diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 2468f3c..7c45500 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 `v0.2.6` source commit directly from GitHub:
+Install the reviewed `v0.2.7` source commit directly from GitHub:
 
 ```bash
 python3 -m pip install \
-  'deploybot-merge-queue[mcp] @ git+https://github.com/Forward-Future/DeployBot.git@a0e2c833282e63bf5db4339f99773aa9ba2f0c82'
+  'deploybot-merge-queue[mcp] @ git+https://github.com/Forward-Future/DeployBot.git@b768fd0d77bc6def505f1cd0c101d37db6edba4d'
 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@a0e2c833282e63bf5db4339f99773aa9ba2f0c82
+- uses: Forward-Future/DeployBot@b768fd0d77bc6def505f1cd0c101d37db6edba4d
 ```
 
 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 5921093..cb1c297 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@a0e2c833282e63bf5db4339f99773aa9ba2f0c82",
+        "deploybot-merge-queue[mcp] @ git+https://github.com/Forward-Future/DeployBot.git@b768fd0d77bc6def505f1cd0c101d37db6edba4d",
         "deploybot-mcp"
       ]
     }
diff --git a/adapters/codex/agent-merge-queue/.mcp.json b/adapters/codex/agent-merge-queue/.mcp.json
index 5921093..cb1c297 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@a0e2c833282e63bf5db4339f99773aa9ba2f0c82",
+        "deploybot-merge-queue[mcp] @ git+https://github.com/Forward-Future/DeployBot.git@b768fd0d77bc6def505f1cd0c101d37db6edba4d",
         "deploybot-mcp"
       ]
     }
diff --git a/adapters/cursor/.cursor/mcp.json b/adapters/cursor/.cursor/mcp.json
index 5921093..cb1c297 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@a0e2c833282e63bf5db4339f99773aa9ba2f0c82",
+        "deploybot-merge-queue[mcp] @ git+https://github.com/Forward-Future/DeployBot.git@b768fd0d77bc6def505f1cd0c101d37db6edba4d",
         "deploybot-mcp"
       ]
     }
diff --git a/examples/github-workflow.yml b/examples/github-workflow.yml
index cdc2c06..af2fc85 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
-      # v0.2.6 implementation; keep the full commit for privileged workflows.
-      - uses: Forward-Future/DeployBot@a0e2c833282e63bf5db4339f99773aa9ba2f0c82
+      # v0.2.7 implementation; keep the full commit for privileged workflows.
+      - uses: Forward-Future/DeployBot@b768fd0d77bc6def505f1cd0c101d37db6edba4d
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 865d432..87f62bd 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ build-backend = "setuptools.build_meta"
 
 [project]
 name = "deploybot-merge-queue"
-version = "0.2.6"
+version = "0.2.7"
 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 b30d4d6..38b9e28 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__ = "0.2.6"
+__version__ = "0.2.7"
diff --git a/src/agent_merge_queue/cli.py b/src/agent_merge_queue/cli.py
index aeaba91..a34adfe 100755
--- a/src/agent_merge_queue/cli.py
+++ b/src/agent_merge_queue/cli.py
@@ -2757,7 +2757,7 @@ def command_react(
                 )
             raise
     release: dict[str, Any] | None = None
-    if follow and drained.get("merged"):
+    if follow:
         release = command_follow(
             client,
             timeout_seconds=timeout_seconds,
diff --git a/tests/test_cli.py b/tests/test_cli.py
index f9a4733..f897777 100644
--- a/tests/test_cli.py
+++ b/tests/test_cli.py
@@ -1191,6 +1191,37 @@ def test_reactor_dispatches_ci_once_after_a_merged_batch(self) -> None:
         client.dispatch_ci_workflows.assert_called_once_with()
         self.assertEqual(result["dispatched_ci"], [{"id": 7, "name": "CI"}])
 
+    def test_reactor_follows_release_without_a_new_merge(self) -> None:
+        client = Mock()
+        client.config = CONFIG
+        client.pipeline_control.return_value = {"state": "running"}
+        empty = FreezeResult(None, [], [], [], [])
+        release = {"state": "verified", "main_sha": "a" * 40}
+        with (
+            patch("agent_merge_queue.cli.promote_integrations", return_value=[]),
+            patch("agent_merge_queue.cli.command_promote", return_value={}),
+            patch("agent_merge_queue.cli.freeze_queue", return_value=empty),
+            patch(
+                "agent_merge_queue.cli.command_drain",
+                return_value={"merged": []},
+            ),
+            patch(
+                "agent_merge_queue.cli.command_follow",
+                return_value=release,
+            ) as follow_release,
+            redirect_stdout(io.StringIO()),
+        ):
+            result = command_react(client, follow=True, timeout_seconds=10)
+
+        follow_release.assert_called_once_with(
+            client,
+            timeout_seconds=10,
+            poll_seconds=10,
+            json_output=False,
+            emit=False,
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(result["release"], release)
+
     def test_reactor_pauses_when_post_merge_ci_dispatch_fails(self) -> None:
         client = Mock()
         client.config = CONFIG
diff --git a/tests/test_skill.py b/tests/test_skill.py
index f8623eb..1af1ec0 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 = "a0e2c833282e63bf5db4339f99773aa9ba2f0c82"
+RELEASE_COMMIT = "b768fd0d77bc6def505f1cd0c101d37db6edba4d"
 CHECKOUT_COMMIT = "9c091bb21b7c1c1d1991bb908d89e4e9dddfe3e0"