diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index ae0c1bc2..330d0031 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ build-backend = "hatchling.build"
 
 [project]
 name = "turnstone"
-version = "1.6.0"
+version = "1.7.0a1"
 description = "Multi-node AI orchestration platform with tool use, agent routing, and cluster simulation."
 readme = "README.md"
 license = "Apache-2.0"
diff --git a/turnstone/__init__.py b/turnstone/__init__.py
index 8d91fb3f..97f851a4 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__ = "1.6.0"
+__version__ = "1.7.0a1"
diff --git a/uv.lock b/uv.lock
index 3440d973..70c1b74b 100644
--- a/uv.lock
+++ b/uv.lock
@@ -2324,7 +2324,7 @@ wheels = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "turnstone"
-version = "1.6.0"
+version = "1.7.0a1"
 source = { editable = "." }
 dependencies = [
     { name = "alembic" },