diff --git a/.mokogitea/manifest.xml b/.mokogitea/manifest.xml
index 21b9bd1..4a2beb4 100644
--- a/.mokogitea/manifest.xml
+++ b/.mokogitea/manifest.xml
@@ -4,11 +4,15 @@
   Auto-generated by cleanup script.
   See: https://git.mokoconsulting.tech/MokoConsulting/moko-platform/wiki/Home
 -->
-<moko-platform xmlns="https://standards.mokoconsulting.tech/moko-platform/1.0" schema-version="1.0">
+<moko-platform xmlns="https://standards.mokoconsulting.tech/moko-platform/1.0"
+               xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"
+               xsi:schemaLocation="https://standards.mokoconsulting.tech/moko-platform/1.0 https://git.mokoconsulting.tech/MokoConsulting/moko-platform/raw/branch/main/definitions/manifest-schema.xsd"
+               schema-version="1.0">
   <identity>
     <name>moko-platform</name>
     <org>MokoConsulting</org>
     <description>Enterprise automation, validation, sync, and governance engine for all Moko Consulting repositories</description>
+    <version>09.01.00</version>
     <license spdx="GPL-3.0-or-later">GNU General Public License v3</license>
   </identity>
   <governance>
diff --git a/cli/version_bump.php b/cli/version_bump.php
index e9f1fff..661df0c 100644
--- a/cli/version_bump.php
+++ b/cli/version_bump.php
@@ -128,12 +128,34 @@ $new = sprintf('%02d.%02d.%02d', $major, $minor, $patch);
 
 // -- Update .mokogitea/manifest.xml (canonical target) --
 if (file_exists($mokoManifest) && !empty($mokoContent)) {
-    $updated = preg_replace(
-        '|<version>\d{2}\.\d{2}\.\d{2}</version>|',
-        "<version>{$new}</version>",
-        $mokoContent,
-        1
-    );
+    if (preg_match('|<version>\d{2}\.\d{2}\.\d{2}</version>|', $mokoContent)) {
+        // Replace existing version tag
+        $updated = preg_replace(
+            '|<version>\d{2}\.\d{2}\.\d{2}</version>|',
+            "<version>{$new}</version>",
+            $mokoContent,
+            1
+        );
+    } else {
+        // Insert <version> before <license> (per schema order) or as last child of <identity>
+        if (strpos($mokoContent, '<license') !== false) {
+            $updated = preg_replace(
+                '|(\s*<license)|',
+                "\n    <version>{$new}</version>\$1",
+                $mokoContent,
+                1
+            );
+        } elseif (strpos($mokoContent, '</identity>') !== false) {
+            $updated = preg_replace(
+                '|(</identity>)|',
+                "    <version>{$new}</version>\n  \$1",
+                $mokoContent,
+                1
+            );
+        } else {
+            $updated = $mokoContent;
+        }
+    }
     file_put_contents($mokoManifest, $updated);
 }
 
diff --git a/cli/version_read.php b/cli/version_read.php
index 78f24c5..c31a4f8 100644
--- a/cli/version_read.php
+++ b/cli/version_read.php
@@ -89,5 +89,29 @@ if ($version === null) {
     exit(1);
 }
 
+// -- Backfill: if manifest.xml exists but lacks <version>, insert it --
+if ($mokoVersion === null && file_exists($mokoManifest)) {
+    $content = file_get_contents($mokoManifest);
+    if (!preg_match('|<version>\d{2}\.\d{2}\.\d{2}</version>|', $content)) {
+        if (strpos($content, '<license') !== false) {
+            $content = preg_replace(
+                '|(\s*<license)|',
+                "\n    <version>{$version}</version>\$1",
+                $content,
+                1
+            );
+        } elseif (strpos($content, '</identity>') !== false) {
+            $content = preg_replace(
+                '|(</identity>)|',
+                "    <version>{$version}</version>\n  \$1",
+                $content,
+                1
+            );
+        }
+        file_put_contents($mokoManifest, $content);
+        fwrite(STDERR, "Backfilled manifest.xml with version {$version}\n");
+    }
+}
+
 echo $version . "\n";
 exit(0);
diff --git a/definitions/manifest-schema.xsd b/definitions/manifest-schema.xsd
index c8ca0c2..60e3d3c 100644
--- a/definitions/manifest-schema.xsd
+++ b/definitions/manifest-schema.xsd
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
   Copyright (C) 2026 Moko Consulting <hello@mokoconsulting.tech>
   SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
 
-  MokoStandards Manifest Schema v1.0
+  MokoStandards Manifest Schema v09.01.00
   Defines the structure of .mokogitea/manifest.xml
 
   Validate: xmllint - -schema definitions/manifest-schema.xsd .mokogitea/manifest.xml
@@ -11,7 +11,8 @@
 <xs:schema xmlns:xs="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema"
            xmlns:moko="https://standards.mokoconsulting.tech/moko-platform/1.0"
            targetNamespace="https://standards.mokoconsulting.tech/moko-platform/1.0"
-           elementFormDefault="qualified">
+           elementFormDefault="qualified"
+           version="09.01.00">
 
   <!-- Root element -->
   <xs:element name="moko-platform">