diff --git a/justfile b/justfile
index 13842d03d..da1da1c12 100644
--- a/justfile
+++ b/justfile
@@ -706,6 +706,8 @@ release version:
         .claude-plugin/marketplace.json \
         plugins/claude-code/.claude-plugin/plugin.json \
         plugins/claude-code/.claude-plugin/marketplace.json \
+        plugins/claude-code/hooks/session_start.py \
+        plugins/claude-code/hooks/pre_compact.py \
         plugins/codex/.codex-plugin/plugin.json \
         plugins/codex/hooks/session_start.py \
         plugins/codex/hooks/pre_compact.py \
@@ -826,6 +828,8 @@ beta version:
         .claude-plugin/marketplace.json \
         plugins/claude-code/.claude-plugin/plugin.json \
         plugins/claude-code/.claude-plugin/marketplace.json \
+        plugins/claude-code/hooks/session_start.py \
+        plugins/claude-code/hooks/pre_compact.py \
         plugins/codex/.codex-plugin/plugin.json \
         plugins/codex/hooks/session_start.py \
         plugins/codex/hooks/pre_compact.py \
diff --git a/plugins/claude-code/hooks/pre_compact.py b/plugins/claude-code/hooks/pre_compact.py
index bdb002fd4..69c550cea 100755
--- a/plugins/claude-code/hooks/pre_compact.py
+++ b/plugins/claude-code/hooks/pre_compact.py
@@ -1,7 +1,14 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env -S uv run --quiet --script
 # /// script
 # requires-python = ">=3.12"
-# dependencies = ["basic-memory>=0.22.1"]
+# dependencies = [
+#     "basic-memory>=0.23.0",
+#     # Direct pre-release pin so old uv resolves basic-memory (which
+#     # requires this exact beta transitively) without enabling
+#     # pre-releases for basic-memory itself. Keep in lockstep with
+#     # core pyproject's fastmcp pin.
+#     "fastmcp==4.0.0b1",
+# ]
 # ///
 """PreCompact hook — the entire hook. All logic (settings resolution, the
 extractive checkpoint note, lifecycle-envelope capture) lives in the released
diff --git a/plugins/claude-code/hooks/session_start.py b/plugins/claude-code/hooks/session_start.py
index 2dc789223..d3c9203fc 100755
--- a/plugins/claude-code/hooks/session_start.py
+++ b/plugins/claude-code/hooks/session_start.py
@@ -1,7 +1,14 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env -S uv run --quiet --script
 # /// script
 # requires-python = ">=3.12"
-# dependencies = ["basic-memory>=0.22.1"]
+# dependencies = [
+#     "basic-memory>=0.23.0",
+#     # Direct pre-release pin so old uv resolves basic-memory (which
+#     # requires this exact beta transitively) without enabling
+#     # pre-releases for basic-memory itself. Keep in lockstep with
+#     # core pyproject's fastmcp pin.
+#     "fastmcp==4.0.0b1",
+# ]
 # ///
 """SessionStart hook — the entire hook. All logic (settings resolution, the
 context brief, lifecycle-envelope capture) lives in the released basic-memory
diff --git a/plugins/claude-code/hooks/test_claude_pre_compact.py b/plugins/claude-code/hooks/test_claude_pre_compact.py
index 6c44ceec6..ec2cb62c2 100644
--- a/plugins/claude-code/hooks/test_claude_pre_compact.py
+++ b/plugins/claude-code/hooks/test_claude_pre_compact.py
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ def test_dependency_floor_matches_package_version() -> None:
     # scripts/update_versions.py bumps this line at release; drift between the
     # script floor and the package version fails here, before a release lands.
     text = SCRIPT.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
-    floors = re.findall(r'^# dependencies = \["basic-memory>=([^"]+)"\]$', text, re.MULTILINE)
+    floors = re.findall(r'^#     "basic-memory>=([^"]+)",$', text, re.MULTILINE)
 
     assert floors == [__version__]
 
diff --git a/plugins/claude-code/hooks/test_claude_session_start.py b/plugins/claude-code/hooks/test_claude_session_start.py
index 8d5c9110e..460c19efc 100644
--- a/plugins/claude-code/hooks/test_claude_session_start.py
+++ b/plugins/claude-code/hooks/test_claude_session_start.py
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ def test_dependency_floor_matches_package_version() -> None:
     # scripts/update_versions.py bumps this line at release; drift between the
     # script floor and the package version fails here, before a release lands.
     text = SCRIPT.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
-    floors = re.findall(r'^# dependencies = \["basic-memory>=([^"]+)"\]$', text, re.MULTILINE)
+    floors = re.findall(r'^#     "basic-memory>=([^"]+)",$', text, re.MULTILINE)
 
     assert floors == [__version__]
 
diff --git a/plugins/codex/hooks/pre_compact.py b/plugins/codex/hooks/pre_compact.py
index 06a1f490d..d4fb4de88 100755
--- a/plugins/codex/hooks/pre_compact.py
+++ b/plugins/codex/hooks/pre_compact.py
@@ -3,6 +3,10 @@
 # requires-python = ">=3.12"
 # dependencies = [
 #     "basic-memory @ git+https://github.com/basicmachines-co/basic-memory@v0.23.0",
+#     # Direct pre-release pin so old uv resolves basic-memory (which
+#     # requires this exact beta transitively) without enabling
+#     # pre-releases broadly. Keep in lockstep with core pyproject.
+#     "fastmcp==4.0.0b1",
 # ]
 # ///
 """PreCompact hook launcher backed by a pinned Basic Memory revision.
diff --git a/plugins/codex/hooks/session_start.py b/plugins/codex/hooks/session_start.py
index ac7d94c9c..a7b0e271a 100755
--- a/plugins/codex/hooks/session_start.py
+++ b/plugins/codex/hooks/session_start.py
@@ -3,6 +3,10 @@
 # requires-python = ">=3.12"
 # dependencies = [
 #     "basic-memory @ git+https://github.com/basicmachines-co/basic-memory@v0.23.0",
+#     # Direct pre-release pin so old uv resolves basic-memory (which
+#     # requires this exact beta transitively) without enabling
+#     # pre-releases broadly. Keep in lockstep with core pyproject.
+#     "fastmcp==4.0.0b1",
 # ]
 # ///
 """SessionStart hook launcher backed by a pinned Basic Memory revision.
diff --git a/scripts/update_versions.py b/scripts/update_versions.py
index e3e3d4cb0..3cff5a982 100644
--- a/scripts/update_versions.py
+++ b/scripts/update_versions.py
@@ -153,8 +153,8 @@ def _update_packages(version: str, *, dry_run: bool) -> None:
     for script in HOOK_SCRIPTS:
         update_text(
             script,
-            r'^# dependencies = \["basic-memory>=[^"]+"\]$',
-            f'# dependencies = ["basic-memory>={version}"]',
+            r'^#     "basic-memory>=[^"]+",$',
+            f'#     "basic-memory>={version}",',
             dry_run=dry_run,
         )
     update_text(
diff --git a/scripts/validate_claude_plugin.py b/scripts/validate_claude_plugin.py
index e8fe10059..0af19e7ad 100644
--- a/scripts/validate_claude_plugin.py
+++ b/scripts/validate_claude_plugin.py
@@ -137,6 +137,20 @@ def validate_claude_plugin(plugin_dir: Path) -> None:
     for event in REQUIRED_HOOK_EVENTS:
         if event not in hooks:
             raise SystemExit(f"hooks/hooks.json: missing {event} hook")
+    # Trigger: the shims pin core's exact fastmcp beta so older uv can resolve
+    #   basic-memory (pre-release transitives are refused there) without
+    #   enabling pre-releases for basic-memory itself.
+    # Why: nothing else keeps the shim pin and core's pyproject in lockstep,
+    #   and drift makes shim resolution conflict — which the fail-open contract
+    #   turns into a silent hook no-op.
+    # Outcome: validation fails loudly when core moves its fastmcp pin without
+    #   the shims following.
+    core_pyproject = (ROOT / "pyproject.toml").read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+    core_match = re.search(r'^\s*"fastmcp==([^"]+)",$', core_pyproject, re.MULTILINE)
+    if not core_match:
+        raise SystemExit("pyproject.toml: no exact fastmcp pin found")
+    core_fastmcp_pin = core_match.group(1)
+
     for rel in REQUIRED_HOOK_SCRIPTS:
         script = plugin_dir / rel
         if not script.exists():
@@ -145,9 +159,17 @@ def validate_claude_plugin(plugin_dir: Path) -> None:
             raise SystemExit(f"Hook script is not executable: {script}")
         text = script.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
         if "# /// script" not in text or not re.search(
-            r'^# dependencies = \["basic-memory>=[^"]+"\]$', text, re.MULTILINE
+            r'^#     "basic-memory>=[^"]+",$', text, re.MULTILINE
         ):
             raise SystemExit(f"Hook script missing PEP 723 basic-memory floor: {script}")
+        shim_pins = re.findall(r'^#     "fastmcp==([^"]+)",$', text, re.MULTILINE)
+        if len(shim_pins) != 1:
+            raise SystemExit(f"Hook script missing exact fastmcp pin: {script}")
+        if shim_pins[0] != core_fastmcp_pin:
+            raise SystemExit(
+                f"{script}: fastmcp pin {shim_pins[0]} does not match "
+                f"core pyproject pin {core_fastmcp_pin}"
+            )
 
     # --- Output style ---
     output_style = plugin_dir / "output-styles/basic-memory.md"
diff --git a/tests/test_claude_plugin_hooks.py b/tests/test_claude_plugin_hooks.py
index 2c3fea411..552bd173c 100644
--- a/tests/test_claude_plugin_hooks.py
+++ b/tests/test_claude_plugin_hooks.py
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ def test_claude_script_floor_matches_released_version(event: str, script_name: s
     # Release drift between the PEP 723 floor and the package version fails
     # here (and in each script's co-located test) before a release lands.
     text = (REPO_ROOT / "plugins/claude-code/hooks" / script_name).read_text(encoding="utf-8")
-    floors = re.findall(r'^# dependencies = \["basic-memory>=([^"]+)"\]$', text, re.MULTILINE)
+    floors = re.findall(r'^#     "basic-memory>=([^"]+)",$', text, re.MULTILINE)
 
     assert floors == [CURRENT_VERSION]
 
diff --git a/tests/test_codex_plugin_package.py b/tests/test_codex_plugin_package.py
index 8e2eb3d82..4c9f5b32c 100644
--- a/tests/test_codex_plugin_package.py
+++ b/tests/test_codex_plugin_package.py
@@ -386,3 +386,21 @@ def test_pr_create_skill_delegates_to_current_pr_workflow() -> None:
     assert "never merges" in skill
     assert "Do not enable auto-merge" in skill
     assert "current-head gate" in skill
+
+
+def test_codex_hook_fastmcp_pins_match_core_pyproject() -> None:
+    """The shims pin core's exact fastmcp beta; drift breaks shim resolution.
+
+    Old uv refuses pre-release transitives, so each shim carries the pin as a
+    direct dependency. Nothing rewrites it automatically — this test is the
+    lockstep enforcement when core's pyproject moves its fastmcp pin.
+    """
+    repo_root = Path(__file__).resolve().parents[1]
+    core = re.search(
+        r'^\s*"fastmcp==([^"]+)",$', (repo_root / "pyproject.toml").read_text(), re.MULTILINE
+    )
+    assert core is not None
+    for name in ("session_start.py", "pre_compact.py"):
+        shim = (repo_root / "plugins/codex/hooks" / name).read_text()
+        pins = re.findall(r'^#     "fastmcp==([^"]+)",$', shim, re.MULTILINE)
+        assert pins == [core.group(1)], name
diff --git a/tests/test_update_versions.py b/tests/test_update_versions.py
index d0fbd07c3..06b3cbda9 100644
--- a/tests/test_update_versions.py
+++ b/tests/test_update_versions.py
@@ -35,7 +35,10 @@ def test_parse_version_preserves_python_prerelease_for_non_npm_manifests() -> No
     "#!/usr/bin/env -S uv run --quiet --script\n"
     "# /// script\n"
     '# requires-python = ">=3.12"\n'
-    '# dependencies = ["basic-memory>=0.0.0"]\n'
+    "# dependencies = [\n"
+    '#     "basic-memory>=0.0.0",\n'
+    '#     "fastmcp==4.0.0b1",\n'
+    "# ]\n"
     "# ///\n"
     # Mirrors the real scripts: the docstring mentions a launcher spelling
     # without a version spec, which the anchored updater pattern must skip.