone/__init__.py b/turnstone/__init__.py
index 3c813a6b..58feb54b 100644
--- a/turnstone/__init__.py
+++ b/turnstone/__init__.py
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 """turnstone - Multi-node AI orchestration platform with tool use, agent routing, and cluster simulation."""
 
-__version__ = "1.6.0a8"
+__version__ = "1.6.0a9"
diff --git a/uv.lock b/uv.lock
index 37c80ef3..9c1351c2 100644
--- a/uv.lock
+++ b/uv.lock
@@ -2276,7 +2276,7 @@ wheels = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "turnstone"
-version = "1.6.0a8"
+version = "1.6.0a9"
 source = { editable = "." }
 dependencies = [
     { name = "alembic" },