diff --git a/.github/workflows/compatibility.yml b/.github/workflows/compatibility.yml
index 6d7cd44..f0bcfa7 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/compatibility.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/compatibility.yml
@@ -83,11 +83,17 @@ jobs:
           python -m pip install dist/*.whl
       - name: Validate consumer manifest
         run: python scripts/validate_consumers.py
-      - name: Install consumers independently
+      - name: Install consumers without dependency resolution
         run: |
-          python -m pip install compatibility/consumers/atlas_click
-          python -m pip install compatibility/consumers/beacon_typer
-          python -m pip install "compatibility/consumers/cinder_automation[observability]"
+          python -m pip install --no-deps compatibility/consumers/atlas_click
+          python -m pip install --no-deps compatibility/consumers/beacon_typer
+          python -m pip install --no-deps "compatibility/consumers/cinder_automation[observability]"
+      - name: Verify the installed framework matches the source release
+        run: |
+          expected="$(tr -d '\r\n' < VERSION)"
+          actual="$(python -c 'from importlib.metadata import version; print(version("base-cli"))')"
+          test "$actual" = "$expected"
+          python -m pip check
       - name: Run downstream compatibility suites
         run: |
           for tests in compatibility/consumers/*/tests; do
diff --git a/compatibility/README.md b/compatibility/README.md
index f13c0d9..e60093f 100644
--- a/compatibility/README.md
+++ b/compatibility/README.md
@@ -16,20 +16,25 @@ outcomes.
 
 `scripts/validate_consumers.py` validates the manifest, package metadata, and
 required compatibility documentation. The `Reference consumers` workflow
-builds and installs the base-cli wheel first, installs each consumer with its
-own dependencies, and runs each consumer's tests. This catches import,
-packaging, adapter, and contract regressions without relying on repository
-source imports.
+builds and installs the base-cli wheel first, installs each consumer without
+dependency resolution, verifies that the installed distribution still matches
+the source release, and runs each consumer's tests. This prevents pip from
+silently replacing the release candidate with an older published wheel.
 
 The downstream job records a dated JSON result as the
 `base-cli-compatibility-evidence-<run-id>` artifact. It binds the result to the
 framework revision and version and lists the exact fixture and matrix that
-passed. See [`adoption-evidence.md`](../docs/adoption-evidence.md) for the
-claim and permission boundary.
+passed. The record remains `schema_version: 1`; `source_version` identifies
+the checked-out `VERSION`, while `framework_version` identifies the installed
+distribution. These are additive metadata fields, so readers should not reject
+the record merely because a newer record contains additional fields. See
+[`adoption-evidence.md`](../docs/adoption-evidence.md) for the claim and
+permission boundary.
 
 The same workflow runs the Typer adapter and Beacon fixture against Typer
-0.25.1, 0.26.0, and 0.27.1 on Python 3.10 through 3.14. This matrix covers the
-transition from Click's public command classes to Typer's vendored Click fork.
+0.25.1, 0.26.0, 0.27.1, and 0.27.2 on Python 3.10 through 3.14. This matrix
+covers the transition from Click's public command classes to Typer's vendored
+Click fork.
 
 Run the same checks locally:
 
@@ -37,9 +42,17 @@ Run the same checks locally:
 python scripts/validate_consumers.py
 python -m build --wheel
 python -m pip install dist/base_cli-*.whl
-for consumer in compatibility/consumers/*; do python -m pip install "$consumer"; done
+for consumer in compatibility/consumers/*; do python -m pip install --no-deps "$consumer"; done
+python -m pip check
 for tests in compatibility/consumers/*/tests; do python -m pytest "$tests"; done
 ```
 
+The fixture metadata targets `base-cli>=0.5,<0.6`. Dependency-resolving
+installation therefore requires the 0.5 package to be available from the
+configured index. The workflow instead installs the reviewed wheel first,
+installs each fixture with `--no-deps`, verifies the installed framework
+version, and then runs `pip check` so the compatibility result cannot silently
+fall back to an older published framework.
+
 The fixtures are not customer claims. A permissioned public adopter can be
 added as a separate record while retaining the same downstream contract tests.
diff --git a/compatibility/consumers/atlas_click/README.md b/compatibility/consumers/atlas_click/README.md
index feca45d..8804e3c 100644
--- a/compatibility/consumers/atlas_click/README.md
+++ b/compatibility/consumers/atlas_click/README.md
@@ -6,4 +6,5 @@ without rebuilding the Click tree or changing the inventory output contract.
 
 Install with `python -m pip install .`, run `atlas-consumer --help`, and execute
 `atlas-consumer --quiet inventory`. The package is pinned to the supported
-`base-cli` 0.3 minor window; tests run against the installed wheel in CI.
+`base-cli` 0.5 minor window; tests run against the installed release-candidate
+wheel in CI.
diff --git a/compatibility/consumers/atlas_click/pyproject.toml b/compatibility/consumers/atlas_click/pyproject.toml
index ea1d77b..2864a9b 100644
--- a/compatibility/consumers/atlas_click/pyproject.toml
+++ b/compatibility/consumers/atlas_click/pyproject.toml
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ name = "base-cli-compat-consumer-atlas"
 version = "0.1.0"
 description = "Independent Click consumer compatibility fixture for base-cli"
 requires-python = ">=3.10"
-dependencies = ["base-cli>=0.3,<0.5", "click>=8.1"]
+dependencies = ["base-cli>=0.5,<0.6", "click>=8.1,<8.6"]
 
 [project.scripts]
 atlas-consumer = "atlas_click.cli:main"
diff --git a/compatibility/consumers/beacon_typer/README.md b/compatibility/consumers/beacon_typer/README.md
index 5dcd9c0..c7c8237 100644
--- a/compatibility/consumers/beacon_typer/README.md
+++ b/compatibility/consumers/beacon_typer/README.md
@@ -5,7 +5,8 @@ proves that `base_cli.attach_typer()` preserves Typer's generated help,
 validation, and callback behavior while adding the `base-cli` framework lifecycle.
 
 Install with `python -m pip install .`, run `beacon-consumer --help`, and execute
-`beacon-consumer --quiet deploy --service api --replicas 3`. The supported Typer
-range is explicit in package metadata and is exercised by the compatibility
-workflow across Typer 0.25.1, 0.26.0, and 0.27.1 on Python 3.10 through 3.14.
-Run `python -m pytest tests` to repeat the downstream tests locally.
+`beacon-consumer --quiet deploy --service api --replicas 3`. The package targets
+the `base-cli` 0.5 minor window. The supported Typer range is explicit in
+package metadata and is exercised by the compatibility workflow across Typer
+0.25.1, 0.26.0, 0.27.1, and 0.27.2 on Python 3.10 through 3.14. Run
+`python -m pytest tests` to repeat the downstream tests locally.
diff --git a/compatibility/consumers/beacon_typer/pyproject.toml b/compatibility/consumers/beacon_typer/pyproject.toml
index 9cda485..8c27d5a 100644
--- a/compatibility/consumers/beacon_typer/pyproject.toml
+++ b/compatibility/consumers/beacon_typer/pyproject.toml
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ name = "base-cli-compat-consumer-beacon"
 version = "0.1.0"
 description = "Independent Typer consumer compatibility fixture for base-cli"
 requires-python = ">=3.10"
-dependencies = ["base-cli>=0.3,<0.5", "typer>=0.25.1,<0.28"]
+dependencies = ["base-cli>=0.5,<0.6", "typer>=0.25.1,<0.28"]
 
 [project.scripts]
 beacon-consumer = "beacon_typer.cli:main"
diff --git a/compatibility/consumers/cinder_automation/README.md b/compatibility/consumers/cinder_automation/README.md
index b984574..2c69565 100644
--- a/compatibility/consumers/cinder_automation/README.md
+++ b/compatibility/consumers/cinder_automation/README.md
@@ -9,4 +9,5 @@ Install with `python -m pip install '.[observability]'`, run
 `cinder-consumer --help`, and start with
 `cinder-consumer --quiet --dry-run --target warehouse`. Exporters are optional;
 the command remains successful when no provider is configured.
+The package targets the supported `base-cli` 0.5 minor window.
 Run `python -m pytest tests` to repeat the dry-run and JSON contract tests.
diff --git a/compatibility/consumers/cinder_automation/pyproject.toml b/compatibility/consumers/cinder_automation/pyproject.toml
index 955afb0..767ade4 100644
--- a/compatibility/consumers/cinder_automation/pyproject.toml
+++ b/compatibility/consumers/cinder_automation/pyproject.toml
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ name = "base-cli-compat-consumer-cinder"
 version = "0.1.0"
 description = "Independent automation consumer compatibility fixture for base-cli"
 requires-python = ">=3.10"
-dependencies = ["base-cli>=0.3,<0.5", "click>=8.1"]
+dependencies = ["base-cli>=0.5,<0.6", "click>=8.1,<8.6"]
 
 [project.optional-dependencies]
 observability = ["opentelemetry-api>=1.24,<2"]
diff --git a/scripts/record_compatibility_evidence.py b/scripts/record_compatibility_evidence.py
index 83ab9db..86f100f 100644
--- a/scripts/record_compatibility_evidence.py
+++ b/scripts/record_compatibility_evidence.py
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@
 import os
 import subprocess
 from datetime import datetime, timezone
+from importlib.metadata import PackageNotFoundError
+from importlib.metadata import version as distribution_version
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Any
 
@@ -30,14 +32,28 @@ def _version() -> str:
     return (ROOT / "VERSION").read_text(encoding="utf-8").splitlines()[0].strip()
 
 
+def _installed_version() -> str:
+    try:
+        return distribution_version("base-cli")
+    except PackageNotFoundError as exc:
+        raise SystemExit("compatibility evidence requires an installed base-cli distribution") from exc
+
+
 def main() -> None:
     now = datetime.now(timezone.utc).replace(microsecond=0).isoformat().replace("+00:00", "Z")
+    source_version = _version()
+    installed_version = _installed_version()
+    if installed_version != source_version:
+        raise SystemExit(
+            f"compatibility evidence version mismatch: source {source_version}, installed {installed_version}"
+        )
     record: dict[str, Any] = {
         "schema_version": 1,
         "status": "passed",
         "recorded_at": now,
         "source_revision": _revision(),
-        "framework_version": _version(),
+        "source_version": source_version,
+        "framework_version": installed_version,
         "workflow": os.environ.get("GITHUB_WORKFLOW", "local"),
         "run_id": os.environ.get("GITHUB_RUN_ID"),
         "run_attempt": os.environ.get("GITHUB_RUN_ATTEMPT"),