diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 255565f..2468f3c 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -11,11 +11,11 @@ integration PRs, follows `main` through production, and pauses after failures.
 
 ## Install
 
-Install the reviewed `v0.2.5` source commit directly from GitHub:
+Install the reviewed `v0.2.6` source commit directly from GitHub:
 
 ```bash
 python3 -m pip install \
-  'deploybot-merge-queue[mcp] @ git+https://github.com/Forward-Future/DeployBot.git@94fe042a58c731343c8bbd73d0bdfcb38a55866f'
+  'deploybot-merge-queue[mcp] @ git+https://github.com/Forward-Future/DeployBot.git@a0e2c833282e63bf5db4339f99773aa9ba2f0c82'
 deploybot init
 ```
 
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ aligned with `pipeline.ci_workflows`. The privileged worker never checks out or
 executes pull-request code. Pin the Action to the full reviewed release commit:
 
 ```yaml
-- uses: Forward-Future/DeployBot@94fe042a58c731343c8bbd73d0bdfcb38a55866f
+- uses: Forward-Future/DeployBot@a0e2c833282e63bf5db4339f99773aa9ba2f0c82
 ```
 
 The Action uses GitHub's built-in workflow token. GitHub intentionally does not
diff --git a/adapters/claude-code/.mcp.json b/adapters/claude-code/.mcp.json
index 51dcc92..5921093 100644
--- a/adapters/claude-code/.mcp.json
+++ b/adapters/claude-code/.mcp.json
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
       "command": "uvx",
       "args": [
         "--from",
-      "deploybot-merge-queue[mcp] @ git+https://github.com/Forward-Future/DeployBot.git@94fe042a58c731343c8bbd73d0bdfcb38a55866f",
+        "deploybot-merge-queue[mcp] @ git+https://github.com/Forward-Future/DeployBot.git@a0e2c833282e63bf5db4339f99773aa9ba2f0c82",
         "deploybot-mcp"
       ]
     }
diff --git a/adapters/codex/agent-merge-queue/.mcp.json b/adapters/codex/agent-merge-queue/.mcp.json
index 51dcc92..5921093 100644
--- a/adapters/codex/agent-merge-queue/.mcp.json
+++ b/adapters/codex/agent-merge-queue/.mcp.json
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
       "command": "uvx",
       "args": [
         "--from",
-      "deploybot-merge-queue[mcp] @ git+https://github.com/Forward-Future/DeployBot.git@94fe042a58c731343c8bbd73d0bdfcb38a55866f",
+        "deploybot-merge-queue[mcp] @ git+https://github.com/Forward-Future/DeployBot.git@a0e2c833282e63bf5db4339f99773aa9ba2f0c82",
         "deploybot-mcp"
       ]
     }
diff --git a/adapters/cursor/.cursor/mcp.json b/adapters/cursor/.cursor/mcp.json
index fa50b07..5921093 100644
--- a/adapters/cursor/.cursor/mcp.json
+++ b/adapters/cursor/.cursor/mcp.json
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
       "command": "uvx",
       "args": [
         "--from",
-        "deploybot-merge-queue[mcp] @ git+https://github.com/Forward-Future/DeployBot.git@94fe042a58c731343c8bbd73d0bdfcb38a55866f",
+        "deploybot-merge-queue[mcp] @ git+https://github.com/Forward-Future/DeployBot.git@a0e2c833282e63bf5db4339f99773aa9ba2f0c82",
         "deploybot-mcp"
       ]
     }
diff --git a/examples/github-workflow.yml b/examples/github-workflow.yml
index d693f02..cdc2c06 100644
--- a/examples/github-workflow.yml
+++ b/examples/github-workflow.yml
@@ -55,5 +55,5 @@ jobs:
         with:
           ref: ${{ github.event.repository.default_branch }}
           persist-credentials: false
-      # v0.2.5 implementation; keep the full commit for privileged workflows.
-      - uses: Forward-Future/DeployBot@94fe042a58c731343c8bbd73d0bdfcb38a55866f
+      # v0.2.6 implementation; keep the full commit for privileged workflows.
+      - uses: Forward-Future/DeployBot@a0e2c833282e63bf5db4339f99773aa9ba2f0c82
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 4b3a8d8..865d432 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ build-backend = "setuptools.build_meta"
 
 [project]
 name = "deploybot-merge-queue"
-version = "0.2.5"
+version = "0.2.6"
 description = "DeployBot: a provider-neutral GitHub merge queue for coding agents"
 readme = "README.md"
 license = "MIT"
diff --git a/src/agent_merge_queue/__init__.py b/src/agent_merge_queue/__init__.py
index 5059a71..b30d4d6 100644
--- a/src/agent_merge_queue/__init__.py
+++ b/src/agent_merge_queue/__init__.py
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 """DeployBot: a provider-neutral GitHub merge queue for coding agents."""
 
-__version__ = "0.2.5"
+__version__ = "0.2.6"
diff --git a/src/agent_merge_queue/pipeline.py b/src/agent_merge_queue/pipeline.py
index ce28c45..1239116 100644
--- a/src/agent_merge_queue/pipeline.py
+++ b/src/agent_merge_queue/pipeline.py
@@ -54,7 +54,9 @@ def release_state(
     # the downstream run against the default-branch SHA, so it can otherwise
     # hide a real deployment (or look like a deployment failure) for that same
     # revision. A skipped run did not attempt a release and is not evidence.
-    ci_fence = str((ci or {}).get("updated_at") or (ci or {}).get("created_at") or "")
+    ci_fence = parse_time(
+        str((ci or {}).get("updated_at") or (ci or {}).get("created_at") or "")
+    )
     deploy = latest_run(
         [
             run
@@ -63,7 +65,14 @@ def release_state(
                 str(run.get("status") or "") == "completed"
                 and str(run.get("conclusion") or "") == "skipped"
             )
-            and (not ci_fence or str(run.get("created_at") or "") >= ci_fence)
+            and (
+                ci_fence is None
+                or (
+                    (created_at := parse_time(str(run.get("created_at") or "")))
+                    is not None
+                    and created_at >= ci_fence
+                )
+            )
         ],
         config.deploy_workflows,
         main_sha,
diff --git a/tests/test_pipeline.py b/tests/test_pipeline.py
index 1d94274..2d3da9f 100644
--- a/tests/test_pipeline.py
+++ b/tests/test_pipeline.py
@@ -105,6 +105,33 @@ def test_new_successful_ci_supersedes_an_older_failed_deploy(self) -> None:
         self.assertEqual(value["state"], "awaiting-deploy")
         self.assertIsNone(value["latest_deploy"])
 
+    def test_release_fence_compares_normalized_timestamps(self) -> None:
+        sha = "a" * 40
+        runs = [
+            {
+                "id": 1,
+                "name": "CI",
+                "head_sha": sha,
+                "status": "completed",
+                "conclusion": "success",
+                "created_at": "2026-06-20T00:00:00Z",
+                "updated_at": "2026-06-20T01:00:00+01:00",
+            },
+            {
+                "id": 2,
+                "name": "Deploy",
+                "head_sha": sha,
+                "status": "completed",
+                "conclusion": "success",
+                "created_at": "2026-06-20T00:30:00.000Z",
+            },
+        ]
+
+        value = release_state(main_sha=sha, runs=runs, config=CONFIG.pipeline)
+
+        self.assertEqual(value["state"], "verified")
+        self.assertEqual(value["latest_deploy"]["id"], 2)
+
     def test_follow_dispatches_deploy_after_token_dispatched_ci(self) -> None:
         sha = "a" * 40
         ci = {
diff --git a/tests/test_skill.py b/tests/test_skill.py
index 439d66d..f8623eb 100644
--- a/tests/test_skill.py
+++ b/tests/test_skill.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 
 ROOT = Path(__file__).resolve().parents[1]
 CANONICAL = ROOT / "skills" / "deploybot" / "SKILL.md"
-RELEASE_COMMIT = "94fe042a58c731343c8bbd73d0bdfcb38a55866f"
+RELEASE_COMMIT = "a0e2c833282e63bf5db4339f99773aa9ba2f0c82"
 CHECKOUT_COMMIT = "9c091bb21b7c1c1d1991bb908d89e4e9dddfe3e0"