diff --git a/.github/workflows/verify-split-files.yml b/.github/workflows/verify-split-files.yml
index 361c586..9823dca 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/verify-split-files.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/verify-split-files.yml
@@ -70,6 +70,7 @@ on:
       - "tests/vm-dialog-esc.sh"
       - "tests/forge-clean-install.sh"
       - "tests/db-helper-context.sh"
+      - "tests/forge-tag-spelling.sh"
       - "tests/cs-clear.sh"
       - "tests/forge-appversion-scope.sh"
       - "tests/forge-singlefile-compressed.sh"
@@ -139,6 +140,7 @@ on:
       - "tests/vm-dialog-esc.sh"
       - "tests/forge-clean-install.sh"
       - "tests/db-helper-context.sh"
+      - "tests/forge-tag-spelling.sh"
       - "tests/cs-clear.sh"
       - "tests/forge-appversion-scope.sh"
       - "tests/forge-singlefile-compressed.sh"
@@ -297,6 +299,8 @@ jobs:
         run: bash tests/forge-clean-install.sh
       - name: Database helpers outside an install tests
         run: bash tests/db-helper-context.sh
+      - name: Pinned tag with or without its v tests
+        run: bash tests/forge-tag-spelling.sh
       - name: Screen clear without a terminal tests
         run: bash tests/cs-clear.sh
       - name: App version pin and .deb stamp tests
diff --git a/lib/forge.func b/lib/forge.func
index 6f6a67e..2cdcbff 100644
--- a/lib/forge.func
+++ b/lib/forge.func
@@ -1699,7 +1699,7 @@ _forge_release_json() {
   fi
 
   local -a timeouts=(60 120 240)
-  local raw attempt=1 delay=2 code ok=false curl_rc
+  local raw attempt=1 delay=2 code ok=false curl_rc other_spelling=""
   raw="$(mktemp /tmp/tools-forge-rel-XXXXXX)" || return 73
   [[ "$forge" == "github" ]] && _github_token_from_vars
 
@@ -1787,6 +1787,15 @@ _forge_release_json() {
       return 22
     fi
 
+    # Ask once for the other spelling of the pinned tag, with or without the v.
+    if [[ "$single" == "true" && "$code" == "404" ]]; then
+      [[ -n "$other_spelling" ]] && break
+      other_spelling="v${version}"
+      [[ "$version" == v* ]] && other_spelling="${version#v}"
+      api_url="${base}/${repo_path}${one}/${other_spelling//\//%2F}"
+      continue
+    fi
+
     attempt=$((attempt + 1))
   done
 
diff --git a/tests/forge-tag-spelling.sh b/tests/forge-tag-spelling.sh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6ec3260
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/forge-tag-spelling.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+set -uo pipefail
+
+CORE_DIR="$(cd -- "$(dirname -- "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")/.." && pwd)"
+eval "$(sed -n '/^_FORGE_JQ_VKEY_DEF=/,/^_FORGE_JQ_VKEY=/p' "$CORE_DIR/lib/forge.func")"
+eval "$(awk '/^_forge_(descriptor|curl|designated_release|stable_filter|keep_raw|release_json|explain_failure|require_jq)[(][)] [{]/,/^}/' "$CORE_DIR/lib/forge.func")"
+
+TEST_DIR="$(mktemp -d)"
+trap 'rm -rf -- "$TEST_DIR" "${TOOLS_GH_REL_JSON:-}"' EXIT
+CALLS="$TEST_DIR/calls"
+LOG="$TEST_DIR/log"
+OUT="$TEST_DIR/out"
+passed=0 failed=0
+
+msg_info() { :; }
+msg_ok() { :; }
+msg_warn() { echo "warn: $*" >>"$LOG"; }
+msg_error() { echo "error: $*" >>"$LOG"; }
+getent() { return 0; }
+sleep() { :; }
+_github_release_noapi() { return 1; }
+ensure_dependencies() { :; }
+curl() {
+  local out="" url="" i tag
+  local -a args=("$@")
+  for ((i = 0; i < ${#args[@]}; i++)); do
+    case "${args[$i]}" in
+    -o) out="${args[$((i + 1))]}" ;;
+    https://*) url="${args[$i]}" ;;
+    esac
+  done
+  echo "$url" >>"$CALLS"
+  tag="${url##*/}"
+  if [[ " $TAGS " == *" $tag "* ]]; then
+    printf '{"tag_name":"%s"}' "$tag" >"$out"
+    printf '200'
+  else
+    printf '{"message":"Not Found"}' >"$out"
+    printf '404'
+  fi
+}
+
+check() {
+  if [[ "$3" == "$2" ]]; then
+    echo "PASS $1"
+    passed=$((passed + 1))
+  else
+    echo "FAIL $1: expected <$2>, got <$3>" >&2
+    sed 's/^/    /' "$CALLS" "$LOG" >&2 2>/dev/null
+    failed=$((failed + 1))
+  fi
+}
+lookup() {
+  : >"$CALLS"
+  : >"$LOG"
+  : >"$OUT"
+  local rc=0
+  _forge_release_json github owner/app "$1" "" "$OUT" >/dev/null 2>&1 || rc=$?
+  printf '%s %s' "$rc" "$(jq -r '.tag_name // empty' "$OUT" 2>/dev/null | tr -d '\r')"
+}
+
+TAGS="v0.35.11"
+check "pin without v finds the v tag" "0 v0.35.11" "$(lookup 0.35.11)"
+check "and asks twice, not more" "2" "$(wc -l <"$CALLS" | tr -d ' ')"
+check "pin with v still direct" "0 v0.35.11" "$(lookup v0.35.11)"
+check "a direct hit asks once" "1" "$(wc -l <"$CALLS" | tr -d ' ')"
+
+TAGS="12.4"
+check "pin with v finds the plain tag" "0 12.4" "$(lookup v12.4)"
+
+TAGS="v1.0.0"
+check "a tag missing both ways fails" "22 " "$(lookup 9.9.9)"
+check "without retrying the 404" "2" "$(wc -l <"$CALLS" | tr -d ' ')"
+check "and names the HTTP code" "1" "$(grep -c 'HTTP 404' "$LOG")"
+
+echo "${passed} passed, ${failed} failed"
+[[ "$failed" -eq 0 ]]