diff --git a/.claude/CLAUDE.md b/.claude/CLAUDE.md
index bfe2ea0..c49f711 100644
--- a/.claude/CLAUDE.md
+++ b/.claude/CLAUDE.md
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ Output: `build/<arch>/kernel/starkernel_loader.efi` + `build/<arch>/kernel/stark
 Two independently tracked version strings flow into the generated `include/version.h`:
 `VERSION` (`Makefile.starkernel` — the embedded StarForth engine version, currently `3.1.0`;
 note this does **not** auto-sync with the standalone StarForth repo's own version) and
-`LITHOS_VERSION` (`Makefile.starkernel` — the kernel version, currently `1.5.3`).
+`LITHOS_VERSION` (`Makefile.starkernel` — the kernel version, currently `1.5.4`).
 
 ### Build configuration (Kconfig — real, wired, not vestigial)
 
diff --git a/Makefile.starkernel b/Makefile.starkernel
index 1f72972..915f224 100644
--- a/Makefile.starkernel
+++ b/Makefile.starkernel
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ endif
 #   v1.5.x — framebuffer VT100 terminal/console milestone (current)
 #   v2.0.0 — StarForth SDK release; v2.x.x development begins from there
 VERSION       ?= 3.1.0
-LITHOS_VERSION ?= 1.5.3
+LITHOS_VERSION ?= 1.5.4
 
 # ==============================================================================
 # BUILD PATHS
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index a29bc76..68ec0c9 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# LithosAnanke v1.5.3
+# LithosAnanke v1.5.4
 
 **UEFI-bootable FORTH microkernel.** Boots from firmware, initialises memory and interrupts, then runs the StarForth VM as its sole userspace runtime. No libc. No OS. Just stone and necessity.