diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index d1a6dad..21db9cc 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -265,6 +265,12 @@ Being honest about where this still has issues:
 <details open>
 <summary><strong>v7.x</strong></summary>
 
+### v7.0.40
+- Bumped `@imdeadpool/guardex` from `7.0.39` to `7.0.40` so the current
+  `main` payload can publish under a fresh npm version after `7.0.39` reached
+  the registry.
+- No new CLI command behavior is introduced in this release lane.
+
 ### v7.0.39
 - Bumped `@imdeadpool/guardex` from `7.0.38` to `7.0.39` so the current
   `main` payload can publish under a fresh npm version after `7.0.38` reached
diff --git a/openspec/changes/agent-codex-bump-guardex-to-7-0-40-release-2026-04-28-01-13/.openspec.yaml b/openspec/changes/agent-codex-bump-guardex-to-7-0-40-release-2026-04-28-01-13/.openspec.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..40f1122
--- /dev/null
+++ b/openspec/changes/agent-codex-bump-guardex-to-7-0-40-release-2026-04-28-01-13/.openspec.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+id: agent-codex-bump-guardex-to-7-0-40-release-2026-04-28-01-13
+tier: T1
+kind: notes
diff --git a/openspec/changes/agent-codex-bump-guardex-to-7-0-40-release-2026-04-28-01-13/notes.md b/openspec/changes/agent-codex-bump-guardex-to-7-0-40-release-2026-04-28-01-13/notes.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9094080
--- /dev/null
+++ b/openspec/changes/agent-codex-bump-guardex-to-7-0-40-release-2026-04-28-01-13/notes.md
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+## Change
+
+- Bump `@imdeadpool/guardex` from `7.0.39` to `7.0.40`.
+- Add README release notes for `v7.0.40`.
+- After merge, create/update the GitHub release `v7.0.40` from README notes.
+
+## Verification
+
+- `npm view @imdeadpool/guardex version` reported `7.0.39` before the bump.
+- `gh release view v7.0.39 --repo recodeee/gitguardex --json tagName,name,url,publishedAt,isDraft,isPrerelease` confirmed the previous GitHub release exists.
diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index dd46098..2f5e77a 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 {
   "name": "@imdeadpool/guardex",
-  "version": "7.0.39",
+  "version": "7.0.40",
   "lockfileVersion": 3,
   "requires": true,
   "packages": {
     "": {
       "name": "@imdeadpool/guardex",
-      "version": "7.0.39",
+      "version": "7.0.40",
       "license": "MIT",
       "dependencies": {
         "jsonc-parser": "3.3.1",
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index dd59b55..c330812 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@imdeadpool/guardex",
-  "version": "7.0.39",
+  "version": "7.0.40",
   "description": "Guardian T-Rex for your multi-agent repo. Isolated worktrees, file locks, and PR-only merges stop parallel Codex & Claude agents from overwriting each other's work. Auto-wires Oh My Codex, Oh My Claude, OpenSpec, and Caveman.",
   "license": "MIT",
   "preferGlobal": true,