diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 1484df0..79682c7 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -12,6 +12,9 @@ BRIEF: Release changelog
 # Changelog
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+### Fixed
+- branch_rename.php (promote-rc): force-update the target branch ref in place instead of delete+recreate, so promotion works when the target (e.g. `rc`) is a protected branch that cannot be deleted — previously the delete silently failed and the recreate returned HTTP 409
+
 ## [09.41.00] --- 2026-07-04
 
 ## [09.41.00] --- 2026-07-04
diff --git a/cli/branch_rename.php b/cli/branch_rename.php
index 80fc1dd..eb7c8bf 100644
--- a/cli/branch_rename.php
+++ b/cli/branch_rename.php
@@ -64,26 +64,46 @@ class BranchRenameCli extends CliFramework
             return 1;
         }
 
-        // Step 2: Delete target branch if it already exists
+        // Step 2: Point the target branch at the source commit.
+        // If the target already exists (e.g. a protected `rc` branch that cannot be
+        // deleted), force-update its ref in place instead of delete+recreate: deleting a
+        // protected branch fails, which then makes the recreate return HTTP 409.
+        $sourceSha = '';
+        if (isset($check['body']['commit']['id']) && is_string($check['body']['commit']['id'])) {
+            $sourceSha = $check['body']['commit']['id'];
+        }
         $targetCheck = $this->apiRequest('GET', "{$apiBase}/branches/{$to}", $headers);
         if ($targetCheck['code'] === 200) {
-            echo "Target branch '{$to}' already exists — deleting\n";
+            echo "Target branch '{$to}' already exists - force-updating to {$from}
+";
             if (!$this->dryRun) {
-                $this->apiRequest('DELETE', "{$apiBase}/branches/{$to}", $headers);
+                if ($sourceSha === '') {
+                    $this->log('ERROR', "Cannot resolve HEAD commit of source '{$from}'");
+                    return 1;
+                }
+                $ref = $this->apiRequest('PATCH', "{$apiBase}/git/refs/heads/{$to}", $headers, [
+                    'sha'   => $sourceSha,
+                    'force' => true,
+                ]);
+                if ($ref['code'] < 200 || $ref['code'] >= 300) {
+                    $this->log('ERROR', "Failed to force-update '{$to}': HTTP {$ref['code']} (needs force-push perm)");
+                    $this->log('ERROR', json_encode($ref['body']));
+                    return 1;
+                }
             }
-        }
-
-        // Step 3: Create new branch from source
-        echo "Creating branch: {$to} (from {$from})\n";
-        if (!$this->dryRun) {
-            $create = $this->apiRequest('POST', "{$apiBase}/branches", $headers, [
-                'new_branch_name' => $to,
-                'old_branch_name' => $from,
-            ]);
-            if ($create['code'] < 200 || $create['code'] >= 300) {
-                $this->log('ERROR', "Failed to create branch '{$to}': HTTP {$create['code']}");
-                $this->log('ERROR', json_encode($create['body']));
-                return 1;
+        } else {
+            echo "Creating branch: {$to} (from {$from})
+";
+            if (!$this->dryRun) {
+                $create = $this->apiRequest('POST', "{$apiBase}/branches", $headers, [
+                    'new_branch_name' => $to,
+                    'old_branch_name' => $from,
+                ]);
+                if ($create['code'] < 200 || $create['code'] >= 300) {
+                    $this->log('ERROR', "Failed to create branch '{$to}': HTTP {$create['code']}");
+                    $this->log('ERROR', json_encode($create['body']));
+                    return 1;
+                }
             }
         }