diff --git a/CLAUDE.md b/CLAUDE.md
index 626a498..727f890 100644
--- a/CLAUDE.md
+++ b/CLAUDE.md
@@ -47,6 +47,12 @@ python scripts/generate_bolt_sprites.py             # --out /tmp/x to preview fi
 python scripts/slice_spritesheet.py path/to/sheet.png assets/sprites/idle --cols 6 --rows 1
 ```
 
+**Cutting a release:** bump `__version__` in `bolt_pet/__init__.py` in the same
+commit you tag, because that string — not the git history — is what every
+already-installed pet compares against the newest Gitea tag (`updater.py`). A
+tag without the bump means nobody updates; a bump without the tag means the
+next tag looks older than what's running.
+
 There is no lint/build step configured beyond pytest. `cp .env.example .env`
 and fill in `BOLT_SERVER_URL` / `DESK_API_KEY` (+ `DEEPGRAM_API_KEY`,
 `ELEVENLABS_API_KEY`) before running — without server config the controller
@@ -207,6 +213,23 @@ logs a missing-config message and exits its thread instead of starting.
   notes below); it's a safer path to the same capability. Pure parsing
   (`parse`) is separated from the filesystem I/O (`execute`), matching
   pet_actions.py's parse/describe split.
+- **`relay_json.py`** — the JSON parser both `filectl` and `dialoguectl` use
+  instead of `json.loads`, because their payload is hand-typed by a model into
+  a tool marker and fails in a small, repeatable set of ways (stray quote after
+  a bare literal, trailing comma, single or smart quotes, Python `True`/`False`,
+  a markdown fence). Strict parsing already cost a live turn: the call was
+  rejected, the model re-sent the identical line, was rejected again, and then
+  told the user "I'll check now" without ever calling anything. So `loads()`
+  tries strict first, then applies **named, individually-narrow repairs** and
+  accepts one only if the result parses — and on total failure raises
+  `RelayJsonError` carrying a caret pointed at the offending character, since
+  a model can act on a pointed-at fragment but not on "Expecting ',' delimiter:
+  char 74". Two conventions matter for any new relayed-JSON command: repairs
+  are **never silent** — `parse` stashes them on the action as `_repairs` and
+  `describe` appends `relay_json.repair_note(...)` to the tool result, so the
+  model is told it sent something broken while it still has the turn — and new
+  repairs go in the `_REPAIRS` tuple ordered cheapest/safest first. Tested
+  inside `tests/test_file_ops.py`, not a file of its own.
 - **`screen_context.py`** — active-window title (xprop/xdotool, Win32,
   osascript) appended to each utterance via `context_for()`, plus
   `is_fullscreen_active()` for do-not-disturb. Text only — the desk API takes
diff --git a/bolt_pet/speech_text.py b/bolt_pet/speech_text.py
index 5aa2b13..8d161aa 100644
--- a/bolt_pet/speech_text.py
+++ b/bolt_pet/speech_text.py
@@ -119,19 +119,17 @@ def for_speech(text: str) -> str:
 
 
 def is_question(text: str) -> bool:
-    """True if the reply *ends* by asking the user something — the cue for
-    the pet to keep listening instead of making you say the wake word again.
+    """True if the spoken reply contains a question mark — the cue for the
+    pet to keep listening instead of making you say the wake word again.
 
-    Deliberately only looks at the end. A reply that asks something in
-    passing ("What time is it? It's 7:15.") isn't waiting on an answer,
-    whereas one that finishes on a question mark is. The test runs on the
-    spoken form, so a '?' that only exists inside a stripped code block or a
-    URL doesn't count, and trailing decoration (emoji, quotes, brackets) is
-    peeled off first so "Ready to go? 🚀" still reads as a question."""
+    The check runs on the spoken form, so a '?' that only exists inside a
+    stripped code block or a URL doesn't count, and trailing decoration
+    (emoji, quotes, brackets) is peeled off first so "Ready to go? 🚀"
+    still reads as a question."""
     spoken = for_speech(text)
-    while spoken and not (spoken[-1].isalnum() or spoken[-1] == "?"):
+    while spoken and not (spoken[-1].isalnum() or spoken[-1] in "?."):
         spoken = spoken[:-1]
-    return spoken.endswith("?")
+    return "?" in spoken
 
 
 def for_display(text: str) -> str:
diff --git a/tests/test_speech_text.py b/tests/test_speech_text.py
index 53c9d5f..6bfbd7f 100644
--- a/tests/test_speech_text.py
+++ b/tests/test_speech_text.py
@@ -59,11 +59,12 @@ def test_display_keeps_emoji_but_drops_markdown():
     assert for_display("* one\n* two") == "• one • two"
 
 
-def test_is_question_only_fires_on_a_trailing_question():
+def test_is_question_fires_when_a_question_mark_appears_anywhere():
     assert is_question("Ready to run a command or start a project?")
     assert is_question("It's 7:15 AM. Want me to set a timer?")
+    assert is_question("What time is it? It's 7:15 AM.")
+    assert is_question("Can you help me with this? I need a quick answer.")
     assert not is_question("It's 7:15 AM on July 23, 2026.")
-    assert not is_question("What time is it? It's 7:15 AM.")  # asked in passing
 
 
 def test_is_question_ignores_trailing_decoration():