diff --git a/.github/workflows/bump-patch.yml b/.github/workflows/bump-patch.yml
index 5c49aee4ba..b1f8933880 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/bump-patch.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/bump-patch.yml
@@ -18,6 +18,11 @@ on:
         required: false
         default: false
         type: boolean
+      skip_bump:
+        description: 'Record the manifest without bumping the patch version (e.g. Packaging.kt is already ahead)'
+        required: false
+        default: false
+        type: boolean
 
 jobs:
   release:
@@ -44,6 +49,7 @@ jobs:
           SERVICE_ACCOUNT_KEY_JSON: ${{ steps.service_account_json_file.outputs.filePath }}
           TRACKS: ${{ github.event.inputs.track }}
           FORCE_BUMP: ${{ github.event.inputs.force_bump }}
+          SKIP_BUMP: ${{ github.event.inputs.skip_bump }}
         run: bash scripts/update-release-manifest.sh
 
       - name: Commit & Push changes
@@ -54,11 +60,13 @@ jobs:
           git config user.name "github-actions[bot]"
           git config user.email "github-actions[bot]@users.noreply.github.com"
           git add -A
-          COMMIT_MSG="${{ steps.manifest.outputs.prod_changed == 'true'
+          COMMIT_MSG="${{ steps.manifest.outputs.prod_changed == 'true' && steps.manifest.outputs.skipped == 'true'
+            && format('build: release Flipcash {0} ({1})', steps.manifest.outputs.new_prod_name, steps.manifest.outputs.new_prod)
+            || (steps.manifest.outputs.prod_changed == 'true'
             && format('build: release Flipcash {0} ({1}), bump to {2}', steps.manifest.outputs.new_prod_name, steps.manifest.outputs.new_prod, steps.manifest.outputs.version)
             || (steps.manifest.outputs.forced == 'true'
               && format('build: bump Flipcash to {0}', steps.manifest.outputs.version)
-              || 'build: update release manifest') }}"
+              || 'build: update release manifest')) }}"
           git commit -m "$COMMIT_MSG"
           git pull --rebase https://x-access-token:${GITHUB_TOKEN}@github.com/${{ github.repository }}.git code/cash
           git push https://x-access-token:${GITHUB_TOKEN}@github.com/${{ github.repository }}.git HEAD:code/cash
diff --git a/scripts/update-release-manifest.sh b/scripts/update-release-manifest.sh
index c02d9d307c..ba98c42132 100755
--- a/scripts/update-release-manifest.sh
+++ b/scripts/update-release-manifest.sh
@@ -5,6 +5,10 @@
 # updates .well-known/release-manifest.json in place, and bumps
 # Flipcash.patchVersion in Packaging.kt when production changes.
 #
+# FORCE_BUMP=true bumps the patch even when production is unchanged.
+# SKIP_BUMP=true records the tracks without bumping, for when Packaging.kt
+# is already ahead of the release being recorded. Setting both is an error.
+#
 # Env:
 #   SERVICE_ACCOUNT_KEY_JSON  — path to the Google service account JSON file
 #   PKG                       — package name (default: com.flipcash.app.android)
@@ -16,7 +20,8 @@
 # Outputs (written to $GITHUB_OUTPUT when running in CI):
 #   old_prod / new_prod       — previous and current production versionCode
 #   prod_changed              — "true" | "false"
-#   version                   — new versionName (only when prod_changed=true)
+#   version                   — new versionName (only when the patch was bumped)
+#   skipped                   — "true" when SKIP_BUMP suppressed a bump
 
 set -euo pipefail
 
@@ -33,6 +38,11 @@ PKG="${PKG:-com.flipcash.app.android}"
 MANIFEST_PATH="${MANIFEST_PATH:-.well-known/release-manifest.json}"
 TRACKS="${TRACKS:-production beta alpha internal}"
 FORCE_BUMP="${FORCE_BUMP:-false}"
+SKIP_BUMP="${SKIP_BUMP:-false}"
+
+if [ "$FORCE_BUMP" = "true" ] && [ "$SKIP_BUMP" = "true" ]; then
+  echo "FORCE_BUMP and SKIP_BUMP cannot both be set"; exit 1
+fi
 
 ALL_TRACKS="production beta alpha internal"
 
@@ -42,7 +52,7 @@ in_list() { [[ " $2 " == *" $1 "* ]]; }
 # --- helper: write to $GITHUB_OUTPUT when in CI, otherwise just print ---
 emit() {
   echo "$1=$2"
-  [ -n "${GITHUB_OUTPUT:-}" ] && echo "$1=$2" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+  if [ -n "${GITHUB_OUTPUT:-}" ]; then echo "$1=$2" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"; fi
 }
 
 # --- mint access token ---
@@ -162,6 +172,13 @@ if [ "$FORCE_BUMP" != "true" ] && [ "$PROD_CHANGED" != "true" ]; then
 fi
 
 emit "prod_changed" "$PROD_CHANGED"
+
+if [ "$SKIP_BUMP" = "true" ]; then
+  echo "skip_bump set, recording the manifest without a patch bump"
+  emit "skipped" "true"
+  exit 0
+fi
+
 emit "forced" "$FORCE_BUMP"
 echo "Bumping patch version (prod_changed=$PROD_CHANGED, forced=$FORCE_BUMP)"