diff --git a/.release-please-manifest.json b/.release-please-manifest.json
index 2a8e152..cef6665 100644
--- a/.release-please-manifest.json
+++ b/.release-please-manifest.json
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 {
-  ".": "0.45.5"
+  ".": "0.45.6"
 }
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 558d2a6..35d5778 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,13 @@
 # Changelog
 
+## [0.45.6](https://github.com/gfargo/strut/compare/v0.45.5...v0.45.6) (2026-08-30)
+
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+* **mcp:** preserve remote health JSON ([#527](https://github.com/gfargo/strut/issues/527)) ([b8f831d](https://github.com/gfargo/strut/commit/b8f831dc8d22ffa0b58df0c671d50d4ea3705f98))
+* **posture:** honor effective env layers ([#525](https://github.com/gfargo/strut/issues/525)) ([0332497](https://github.com/gfargo/strut/commit/03324977e0e584f9b7f997e6d9cdf6b9176d0a28))
+
 ## [0.45.5](https://github.com/gfargo/strut/compare/v0.45.4...v0.45.5) (2026-08-27)
 
 
diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index d5a5182..830a435 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-0.45.5
+0.45.6