diff --git a/cli/version_bump.php b/cli/version_bump.php
index 9a5a5f3..e23f255 100644
--- a/cli/version_bump.php
+++ b/cli/version_bump.php
@@ -124,19 +124,17 @@ class VersionBumpCli extends CliFramework
             $minVersion = preg_replace('/-(?:dev|alpha|beta|rc)$/', '', $minVersion);
             if (preg_match('/^\d{2}\.\d{2}\.\d{2}$/', $minVersion)) {
                 if ($baseVersion === null || version_compare($minVersion, $baseVersion, '>')) {
-                    $this->log('INFO', "Using --min-version {$minVersion} (higher than manifest {$baseVersion})");
+                    $this->log('INFO', "Using --min-version {$minVersion} (higher than manifest " . ($baseVersion ?? '(none)') . ")");
                     $baseVersion = $minVersion;
                 }
             }
         }
 
         // Auto-detect: scan git tags for higher versions from other channels
-        if ($baseVersion !== null) {
-            $gitTagVersion = $this->getHighestGitTagVersion($root);
-            if ($gitTagVersion !== null && version_compare($gitTagVersion, $baseVersion, '>')) {
-                $this->log('INFO', "Git tag version {$gitTagVersion} is higher than manifest {$baseVersion} — using as base");
-                $baseVersion = $gitTagVersion;
-            }
+        $gitTagVersion = $this->getHighestGitTagVersion($root);
+        if ($gitTagVersion !== null && ($baseVersion === null || version_compare($gitTagVersion, $baseVersion, '>'))) {
+            $this->log('INFO', "Git tag version {$gitTagVersion} is higher than manifest " . ($baseVersion ?? '(none)') . " — using as base");
+            $baseVersion = $gitTagVersion;
         }
 
         if ($baseVersion === null) {